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Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ Profile
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ

@BlairBigham

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Journalist @CMAJ | ICU&ER doc | editor @healthydebate | scientist @American_Heart | bestselling author #DeathInterrupted ~via @Stanford @UofT @LSHTM @McMasterU

San Francisco and Toronto
Joined June 2014
Don't wanna be here? Send us removal request.
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
2 years
What happens when we have technology to support every organ, but no prescription to save your life? It's my job to make sure no one dies too early. But do some die too late? I explored this dilemma while writing Death Interrupted... it's fascinating.
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
3 years
Finished 6 very busy nights in the COVID ICU. 7 deaths, all unvaccinated. I am completed exhausted. Too tired to eat, and too hungry to sleep.
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
4 years
Exciting news! After COVID kept us apart for months, I proposed to the love of my life the minute he got off the plane. Thanks @United for sneaking me to gate G3 to surprise him @flySFO . I couldn't be happier :)
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
2 years
Iโ€™m so excited to see the cover of my new book, inspired by 17 yrs on ambulances & helicopters, then in the emergency room & now in intensive care. Death Interrupted explores the influence of modern technology on how we survive or die from critical illness. Preorder for Sept20.
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
3 years
To those inquisitive souls wondering how many people usually died in my ICU before COVID, the answer is zero. Zero people died in my COVID ICU before COVID, because we didn't have to open an extra ICU to treat patients with preventable lung disease.
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
3 years
Finished 6 very busy nights in the COVID ICU. 7 deaths, all unvaccinated. I am completed exhausted. Too tired to eat, and too hungry to sleep.
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
5 months
I want a commitment from @fordnation @ONThealth to fund desperately needed surge beds so patients donโ€™t sleep on the ER floor; so elderly people donโ€™t wait 22h in a wheelchair for a bed; so that I donโ€™t have to discuss miscarriages in public hallways; so I can resuscitate people
@HealthyDebate
Healthy Debate
5 months
What do #healthcare experts want for our health-care system this holiday season? By @maddidellplain
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
4 years
I worked through SARS as a #paramedic , contracted H1N1 flying w @Ornge and will survive #COVID19 too. Here's some tips to keep #Doctors #Nurses #Paramedics #RespiratoryTherapists safe based on lessons from past epidemics. @ResidentDoctors @emresidents @OntParamedic @ontarionurses
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
3 years
48h later: no fever, no fatigue, no malaise. Iโ€™ve felt fine since I got my vax. My arm is still a bit sore at the injection site, but nothing compared to the heartache I have every time I go to work in the COVID ICU. @StanfordCCM @LakeridgeHealth @UnityHealthTO @STJOESHAMILTON
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
1 year
Iโ€™m in rural Ontario trying to discharge someone needing home O2 to palliate. But they live on the other side of the Ottawa river in Quebec, and Iโ€™m not licensed there. We need national licensure for healthcare professionals. @CAEP_Docs @CMA_Docs @OntariosDoctors @picardonhealth
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
3 years
Working in a COVID ICU has been one of the hardest things Iโ€™ve done in my 16 years as a clinician; so many unnecessary deaths. My gratitude to โฆ @TheLancet โฉ for letting me express an inner dialogue I had recently, through my lens as a brother.
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
5 years
Itโ€™s official! Next June, Iโ€™ll complete my @MacEmerg residency and move to San Francisco to start an ICU fellowship @StanfordMed - with other exciting local opportunities in the works. Excited to start a new chapter in my life! Grateful to my mentors who encouraged me to apply.
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
5 months
Happy holidays from the ICU!
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
4 years
Last emerg shift @MacEmerg . 5 years of residency is coming to an end. Itโ€™s been a slice! Thanks to everyone @MacHealthSci @STJOESHAMILTON @HHS_staff @mch_childrens @MacDeptMed who have helped me grow. See yaโ€™ll around :)
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
2 years
Iโ€™m sooo tired. Everyone I work with is just sooo tired. We are out of runway. All we can do on the front lines is show up and hope it ends soon. Please say something nice to a healthcare worker today. And just follow the rules for a little while longer. @CAEP_Docs #onpoli
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
2 years
When your book is placed next to โฆ @DrJenGunter โฉ you kinda freak out a little. Itโ€™s out!! #DeathInterrupted delves into a modern dilemma: we have technology to support almost every organ, but when do we throw in the towel and allow death to come? We canโ€™t all live forever.
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
4 years
Our biggest mistake all along has been to follow the virus instead of getting in front of it. We need to skate to where the puck is going to be, not to where is has been. #COVID19
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
4 years
I worked SARS as a #paramedic , got occupational H1N1, and will survive #COVID19 too. Here's tips to keep #Doctors #Nurses #Paramedics @theCRTO safe based on lessons from past epidemics. @picardonhealth @CPHO_Canada @EmergencyDocs @TChanMD @ALiEMteam @LITFLblog @precordialthump
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
3 years
COVID cases are climbing again and Iโ€™m so sick and tired of intubating people. My latest for โฆ @GlobeDebate โฉ At this point in the pandemic, itโ€™s misinformation thatโ€™s killing people โฆ @SeemaMarwahaMD โฉ โฆ @StanfordMed โฉ โฆ @StanfordCCM โฉ
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
4 years
See ya soon, Toronto. โฆ @StanfordMed โฉ bound. Canโ€™t wait to see what California has in store.
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
3 years
Nine and a half months after intubating my first COVID patient I was vaccinated. The development of a vaccine this year is an achievement in human history. I canโ€™t wait for COVID to go away, and today an end is in sight. โฆ @StanfordMed โฉ โฆ @StanfordCCM โฉ โฆ @Stanford โฉ
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Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
2 years
3 things I learned taking the last 2 weeks off from the ER and ICU to refresh: 1. It's hard to know you're experiencing burnout until you aren't experiencing burnout anymore 2. My partner suffers from my burnout as much as I do 3. Sacrificing fiction reading is short-sighted
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
4 years
Iโ€™m going to work today. Do me a favour: Stay home. Stay apart. Donโ€™t touch your face. Thanks.
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
4 years
My boyfriend made me pad Thai for my birthday because we had to cancel our trip to Thailand. He also turned the living room into an airplane, gave me a boarding card, and dressed like a flight attendant and sang a flight briefing al-la- @RuPaulsDragRace . Best J service everโค๏ธ
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
4 years
My boyfriend and I are on opposite shifts and I havenโ€™t seen him in 4 days. I came home and found Doug dressed up for dinner and seafood pasta waiting for me (and him) in the fridge. #CovidMicrowaving #CovidCooking #NoYouCantHaveHim
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
4 years
The moment when you get off a last minute Zoom video conference call and realize a) you didnโ€™t do your hair today b) you havenโ€™t shaved since Friday and c) youโ€™re wearing your lace shirt usually reserved for gay clubs. #workingfromhome #ZoomFail #OwnIt
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
4 years
Itโ€™s here. Time to kick some virus ass. #FightCorona
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
3 years
My gratitude to @TheLancet for letting me express an inner dialogue I had recently in the โฆ @StanfordMed โฉ COVID ICU through my lens as a brother โฆ @StanfordCCM โฉ โฆ @MacDeptMed โฉ โฆ @EMUofT โฉ โฆ @UofT_DoM โฉ โฆ @picardonhealth โฉ @naemsp
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
4 years
So apparently, 2020 can actually get worse. Such sad news. #RBG was a champion for minority rights including #LGBT rights. A giant among giants, her impact is immeasurable.
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
10 months
I never expected people leading hospitals and health systems to come up to me and share stories from their lives which they relate to the themes and anecdotes in my book. It's truly humbling and speaks to the universality not only of death but of the modern struggles with it.
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
5 years
I'm curious to hear perspectives on this @bmj_latest article from everyone, including med anthro expert @purdy_eve , org culture expert @GetCuriousNow , med ed gurus @sherbino @SocraticEM , and frontliners @Aidan_Baron @bechardmel @DrJenGunter @choo_ek :
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
4 months
When will Canada start to take life threatening ER delays seriously? >60min offload delay; >35h for inpt bed Atrocious to leave the elderly in hallways UK NHS: declare critical incident! Canada: just another dayโ€ฆ @CAEP_Docs @CMA_Docs @OntariosDoctors @picardonhealth
@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
4 months
>60min offload delay; >35h for inpt bed - UK: critical incident! Canada: just another dayโ€ฆ
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
3 years
I'm tired of surveys that show #LGBTQIA patients receive inequitable health care. Inequities are a product of our health education system. We can fix it. @MikeGisondi @CAEP_Docs @CJEMonline @CAEP_2SLGBTQ @CAEPResidents @caepstudent @MacEmerg @EMUofT
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
2 years
Wow, โฆ @mattgallowaycbc โฉ got deep into the dilemma of how we die when technology has failed to save us. Honoured to chat with him. ~~ Why one doctor says modern medicine has disrupted our relationship with death | The Current with Matt Galloway
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
4 years
Dr Greenwood has been my family doctor for 34 years. Today I wished him a happy retirement and thanked him. We joked about the current state of medicine, but he said itโ€™s as fascinating now as it was when he started. A great role model and an inspiring doc.
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
5 months
Itโ€™s a honour to have @Radiolab share the story of my Dad. Next week will be bitter sweet as Fernando and I celebrate our one year anniversary. His surgeon @Sunnybrook put him in a taxi w NG to come officiate our wedding hours before palliative surgery.
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
4 years
Oh dear. @CBCNews please call me or anyone else on the front lines before giving Richard Schabas any more airtime. This is not an overreaction. @CAEP_Docs emergency doctors are bracing for an unprecedented surge in demand over the next months. Moves to #ShutItDown were justified.
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
3 years
Nailed it, @picardonhealth โฉ explains why more beds wonโ€™t cut it: โ€œ a bed is not just a bed; it requires a highly skilled team... 13 months into the pandemic, finding health workers who are still standing is an ever-growing challenge.โ€
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
4 years
This is chaos. The @Royal_College fails to do their job, dumps their problem at the doorstep of @cpso_ca and now 2000 specialists are told NOT to work during a pandemic? We need to instantly certify and license @ResidentDoctors . @picardonhealth @theresaboyle @tomblackwellNP
@ALubeyMD
Ashley Lauren
4 years
Thanks for this grand advice @cpso_ca some of us have already taken jobs and planned for our futures starting July 1...
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
3 years
This tweet is gonna have a short shelf life but here goes... today is the worst day of @fordnation โ€™s political career. #ontpoli
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
4 years
My friend is going to work in the ER tonight. Weโ€™re all scared, but we also have work to do. โฆ @MacEmerg โฉ is gonna #FightTheVirus and win. โฆ @HHS_staff โฉ โฆ @STJOESHAMILTON โฉ have strong and brave health care workers who canโ€™t stay home. Please, stay home for them.
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
5 years
Sometimes, it's hard for me to know if you're having an emergency. @AnthemBCBS policy asks you to determine if you're having an emergency before coming to the ER. If I can't figure it out with all my resources, how should you? END the games. @EmergencyDocs @ACEPNow @CAEP_Docs
@JAMANetworkOpen
JAMA Network Open
5 years
An insurer's cost-reduction policy may make 9 out of 10 ED patient weigh the chance of having an emergency against possible coverage denial. #JNOVA50 cc: @mdaware
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
4 years
#CovidCooking day 4. When you come home from an ICU night shift and your boyfriend made you eggs Benedict with real peameal! :) (I was so hungry I ate half of it before I remembered to snap a pic). Also, no you canโ€™t have him, heโ€™s mine.
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
6 years
If you're rude to colleagues, you're hurting patients. Diagnostic performance significantly lower in team exposed to rudeness 2.65 vs 3.18, p0.005; Procedural performance significantly lower in team exposed to rudeness 2.77 vs 3.26, p0.008 @MacEmerg
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
3 years
So grateful to @CJEMonline @EMO_Daddy for inviting @MikeGisondi of @StanfordEMED and I to lend our thoughts on how to teach our way into a better future for LGBTQ+ healthcare. @StanfordMed @StanfordCCM @StanfordHealth @Stanford
@MikeGisondi
Michael A. Gisondi, MD
3 years
Pleased to share my @CJEMonline editorial co-authored with @BlairBigham : "LGBTQ+ Health: A Failure of Medical Education." Link: #LGBTQ #MedEd @MSPA_National
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
5 months
Listening to this gives me chills. Thanks to @latifnasser and the @Radiolab team for the care they took in telling my dadโ€™s story. Itโ€™s a privilege to save lives with critical care technology and itโ€™s a privilege to provide palliative support when that technology fails to help
@Radiolab
Radiolab
5 months
This week on Radiolab: An ICU doctor promotes accepting death, then his dad gets terminal cancer. Listen to "Death Interrupted"
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
3 years
93 hours later and my arm is back to normal. No fevers, no aches. Still feeling sexy. #vaxxxed
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
4 years
My birthday trip to Sri Lanka and Madagascar got cancelled due to the pandemic, but I woke up on my birthday to learn I had adopted a slow loris (Sri Lanka) and a lemur (Madagascar)! Best. Boyfriend. Ever.
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
4 years
Corona upside: a relaxing Sunday morning making breakfast with my boyfriend. Brunch @ home :)
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
6 years
My debut in @macleans - (Opinion) It's time for Transport Canada to listen to doctors, not airlines, and regulate modern emergency gear on board airliners. โ€ฆ @MacEmerg @CAEP_Docs @CAEPResidents @CMAJ
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
5 years
7 hours of studying in a coffee shop; I think Iโ€™m ready for my elective โฆ @UHN โฉ ICU. Excited to get some ECMO and lung/liver transplant experience :)
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
4 years
See you in Hell, Pager #6434 .
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
6 years
Thanks @CMA_Docs for this honour! And thanks @MacEmerg @thecribby @WelsfordM @drfoxrob for the nomination :) great to be recognized for medical #journalism from my training @munkjournalism and partnerships w @CBCHealth @TorontoStar @globeandmail @macleans @VICE @walrusmagazine
@CMA_Docs
Canadian Medical Association
6 years
In addition to being an emergency med. resident at @McMasterU and a qualified helicopter paramedic, @BlairBigham is also a medical journalist. He is also a #CMAAwards2018 Young Leaders (residents) recipient - Read his story:
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
2 years
New health podcast! Join us every other Monday for the latest on Canadaโ€™s health care successes and failures, inspired by the pages of โฆ @CMAJ โฉ. On Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. โฆWith the fabulous @Drmojolaomole โฉ. Launching next week!
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
5 years
โ€œI think itโ€™s incredibly irresponsible and very cruel,โ€ Ford gov to cut $1-billion in funding to Toronto Public Health over 10 yrs. This is the definition of madness. Public health PREVENTS acute care costs by orders of magnitude. โฆ @OntariosDoctors โฉ
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
5 months
Celebrating a rainy first anniversary at the @TorontoZoo with our ring bearer, the goat named Easter Bunny (heโ€™s staying warm in his little house). Thinking of how magical our wedding was 365 days ago.
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
3 years
I wrote this in the midst of working in a COVID ICU where families were banned from visiting their loved ones as they died. Iโ€™m not sure the right way to balance safety and humanity but I donโ€™t think we did a good job via @JAMA_current part of @JAMANetwork
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
4 years
@meganranney @DylanRJCollins Once I was transporting a bleeding patient to a trauma center by helicopter. My pilot said he needed to do a fuel stop. I asked if we could stretch it to the helipad and he said โ€œI fly on fuel, not hopeโ€.
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
4 years
Equity argument falls flat: Fall exams don't help pregnant candidates, candidates with job commitments, candidates sprinkled all over the world for fellowships. Equity and fairness required an exam before June 30. #ExamFail . This special meeting is an echo chamber from March 2020
@LindsayAMilroy
Lindsay Milroy (Cherpak)
4 years
Thanks @BlairBigham for volunteering to speak on behalf of residents at the @Royal_College special meeting. You raise a great point - no resident representative bodies as part of the discussion (RDoc or PHOs). @ResidentDoctors
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
6 years
Every 9 minutes, someone in Ontario visits an ER for dental pain. Yet dental care isnโ€™t covered under Medicare. One in five people avoids dentists because they canโ€™t afford it. Hasan Sheikh calls @CAEP_Docs to action #caep18 @AndreaHorwath @Kathleen_Wynne @fordnation
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
3 years
Happening now: Ontario Health Minister @celliottability and Premier @fordnation say โ€œUrgent and immediate action must be takenโ€ฆ to save livesโ€ and then defer lockdown till Dec 26. Negligent. This will cost lives. We need to shut it down now; ICU beds critically low. #ontpoli
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
8 years
Understanding The W5 Report: A Journalist-Paramedic Responds
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
6 years
Thanks! Couldnโ€™t do what I do without my AMAZING resident, nurse and RT colleagues, and the mentorship of @WelsfordM and the @MacEmerg attendings - and of course the best PD ever, @AlimPardhan , and support from @MacDeptMed and @PWasiMacPGME !
@MacEmerg
McMaster Emerg Med
6 years
Congrats to @BlairBigham who will join the ranks of @MacEmerg residents who have won the @CAEP_Docs resident leadership award!! #MedEd Congrats to Blair who is the 2018 FRCPC resident leadership award!! #MedEd #hcldr
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Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
5 years
Ceiling "skylights" - Very cool way to improve the ICU experience and prevent delirium. @drfoxrob @karen_choong
@LHCHFT
LHCH
5 years
We're so pleased that one of our new LED sky ceilings has been installed in intensive care, thanks to @lhchcharity . Hopefully this small change will help to make a big difference to the experience of our patients and families while they receive care and treatment at LHCH.
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
3 years
Wellness isnโ€™t about add-ons to make a bad system tolerable. Wellness requires seismic shifts in the system so that nothing needs to be added on. We all want to care for patients, but thatโ€™s only part of my job. Find a way to get rid of the other part.
@EmICUcanada
Sara Gray
3 years
@HealthyDebate @TChanMD @DrCarolynSnider @jamesmaskalyk @CVarnerEmerg @BlairBigham 1. Fix the system. Seriously. 2. Devote real money, time and leadership to wellbeing, not just lip service.
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
4 years
Calling โฆ @JustinTrudeau โฉ - Four things Canada needs to do NOW to support frontline health care workers and save lives โฆ @OntariosDoctors โฉ โฆ @CritCareSociety โฉ โฆ @MacEmerg โฉ โฆ @CAEP_Docs โฉ โฆ @CMA_Docs โฉ โฆ @uoftmedicine โฉ
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
4 years
Thanks! Great to meet you in person! So excited to join @StanfordMed and canโ€™t wait to meet more of the @StanfordEMED team :). Week #1 has been awesome.
@MikeGisondi
Michael A. Gisondi, MD
4 years
The One and Only @BlairBigham is now in the building (The New Stanford Hospital). Congratulations on starting an outstanding critical care training program!
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
3 years
@grandpawrinkles Prior to COVID, we didn't have a COVID ICU, so I guess I'd say zero. Two weeks ago in an equally sized non-covid ICU we had one death.
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
4 years
Doctors are confused - Public Health Ontario needs to step up their game. โฆ @ResidentDoctors โฉ โฆ @picardonhealth โฉ โฆ @carlyweeks โฉ โฆ @AndreaWoo โฉ โฆ @theresaboyle โฉ โฆ @tomblackwellNP โฉ โฆ @CAEP_Docs โฉ โฆ @OntariosDoctors โฉ
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
6 years
Shoot, I forgot to consult the gun industry before advocating for my dead patients. My bad- Iโ€™ll try 2 b less self-important next time @MacEmerg @MacDeptMed @CAEPResidents @CAEP_Docs @OntParamedic @PAC_Paramedic @emresidents @EmergencyDocs @ACEPNow @OntariosDoctors @WeAreCanadiEM
@NRA
NRA
6 years
Someone should tell self-important anti-gun doctors to stay in their lane. Half of the articles in Annals of Internal Medicine are pushing for gun control. Most upsetting, however, the medical community seems to have consulted NO ONE but themselves.
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
5 months
Thanks for making #DeathInterrupted a best seller for a second year!! Need something that arrives next day for stocking stuffers or last minute gifts? Consider sparking an important conversation on life at the end.
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
3 years
So proud of my fiancee for sharing his story of battling for his father in our broken health system.
@CMAJ
CMAJ
3 years
A patient in the wrong place: Fernando Valencia's dadโ€™s remarkable recovery after a severe subarachnoid hemorrhage was met with frustrating health system failures. Read the new #PatientPortrait by @SeemaMarwahaMD : #cdnhealth
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
4 years
Iโ€™m on nights. Heโ€™s on days. This is what I come home to. Thanks babe.
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
3 years
I woke up this morning 99.9% human and 0.01% virus mRNA. I have never felt sexier. But for so many people this vaccine didnโ€™t come fast enough. They soffocated to death, alone, afraid, because the world failed to control spread of COVID. Please do your part. Get the vax.
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
5 years
@MedicalPost
The Medical Post
5 years
Over his 15-year career, Dr. @BlairBigham 's work as a journalist and as a helicopter paramedic has changed his views of medicine gated
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
4 years
Canadian junior doctors found out today our royal college exams are postponed till the fall. This shuts down pipeline of new doctors right when Canada needs them most - horrible. @picardonhealth @theresaboyle @carlyweeks @kellygrant1 @tomblackwellNP @CTV_AvisFavaro @bruce_arthur
@DrDanica
Danica Kindrachuk, MD FRCSC
4 years
I wish I could say I understand @Royal_College decision to postpone exams 6 months. I don't at all and am absolutely devastated. My entire life has been shredded to pieces. I'm also going to be jobless for 6 months now as no way I can start a practice while having to study.
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
4 years
I wonder if โฆ @AFMC_e โฉ and โฆ @Royal_College โฉ realize that their choices to delay exams for graduating residents until September have had a more negative impact on resident stress than the pandemic. #examfail โฆ @jddneary โฉ โฆ @ResidentDoctors โฉ โฆ @MaryOrmsby โฉ
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
3 years
Canadian-to-American translation cheat sheet for my friends at @StanfordCCM @StanfordEMED @StanfordMed @American_Heart @NAEMSP @EMSWorldOFCL
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
4 years
As Colleges fail in their duty to certify, physicians revolt. What's next for Canada's graduating doctors amid an unprecedented epidemic? @picardonhealth @theresaboyle @tomblackwellNP @kellygrant1 @carlyweeks @CTV_AvisFavaro @cbcmark @VikCBC
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
6 years
Tips on saying โ€œnoโ€ so you can stay sane. My darkest months have been those where too many yeses coalesced into an unmanageable workload. Stress comes from perceived reputational risk and fear of letting others down. Anticipated workload is hard to predict; timelines often shift.
@tingdan
Daniel Ting
6 years
#Burnout is a big problem in medicine, but what are concrete solutions? We suggest 3 for residency: (1) Integration of #wellness into existing curricula, (2) Formalize time to share vulnerability, (3) Learn to say no! #meded @CJEMonline @ResidentDoctors
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
4 years
Sometimes itโ€™s good to rush to press.
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
4 years
@paperdoll64 The pandemic's over.
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
6 years
Great perspective, very relevant to residents! Many mentors @MacEmerg (and elsewhere!) that have influenced me beyond words. The 5 types of mentors you need in your life via @TEDTalks
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
4 years
Its astounding to see how hard my friends, colleagues & managers are working to prepare for the COVID tsunami. Through chaotic weeks, it's starting to come together, & people are aligned: we will #FightTheVirus & win! @MacDeptMed @MacHealthSci @HHS_staff @STJOESHAMILTON @MacEmerg
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
6 years
Bad CPR is a preventable harm: how do we best teach current and future resuscitators? By revamping code education: evidence summary released today! @TheHSF @American_Heart @CAEP_Docs @CAEPResidents @emresidents @MacEmerg @MacDeptMed
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
5 months
Emergency room chaos is about more than dignity and compassion for the ill. Overcrowding is proven to be deadly. @CAEP_Docs have been advocating for decades to ensure ER teams have space and resources to care for sick Canadians.
@TheSGEM
Ken Milne MD
5 months
@BlairBigham @fordnation @ONThealth Holding elderly patients over night associated with increased mortality. Thatโ€™s right, more elderly people die due to overcrowding. @JAMA_current @SAEMEBM
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
7 months
Thrilled to be sharing what I've learned over the years as a paramedic, ER doc and intensivist about the end of life @UofTSurgery Balfour Lecture @agotoronto Nov 29.
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
5 months
Thank you for inviting me. I was delighted to chat with such a caring group of clinicians.
@UofTSurgery
U of T Department of Surgery
5 months
About the death dilemma. Such a thought provoking and eye-opening talk by @BlairBigham during the @UofTSurgery 2023 Balfour lecture.
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
3 years
Second shot! So grateful to be vaccinated. Lots of great questions came pouring in after my first dose... hereโ€™s answers to two of the most common around the safety of mRNA vaccines. #covid19 #vaccination
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
1 year
Brilliant essay on how antiquated death certificates fail to speak for the dead to protect the living, by not capturing the true reasons disease leads to death. By @Bondzi23 in @TorontoStar
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
5 years
Donโ€™t judge me. This is what happens when United gives me 54$ for breakfast during a flight delay.
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
6 years
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
6 years
Whatโ€™s more Canadian than universal access to healthcare? My latest for @globeandmail All Canadians deserve access to precious emergency care /via @globe
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
4 years
Ontario is looking for doctors. Time to expedite @Royal_College certification & @cpso_ca licensure of @ResidentDoctors as soon as possible. @ONThealth @celliottability @GovCanHealth @JustinTrudeau - government needs to intervene @MacDeptMed @UofTPGME @jddneary @AlimPardhan
@ONThealth
Ontario Ministry of Health
4 years
@Kevin_Getz Ontario is looking for additional experienced health care providers to help provincial efforts to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19. Learn more at:
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
4 years
Ontario @celliottability @fordnation must revise O. Reg. 865/93, s. 3 (1) to allow @cpso_ca to license doctors who may be alternatively certified by @Royal_College to support pandemic fight on the front lines. @picardonhealth @theresaboyle @carlyweeks @jddneary @ResidentDoctors
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
4 years
Canada's health and science journalists have saved more lives than doctors in the last two weeks by articuling important information about social distancing and reducing fear and panic. Kudos to you all! We know you're working overtime and we appreciate it. #scicomm
@carlyweeks
Carly Weeks
4 years
#COVID19 has shown many the true value of good journalism. Many outlets, like @globeandmail , have removed their paywalls so everyone can stay up to date. But news costs money to produce. Please subscribe to local, regional, national outlets.
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
5 years
Emerg docs speak out - The view from the ER: Ford is chopping up the safety net | The Star โฆ @EMUofT โฉ โฆ @MacEmerg โฉ โฆ @CAEPResidents โฉ โฆ @ResidentDoctors โฉ โฆ @picardonhealth โฉ โฆ @theresaboyle โฉ โฆ @carlyweeks โฉ
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@BlairBigham
Blair Bigham ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
3 years
Not happening in Ontario's hospitals: Overhead speaker: CODE BLUE!! CODE BLUE!! Code blue team: "We're drinking Lattes and playing Angry Birds, can we come on Boxing Day? @fordnation @celliottability @OntHospitalAssn @ONThealth @OntariosDoctors @ontarionurses @OntParamedic
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