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Health before hospitals
Dear Editor,
As Alberta faces emergency-room backloads, I have to wonder if we aren’t missing the point. I have worked in emergency rooms and throughout Alberta’s hospitals for the last two years as a resident physician. Indeed, resident physicians are so called because we often “reside” in the hospital for long periods of time caring for patients and pursuing further intensive training in a particular medical field. My reflection from this service is that it is not enough to just focus on patients only after they have been admitted to hospitals; to do so is to focus on treating the symptoms rather than curing, or even altogether avoiding the disease.
The experience of treating patients has encouraged my awareness of just how many illnesses and injuries are preventable. Whether it be drug-related illness, mal-nutrition illness in children, injuries resulting from someone texting while driving, or injuries related to preventable falls, these kinds of health issues contribute significantly to emergency-room loads. The good news is that these conditions are all preventable and we can all do our part to improve the health of ourselves and our communities. For health care, a little pre-emptive action can go a long way.
The Professional Association of Resident Physicians of Alberta (PARA) is shifting our focus to health before hospitals. As a group, we are keen to do our part, not just within our hospital but also within our communities.
We’ve contributed to preventive care initiatives like the Coalition for Cellphone-free Driving and the Finding Balance Campaign, a campaign spearheaded by the Alberta Medical Association and the government of Alberta that educates our senior citizens on how to avoid falls. We have also organized a charity event – our second annual – that calls on resident physicians to give their medical-school backpacks back. Over the past three months resident physicians across Alberta have collected over 50 backpacks stuffed with basic-needs items for local homeless shelters. PARA backpacks will be donated to shelters on Feb. 22, National Resident Physician Awareness Day. On this day, PARA would like to thank all of Alberta’s health care providers for the dedicated care that they give.
Dr. Rhett Taylor
PARA President and Alberta Resident Physician
No to ‘Banffication’
Dear Editor,
Re: “New project proposal for Icefields Parkway”, January 27, 2011.
Twice in the mid-90s I ran with teams from Edmonton in the Jasper-Banff Relay Race.
A few years later this limited-entry, 24-hour, 288-km foot race was discontinued because, I understand, Parks Canada considered its impact on the parks was excessive.
Now Parks Canada is about to allow a commercial scenic trail, operated by a tour bus company, to be built in Jasper National Park.
If built, the trail will be promoted to attract more tourists (and their cars and buses) onto the sensitive Icefields Parkway.
I’m puzzled by the decision-making of Parks Canada.
I certainly object to the “Banffication” of Jasper National Park. The simple rule should be no commercial development outside Jasper town site.
Derek Wilson
[former Project Manager, CN Rail, Edmonton]
Port Moody, B.C.
Brewster dog and pony show
Dear Editor,
The Glacier Discovery Walk is so wrong that the list of descriptors of it could creak a thesaurus of the negative – inappropriate, tacky, circus act, offensive, insulting... National Parks cannot and should not satisfy all or most of the public’s wishes. The rest of the country can do that. Will the visitor pay and enjoy the walk? Most certainly. But they would pay and enjoy a theme park, water slide and bungee jumping if it were offered. The point is there are appropriate and inappropriate developments and activities in a national park. A glass floored observation platform is not appropriate, necessary or acceptable. It is a carrot for visitors to dole out more money for a cheap thrill.
Brewster’s concept of increased interpretive messaging to the public is very important and noble. There are many significant stories needing to be conveyed about Jasper’s natural and human history, but not the way Brewster is proposing. Offers of small group interpretive walks, floats and rides by local non-corporate businesses is the way to go. Get visitors away from the sound and sight of the highway, get them exercising and literally smelling the roses. Nature should be the stage for all this, not metal and glass.
Greg Horne
Refreshing fresh air
Dear Editor,
It is not surprising to me that AMPPE executive director Monice Andreef supports the Brewster “Discovery Walk” proposal. However it did take my breath away when I read her comment in the Fitzhugh cover article last week that “the national parks have to keep refreshing their product”.
The so-called “product” is nature and wilderness. Since when did nature need any refreshing by humans?
Monika Schaefer
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