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Thousands Of US Health Care Workers Go On Strike In Multiple States Over Wages And Staff Shortages

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LOS ANGELES Approximately 75,000 Kaiser Permanente employees left their jobs in multiple states on Wednesday, launching a significant healthcare strike amid an extraordinary year for labor organizing and work stoppages in the United States.

With 39 hospitals nationwide, Kaiser Permanente is one of the country’s largest insurers and health care system administrators. Nearly 13 million people are covered by the Oakland, California-based nonprofit, which sends them to clinics and hospitals it operates or contracts with to provide care.

The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions, which represents approximately 85,000 health system employees nationwide, asserts that understaffing is detrimental to patient care. Members approved a three-day strike in California, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington and a one-day strike in Virginia and the District of Columbia.

Workers applauded as the strike deadline approached in the predawn hours outside the Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Centre. Licensed vocational nurses, home health assistants, ultrasound sonographers, and radiology, X-ray, surgical, pharmacy, and emergency department technicians are among the striking workers.

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Thousands Of US Health Care Workers Go On Strike In Multiple States Over Wages And Staff Shortages

Culinary Union members, including Veronica Flores Serrano, who works at The Linq, vote in a strike vote on the UNLV campus Thomas & Mack Centre on Tuesday, September 26, 2023. Tens of thousands of hospitality employees who maintain Las Vegas’s iconic casinos and hotels were scheduled to vote Tuesday on whether or not to authorize a strike amid ongoing contract negotiations.

The strike of autoworkers expanded to 38 locations in 20 states. Biden planned a visit to demonstrate support.

Brittany Everidge, a ward clerk transcriber in the medical center’s maternal child health department, said short-staffing in her position means pregnant people in active labor may be trapped in a waiting room for hours before they can get checked in. Occasionally, more transcribers can be needed to create and update records for newborns.

During a phone interview from the picket line, she stated, “We never want to be in a position where the nurses must perform our duties.”

Kaiser says its hospitals, including emergency rooms, will remain open during the picketing, which does not involve doctors. The company announced it would hire thousands of temporary workers to cover vacancies caused by the strike. However, the strike may cause delays in scheduling appointments and rescheduling non-urgent procedures.

It occurs in a year when multiple industries, including transportation, entertainment, and hospitality, have experienced work stoppages.

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Thousands Of US Health Care Workers Go On Strike In Multiple States Over Wages And Staff Shortages

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly exacerbated the problems caused by burnout and excessive workloads in the healthcare industry, which have been the source of multiple strikes this year.

In August, unions representing Kaiser employees requested an hourly minimum wage of $25 and annual increases of 7% for the first two years and 6.25% for the following two years.

They claim that understaffing boosts the hospital system’s profits but harms patients and that executives have negotiated poorly.

Mikki Fletchall, a licensed vocational nurse at a Kaiser medical office in Camarillo, California, stated, “They’re not listening to the frontline healthcare workers.” “We are on strike due to our patients. We wish we didn’t have to do it, but we will.”

Next year, Kaiser has proposed hourly minimum compensation between $21 and $23, depending on location.

The hospital system has hired 51,000 employees since 2022 and plans to add 10,000 more by the end of the month.

Kaiser Permanente reported a second-quarter net income of $2.1 billion on more than $25 billion in operating revenue. However, the company reported that it was still facing cost headwinds, inflationary pressures, and labor shortages.

Michelle Gaskill-Hames, a senior executive at Kaiser, defended the company by asserting that its practices, compensation and retention are superior to those of its competitors, even though the entire industry confronts the same challenges.

President of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals of Southern California and Hawaii, Gaskill-Hames, stated, “Our focus for the dollars that we bring in is to keep them invested in value-based care.”

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Thousands Of US Health Care Workers Go On Strike In Multiple States Over Wages And Staff Shortages

Despite the pandemic, she added that Kaiser only confronts a 7% turnover rate compared to the industry average of 21%.

“I believe that as a result of the pandemic, healthcare workers are completely exhausted,” she said. It was challenging to experience the trauma of caring for many COVID patients and dying patients.

The last labor agreement was negotiated in 2019, before the pandemic.

Hospitals generally have struggled in recent years with high labor costs, staffing shortages and rising levels of uncompensated care, according to Rick Gundling, a senior vice president with the Healthcare Financial Management Association, a nonprofit that works with healthcare finance executives.

Gundling noted that most of their revenue comes from government-funded programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. He says revenue growth is “only possible by increasing volumes, which is difficult under the best of circumstances.”

Since the end of the pandemic, workers requesting higher wages, improved working conditions, and job security have been increasingly inclined to walk off the job in response to employers’ increased need for labor.

The California legislature has sent Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom a bill that, over the next decade, would raise the minimum wage for the state’s 455,000 healthcare workers to $25 per hour. The governor has until October 14 to sign or veto the bill.

SOURCE – (AP)

Kiara Grace is a staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. Her writing focuses on technology trends, particularly in the realm of consumer electronics and software. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for breaking down complex topics.

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Flu Cases Start To Increase As Americans Get Ready For The Holidays

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HealthDay

(VOR News) – In a report that was released on Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) verified that the flu season is presently in full swing, with the number of cases of the virus increasing across the United States. This information was included in the study. The research was published in the United States of America.

Infectious diseases expert Dr. William Schaffner of Vanderbilt University has indicated that thirteen states, including Tennessee and Louisiana, have reported high or extremely high levels of illness that is similar to the flu.

The flu virus has hit Tennessee and Louisiana.

When compared to the amount that was reported the previous week, this statistic is more than twice as large as the one that came before it.

There has been a consistent increase in the number of flu-related visits to emergency rooms and lab test confirmations, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which has recorded consistently climbing numbers. The fact that this has occurred implies that the beginning of what might be a difficult winter for respiratory infections has arrived.

Immediately following that, Dr. Schaffner went on to make the following observation: “The flu has been on the rise, but it has reached an all-time high in the entire past week.” The virus has been increasing in prevalence.

During the same time period, Louisiana is witnessing a rise that is comparable to the one that occurred previously.

According to Dr. Catherine O’Neal of Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge, “just this week is really that turning point where people are out because of the flu,” she told AP News. We have a serious influenza outbreak going on right now. At the moment, our region is experiencing a serious influenza outbreak.

The phrases “I can’t come to work because of the flu” and “Where can I get a flu test?” are ones that parents are heard talking about their children. Examples of the kinds of things that parents say include the ones listed here.

This Season’s Low Flu Vaccination Rates Concern Doctors.

As of the seventh of December, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that just 41% of adults and children had been vaccinated against the influenza virus. This information was provided by the CDC. In addition, the percentage of youngsters who had received vaccinations had dropped from 44% the year before.

There is a significant disparity between the immunization rates for COVID and those for other viruses, with the former coming in at 21% for adults and the latter coming in at 11% for children who are infected with the bacteria.

Vaccination against influenza is something that medical professionals and other professionals working in the field of public health are actively urging to everyone, particularly in the days leading up to Christmas get-togethers.

The following is a statement that was made by Dr. Schaffner: “All of those gatherings that are so heartwarming and fun and joyful are also an opportunity for this virus to spread from person to person…” Because there is still time to get vaccinated, you should not think twice about getting vaccinated.

In spite of this, the Louisiana Department of Health issued a statement on Friday declaring that it was dropping its recommendation that individuals receive vaccines against the influenza virus and COVID-19. The statement claimed that the recommendation was being withdrawn. This recommendation was mentioned in the press release that was issued.

The most current position that the department has taken is that individuals should consult with their physicians in order to determine whether or not the shots are suitable for them. This was said in a letter that was written by an official.

SOUREC: USN

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Kelly Clarkson Weight Loss Wasn’t Ozempic It Was a High Protein Diet

MAID Now Accounts for 1 in 20 Deaths in Canada

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Kelly Clarkson Weight Loss Wasn’t Ozempic It Was a High Protein Diet

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Kelly Clarkson shares about her weight loss journey

Kelly Clarkson’s remarkable weight loss has been a major topic of conversation for quite some time now, and the 42-year-old singer and talk show presenter has been very open about it with her fans!

The Kelly Clarkson program host had spoken up about her ever-shrinking figure multiple times, including on her talk program, when she admitted to utilizing a weight loss injection (not Ozempic!) to help her owing to being pre-diabetic.

Kelly revealed that she has lost a lot of weight, saying, ‘Mine is a different one than people assume, but I ended up needing to do it also because my blood work was so poor.’ She said that she had not taken Ozempic.

Kelly Clarkson did not name the medicine but described it as “something that aids in the breakdown of the sugar—my body does not do it right.”

She said her doctor ‘chased [her] for, like, two years’ to take the medication, but she was concerned about the consequences on her thyroid. However, she took it after seeing a birthday special she intended to release.

Kelly Clarkson Weight Loss

‘All of a sudden I halted it, and I was like, “Who the f*ck is that?'” she added. “You see it and you’re like, “Well, she’s about to die of a heart attack”,” Kelly said.

Whoopi, for her part, said she shed the weight of ‘nearly two people’ after ‘taking that great shot that works for persons who need some help.’

“It’s great for people like us who have issues,” the View co-host continued. She mentioned earlier that she is using Mounjaro for weight loss.
Her weight loss began following a health concern.

Kelly Clarkson originally hinted at her weight loss on her talk show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, in December 2023. According to US Today, she previously stated that she no longer wore Spanx. “It’s quite cold inside this building. I don’t even have to wear Spanx anymore. “I just wear them for warmth, like thermals,” Kelly explained during a singing game.

However, on January 29, Kelly said on her show that she was doing ‘ something’ about her weight after obtaining a pre-diabetic diagnosis a few years prior.

(According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, pre-diabetes means having blood sugar levels that are ‘greater than usual’ but not high enough for a type 2 diabetes diagnosis.) ‘I wasn’t astonished,’ she explained. ‘I was a little bit overweight.

‘They said, “You’re pre-diabetic.” You’re right on the brink.” And I was like, “But I’m not there yet,” she added. ‘And then I waited two years and said, “Okay, I’ll do something about it.”‘

High Protein Diet

Kelly Clarkson has changed her diet and is focussing on consuming plenty of protein.

‘I eat a healthy mix,’ she told People. ‘I lost weight because I listened to my doctor, which I hadn’t done in a few years. And I succeed 90% of the time since a protein-rich diet already benefits me. I’m a Texas gal, so I enjoy meat—sorry, vegans of the world!”

Kelly stated that her diet is a ‘healthy mix’, which means she still allows sweets.

I still indulge. ‘The other night, I had frozen yoghurt with my daughter, and it was fantastic,’ she continued.

Kelly stated that in 2018 when on a weight-loss journey, she would change the ingredients in her meals to make them healthier. ‘It’s the same stuff you eat; I use different ingredients,’ she explained.

‘Even for fried chicken, I use cassava flour, tapioca, or almond flour, while you use hormone-free chicken.’

However, Kelly agreed that this is not the most convenient option for most people. ‘I’m going to be honest with you: it’s incredibly expensive,’ she said.

Kelly later stated that she had lost weight after reading Dr. Steven Gundry’s The Plant Paradox. The Plant Paradox Diet is lectin-free, excluding beans, legumes, whole grains, some vegetables, and dairy.

‘I literally read this book, and I followed it for an autoimmune condition and a thyroid issue, and now all of my numbers are back up,’ Kelly told Extra the same year. ‘Thanks to this book, I’m no longer taking medication. It’s all about how we cook our food: non-GMO, pesticide-free, and eating organically.

In addition to nutrition and exercise, Kelly revealed that she has been using infrared saunas, which have been shown to promote sleep, ease tension and pain, and help clarify skin.

She’s also tried cold plunges. ‘I just took a chilly plunge because everyone wore me down,’ Kelly explained.

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MAID Now Accounts for 1 in 20 Deaths in Canada

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MAID cases rose to 15,000 in 2023
MAID, often known as voluntary euthanasia, accounted for 4.7% of Canadian deaths in 2023

Medical assistance in dying (MAID), often known as voluntary euthanasia, accounted for 4.7% of Canadian deaths in 2023, according to new Health Canada data.

According to Heath Canada’s fifth annual report, since the Trudeau government legalized MAID in 2016, about 15,300 persons will undergo assisted death in 2023 if their applications are granted.

The median age in this group was more than 77. The great majority, almost 96%, died from “reasonably foreseeable” causes, such as cancer.

In a tiny number of other cases, patients may not have been terminally sick but wanted assisted suicide owing to a protracted and difficult illness that had significantly reduced their quality of life.

Canada is one of a few countries that have passed assisted dying legislation in the last decade. Others include Australia, New Zealand, Spain, and Austria.

In Canada, consenting adults can request medical help in dying from a healthcare physician if they have a serious and irreversible medical condition. Some constraints exist, such as requiring two independent healthcare providers to certify the patient’s eligibility before the request is authorized.

Quebec Highest in MAID Deaths

In 2023, more than 320,000 individuals died in Canada, with medical assistance accounting for 15,300 of those fatalities (or around one in every 20).

According to estimates presented by Health Canada on Wednesday, the rate of assisted dying in Canada would rise by about 16% in 2023. This figure represents a significant decrease from the average increase of 31% in prior years.

The research stated that it is too early to determine what caused the rate to slow. For the first time, the report examined race and ethnic data on persons who received MAID.

Around 96% of receivers identified as caucasian, who comprise over 70% of Canada’s population. It’s unknown what produced the difference.

The second-highest reported ethnic group was East Asians (1.8%), who comprise approximately 5.7% of Canadians.

MAID remained the most commonly used method in Quebec, accounting for roughly 37% of all euthanasia fatalities despite the province’s population being only 22% of Canada.

The Quebec government initiated a study earlier this year to investigate why its euthanasia rate was so high.

Expanded Access to MAID

In 2021, the Trudeau government expanded access to MAID for persons who do not have a terminal diagnosis but wish to terminate their lives due to a chronic, disabling ailment. Earlier this year, it was announced that access to those with mental problems would be expanded again.

However, it was postponed for the second time because Canadian provinces, which control healthcare delivery, raised concerns about the system’s ability to handle such a large expansion.

On Wednesday, Health Canada defended the procedure, citing the criminal code’s “strict eligibility” conditions.

However, Cardus, a Christian research tank, claimed the latest MAID data were “alarming” and revealed that Canada has one of the world’s fastest-growing euthanasia regimes.

A report released in October by the Ontario government offered some insight on contentious cases in which people were awarded assisted dying when they were not reaching the end of their natural lives.

One example was a woman in her fifties with a history of melancholy and suicide ideation who was extremely sensitive to chemicals.

Her plea for euthanasia was granted after she was unable to find a home that could meet her medical requirements.

Another example made headlines recently, involving a Nova Scotia cancer patient who claimed she was twice asked if she was aware of assisted dying as an option while undergoing mastectomy surgery.

According to the National Post, the question “came up in completely inappropriate places”.

Many other Canadian news sites have also covered incidents in which people with disabilities considered assisted suicide owing to a lack of housing or disability assistance.

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