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Your Weekly Dose of Health Insights – Because Your Health Isn’t Just a Headline
Good morning, Other Siders!
Hope your coffee’s strong and your inbox is light this morning ☕
It’s been one of those weeks where my calendar thinks it’s training for a marathon, and I’ve had to remind myself—again—that chaos is just a sign of something interesting trying to happen. Amidst the madness, I’ve been digging into some incredible case studies from around the globe that made me think, “Why aren’t we doing this here already?!”
This week’s stories are not just inspiring—they’re plug-and-play. Whether it’s rural rehab with soup cans or fixing OR backlogs with data (yep, we went there), it’s all stuff your team can actually use. And hey, if you’re staring down a problem that feels stickier than a waiting room chair in July, you know The Other Side of Care is more than just your weekly inbox hero—we’re out here helping healthcare orgs solve complex messes, lead change like pros, and finally move the needle in digital health.
Let’s dive in 👇
In today’s edition:
New Brunswick Nursing Home Victory
N.W.T. Health Crisis Takes Center Stage
AI Meets Rural Rehab
CHA Shake-Up
Dive in and enjoy the ride. 🚀
News that Impacts You!
New Brunswick Nursing Home Victory!👵
Over 4,500 nursing home workers in New Brunswick just scored a sweet new contract that brings wage parity with healthcare workers. The deal includes annual wage increases of more than a dollar per hour through 2028 – finally treating eldercare workers like the heroes they are instead of paying them like part-time baristas. Think about Margaret, a personal support worker who's been caring for seniors for 10 years but couldn't afford her own retirement savings – this contract change means she can finally plan for her future while caring for others'. The agreement covers everyone from licensed practical nurses to cooks and janitorial staff.
Why do you think it took so long to achieve wage parity for eldercare workers, and what sector should be next?
N.W.T. Health Crisis Takes Center Stage! 🎭
Northwest Territories MLAs are making healthcare the star of their spring legislative session, with Yellowknife's Stanton Hospital facing such severe staffing shortages that some units might close. It's basically healthcare Jenga – remove too many staff pieces and the whole thing collapses. Imagine you're a new parent in Yellowknife and the pediatric unit suddenly can't operate because there aren't enough nurses – you'd be looking at a medical evacuation to Alberta for your baby's care. MLAs are pushing for 13 action items including eliminating agency nurses by 2026 and establishing proper staff-to-patient ratios.
How would you solve healthcare staffing in remote areas where Tim Hortons has more locations than hospitals?
AI Meets Rural Rehab! 🏃♀️
A Maritime pilot program helping rural lung patients access physical rehabilitation online is expanding across the region this fall, using household items like soup cans and kitchen chairs for workouts. It's basically turning your kitchen into a gym, minus the monthly membership fee and questionable locker room hygiene. Picture 67-year-old Robert from rural Nova Scotia with COPD who can't drive to Halifax for rehab sessions – now he does breathing exercises with his physiotherapist via video call while using soup cans as weights. This innovative approach addresses rural healthcare access while keeping patients comfortable at home.
What other household items could revolutionize healthcare delivery, and which specialty would benefit most from DIY approaches?
CHA Shake-Up! 🏥
Canada’s healthcare rulebook just got a 2026 makeover! The feds declared nurse practitioners (NPs) must be fully funded under the Canada Health Act by April 2026—no more patients paying $90 out-of-pocket for that UTI consult. Provinces now face a choice: cover NP services or lose federal cash. Alberta’s already grumbling about “Ottawa overreach,” while Ontario’s private NP clinics scramble to avoid becoming relics. Picture single mom Jen in Toronto ditching her $450/year clinic membership because OHIP finally covers her NP’s diabetes management.
But with docs warning of “assembly-line care,” would you swap your family physician for an NP if it meant skipping the 18-month waitlist?
💭Let us know what you think in the comment section.
🕵️♀️Case in Point
Data-Driven Hip Replacements Save Millions & Free Up Surgical Capacity
Background : Hip replacements are among Canada’s most common surgeries, with over 75,000 procedures annually. But 10% of these fail within a decade, requiring costly and complex revision surgeries that cost hospitals $23,000 per case—not counting rehab or lost productivity for patients. For years, orthopedic surgeons debated whether using cemented vs. cementless implants impacted longevity, but evidence was fragmented. Enter the Canadian Joint Replacement Registry (CJRR), a national database tracking every hip/knee replacement since 2000. By 2023, CIHI analysts spotted a troubling trend: cementless implants had a 15% higher revision risk in seniors. Yet only 43% of hip fracture patients received cemented options, despite their proven durability in older adults
The Problem: Why Were Surgeons Avoiding Cement?
Interviews revealed two myths driving practice:
“Cement takes longer to set” – Surgeons feared prolonging OR time.
“Cement causes intraoperative complications” – A belief rooted in 1990s data, despite modern cement formulas reducing risks.
Each revision surgery delayed 68 Canadians’ access to initial hip replacements due to OR backlog.
The Solution: CIHI partnered with Choosing Wisely Canada to launch a 2024 campaign targeting surgeons and hospitals:
The Outcome: By 2025:
Cemented implant use jumped from 43% to 58%.
41 fewer annual revisions projected – freeing 68 OR slots for first-time patients.
$950,000 yearly savings – enough to fund 40+ primary hip replacements.
How We Can Help: This case exemplifies how strategic data use can:
Debunk outdated practices with real-world evidence.
Align financial incentives with patient outcomes.
Reduce systemic bottlenecks caused by preventable complications.
The Other Side Team specializes in helping organizations replicate this success. Our team designs custom analytics dashboards to identify high-risk procedures, partners with clinicians to implement evidence-based protocols, and secures buy-in through targeted stakeholder workshops.
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