Anglais
‘Burned out’: Saskatoon cancer doctors reveal reasons for departures
Published
5 années agoon
By
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After working nearly every day for 13 years, Dr. Christopher Giede doesn’t really know what to do with all of his free time. He plays the electric guitar and feeds his pet sheep, but he can’t stop worrying about his cancer patients.
Those concerns creep into his dreams: « Are his patients being cared for in his absence? Do they feel he abandoned them? »
In September, the 55-year old gynecologic oncologist went on medical leave.
« I’m physically unwell and can’t carry the load anymore, » Giede said, during an interview at his home near Saskatoon. « There has been a lot of psychological stress in the past couple years, and that has not helped with the physical stress. »
The only other gynecologic oncologist in Saskatoon, Dr. Anita Agrawal, quit her job in December. She told CBC News that she was « burned out » and tired of asking for support. She accepted a job in Ontario.
The situation in Saskatoon is being repeated in other smaller cities across Canada.
Kingston, Ont., and Sherbrooke, Que., for example, have had a difficult time recruiting and retaining gynecologic oncologists, especially in the midst of a national shortage due to retirements, disability leaves, international competition, and growing demand from an increasing patient load, according to the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists of Canada.
Specialists are often drawn to departments in major centres with larger teams and more resources. In both Calgary and Winnipeg, for example, there are five gynecologic oncologists on staff and each is only on-call every fifth weekend. In Toronto, 21 specialists share the workload.
‘You feel in peril’
Saskatchewan is losing three of its four gynecologic oncologists by June of next year; two in Saskatoon and one in Regina.
A gynecologic oncologist is a highly-trained specialist who treats ovarian, cervical, uterine, and vulvar cancers.
It’s a unique specialty in that gynecologic oncologists not only perform complex surgeries, they also shepherd women through the entire treatment process with post-operative chemotherapy and care.
« We become very attached to our patients, and vice versa, they become attached to us, » Giede said.
Ovarian cancer patient Kimberly MacKinnon received treatment from both specialists, and isn’t comfortable with locums being flown in to Saskatoon from Ottawa to handle her case.
« How well do they know my case? It’s devastating, and frightening. You feel in peril, » she said.
Workload issues
In October, the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency sent patients a letter notifying them that Saskatoon was losing both of its specialists; Dr. Giede was on an indefinite leave and Dr. Agrawal was leaving her practice in early December.
A subsequent statement from the Saskatchewan Health Authority said the specialists were leaving for « personal reasons. »
That’s misleading, both doctors contend, because their reasons are work-related.
Giede said they’ve been asking the health region to hire a third gynecologic oncologist and add other clinical support for at least six years. He warns that the province’s pledge to « aggressively recruit » replacements is ill-fated unless workload issues are resolved.
Pleas for help
Each year, another 240 women are diagnosed with reproductive cancers in Saskatchewan. The wait time for a hysterectomy for cancer is roughly four weeks, on par with Ontario, according to health ministry data from both provinces.
The prairie province is in a chronic quandary over staffing enough specialists to avoid burn out. Its small population of 1.12 million people only warrants — in theory— a certain number of specialists in any field.
Yet, patients are spread over vast distances and timely access often requires service in both Saskatoon and Regina. Specialists need a certain critical mass to maintain a work-life balance.
When Giede accepted a job in 2005 as Saskatoon’s only gynecologic oncologist, he was on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The arrival of a second gynecologic oncologist, Dr. Anita Agrawal, in 2008, provided some relief.
Still, the two doctors shared what they called a « one in two » ratio workload — meaning, each had to be on-call half of each month, on top of their normal clinical practice. If one took vacation, the other covered 24/7.
It wasn’t unusual for Giede to be called out of bed in the middle of the night to see a feverish chemo patient in the ER, catch a few hours sleep at the hospital, then perform a four-hour radical hysterectomy that day.
« I could tell when we were both getting tired when we would argue over who was working more. And it was a silly argument because we were both working more than a full-time position, » Giede said. « We needed each other, and we need to work well or we would have collapsed long ago. »
As academic physicians, they were also expected to do research, teaching and administrative work.
‘You’re breaking bad news all the time’
The doctors started sending emails and letters requesting a third gynecologic oncologist in 2012. Their frustrations intensified when, that same year, the health region didn’t hire an eager young doctor who had been born and raised in Saskatoon and was seeking a job in the city.
« I love Saskatoon, and that was drawing me there, » Dr. Sarah Glaze told CBC News. She confirms she had multiple meetings with the university and health region, but with no job offer, she ultimately found work in Calgary.
Giede was particularly disappointed that health officials wouldn’t create a position for her, when it’s proven that homegrown doctors are more loyal.
Health officials argued that the number of patients didn’t justify adding a third specialist.
Magic number of 3
A recently published report on national best practices, called the Pan-Canadian Standards for Gynecologic Oncology, states that the magic number in any centre is a minimum of three gynecologic oncologists. That reduces surgeon fatigue and improves patient care.
« Physician burn-out is a huge problem, » said Dr. James Bentley, president of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists of Canada. « If you’re down to two people for a long time, it’s very wearisome. We’re dealing with people who are sick, you’re breaking bad news all the time, long surgeries, complicated chemotherapy regimes. It’s not straightforward stuff. »
In Ontario, a hospital must meet that benchmark of three gynecologic oncologists on staff to be designated a Gynecologic Oncology Centre by Cancer Care Ontario.
Moncton, Halifax, and St. John’s all staff three gynecologic oncologists, but it has often proven challenging for those smaller centres, and others in Canada, to retain that number of specialists.
There are 101 gynecologic oncologists operating in Canada, with about 85 clinical positions, as reported by the national society. Many of them only see patients part-time, and also work on research, teaching or administrative duties.
In Giede’s case, he was expected to oversee resident physicians on top of a full patient load.
Aggressive recruitment
In 2015, the health region finally granted permission to hire a third specialist. However, Giede said, three years in a row, a potential candidate has rejected their job offer because of the work environment.
Saskatchewan Health Minister Jim Reiter has directed the health authority « to do whatever they need to do to aggressively recruit » new gynecologic oncologists.
A job advertisement promises $467,000 – $587,000 annually, plus a $30,000 signing bonus with a three year return-of-service commitment.
The health authority is also offering to sponsor two gynecologic oncology fellowships, at roughly $200,000 each, in return for service in Saskatchewan — just as it did for Giede nearly two decades ago.
« When you have a homegrown doctor, there’s a stronger likelihood that they’ll stick around, » Reiter told CBC News. « Longer term, we think that’s going to help with retention. »
Giede said he is proof that the fellowship incentive is not enough, « if you then allow the person who you trained to get burned out. »
In a face-to-face meeting with Reiter, Giede made a pitch for a minimum of three gynecologic oncologists in both Saskatoon and Regina, as well as clinical associates, locum backfill, and first responder support from within the cancer agency.
The health minister confirmed that there is no plan to centralize services in just one city, and that a formal review of the program will take place shortly. Recommendations could lead to change in the program’s structure and staffing number.
‘We’ve been holding on’
This past summer, Giede’s neck pain flared up to the point he was popping anti-inflammatory pills, lying down at work, and heading straight to bed when he got home.
Both Giede and Agrawal said they held on as long as they could, and didn’t plan their departures together.
« Our goal was to provide the best care that we could with all we had in us, despite the environment, » Agrawal said.
Giede will only return to the operating room if both his health, and the work environment, improve.
« Nobody wants a temporary fix. I’m confident that message has gotten out there. »
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Anglais
Nostalgia and much more with Starburst XXXtreme
Published
3 années agoon
août 10, 2021By
adminGet a taste of adventure with Starburst XXXtreme based on the legendary NetEnt Game. The nostalgic themes are sure to capture fans of the classic version as they get treated to higher intensity, better visuals, and features. The most significant element of the game is its volatility. Patience will not be an essential virtue considering the insane gameplay, and there is a lot of win potential involved. It retains the original makeup of the previous game while adding a healthy dose of adrenaline.
Starburst Visuals and Symbols
The game is definitely more conspicuous than before. The setting happens over a 5-reel, 3-row game grid with nine fixed win lines, which function if a succession from the left to the right reel is present. Only those players that that attain the highest win per bet line are paid. From a visual standpoint, the Starburst XXXtreme slots illustrates lightning effects behind the reels, which is not surprising as it is inherited from the original version. Available themes include Classic, Jewels, and Space. The game is also available in both desktop and mobile versions, which is advantageous for players considering the global pandemic. According to Techguide, American gamers are increasingly having more engaging gaming experiences to socialize to fill the gap of in-person interaction. Starburst XXXtreme allows them to fill the social void at a time when there is so much time to be had indoors.
Starburst XXXTreme Features
Players get to alternate on three features which are Starburst Wilds, XXXtreme Spins, and Random Wilds. The first appears on reels 2,3, or 4. When these land, they expand to cover all positions while also calculating the wins. They are also locked for a respin. If a new one hits, it also becomes locked while awarding another respin. Starburst XXXtreme offers a choice between two scenarios for a higher stake. In one scenario with a ten times stake, the Starburst Wild is set on random on reels 2,3, or 4, and a multiplier starts the respin. The second scenario, which has a 95 times stake, starts with two guaranteed starburst wilds on reels 2,3, or 4. it also plays out using respin game sequence and features. The game also increases the potential with the Random Wilds feature to add Starburst Wilds to a vacant reel at the end of a spin. Every Starburst Wild gives a random multiplier with potential wins of x2, x3, x5, x10, x25, x50, x100, or even x150.
The new feature is sure to be a big hit with the gaming market as online gambling has shown significant growth during the lockdown. AdAge indicates the current casino customer base is an estimated one in five Americans, so Starburst XXXtreme’s additional features will achieve considerable popularity.
What We Think About The Game
The gambling market has continued to diversify post-pandemic, so it is one of the most opportune times to release an online casino-based game. Thankfully Starburst XXXtreme features eye-catching visuals, including the jewels and space themes. These attract audience participation and make the gameplay inviting. The game also has a nostalgic edge. The previous NetEnt iteration featured similar visuals and gameplay, so the audience has some familiarity with it. The producers have revamped this version by tweaking the features to improve the volatility and engagement.
That is characterized by the potential win cap of 200,000 times the bet. Starburst XXXtreme does not just give betting alternatives for players that want to go big. The increase of multipliers also provides a great experience. If the respins in the previous version were great, knowing that multipliers can go hundreds of times overtakes the game to a new level.
Players should get excited about this offering. All of the features can be triggered within a single spin. Whether one plays the standard game or takes the XXXtreme spin route, it is possible to activate all of the features. Of course, the potential 200,000 times potential is a huge carrot. However, the bet size is probably going to be restricted and vary depending on the casino. It is also worth pointing out that a malfunction during the gameplay will void all of the payouts and progress. Overall, the game itself has been designed to provide a capped win of 200,000 times the original bet.
Anglais
‘We’re back’: Montreal festival promoters happy to return but looking to next year
Published
3 années agoon
juillet 23, 2021By
adminIn downtown Montreal, it’s festival season.
In the city’s entertainment district, a musical act was conducting a sound check on stage Friday evening — the second day of the French-language version of the renowned Just For Laughs comedy festival. Tickets for many of the festival’s free outdoor shows — limited by COVID-19 regulations — were sold out.
Two blocks away, more than 100 people were watching an acoustic performance by the Isaac Neto Trio — part of the last weekend of the Festival International Nuits d’Afrique, a celebration of music from the African continent and the African diaspora.
With COVID-19 restrictions continuing to limit capacity, festival organizers say they’re glad to be back but looking forward to next year when they hope border restrictions and capacity limits won’t affect their plans.
Charles Décarie, Just For Laughs’ CEO and president, said this is a “transition year.”
“Even though we have major constraints from the public health group in Montreal, we’ve managed to design a festival that can navigate through those constraints,” Décarie said.
The French-language Juste pour rire festival began on July 15 and is followed by the English-language festival until July 31.
When planning began in February and March, Décarie said, organizers came up with a variety of scenarios for different crowd sizes, ranging from no spectators to 50 per cent of usual capacity.
“You’ve got to build scenarios,” he said. “You do have to plan a little bit more than usual because you have to have alternatives.”
Anglais
MELS new major movie studio to be built in Montreal
Published
3 années agoon
juillet 23, 2021By
adminMONTREAL — MELS Studios will build a new film studio in Montreal, filling some of the gap in supply to meet the demand of Hollywood productions.
MELS president Martin Carrier said on Friday that MELS 4 studio construction will begin « as soon as possible », either in the fall or winter of next year. The studio could host productions as early as spring 2023.
The total investment for the project is $76 million, with the Quebec government contributing a $25 million loan. The project will create 110 jobs, according to the company.
The TVA Group subsidiary’s project will enable it to stand out « even more » internationally, according to Quebecor president and CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau. In the past, MELS Studios has hosted several major productions, including chapters of the X-Men franchise. The next Transformers movie is shooting this summer in Montreal.
Péladeau insisted that local cultural productions would also benefit from the new facility, adding that the studio ensures foreign revenues and to showcase talent and maintain an industry of Quebec producers.
STUDIO SHORTAGE
The film industry is cramped in Montreal.
According to a report published last May by the Bureau du cinéma et de la télévision du Québec (BCTQ), there is a shortage of nearly 400,000 square feet of studio space.
With the addition of MELS 4, which will be 160,000 square feet, the company is filling part of the gap.
Carrier admitted that he has had to turn down contracts because of the lack of space, representing missed opportunities of « tens of millions of dollars, not only for MELS, but also for the Quebec economy. »
« Montreal’s expertise is in high demand, » said Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante, who was present at the announcement.
She said she received great testimonials from « Netflix, Disney, HBO and company » during an economic mission to Los Angeles in 2019.
« What stands out is that they love Montreal because of its expertise, knowledge and beauty. We need more space, like MELS 4, » she said.
There is still not enough capacity in Quebec, acknowledged Minister of Finance, the Economy and Innovation Eric Girard.
« It is certain that the government is concerned about fairness and balance, so if other requests come in, we will study them with the same seriousness as we have studied this one, » he said.
Grandé Studios is the second-largest player in the industry. Last May, the company said it had expansion plans that should begin in 2022. Investissement Québec and Bell are minority shareholders in the company.
For its part, MELS will have 400,000 square feet of production space once MELS 4 is completed. The company employs 450 people in Quebec and offers a range of services including studio and equipment rentals, image and sound postproduction, visual effects and a virtual production platform.
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