A day in the Life of a Community HCA in the Fraser Valley

The link below is an older video taken at the First annual BC Home Support Summit on Oct 16, 2012 in Vancouver BC.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPS6LJckP9I&feature=youtu.be

The summit was an opportunity for BC's care workers to meet others in the industry as well as listen to some amazing and inspiring speakers.

One of the highlights of the day was a conversational panel presented by Dr. Hister, featuring two of the care workers that appear in the BC Says Thank You campaign videos, Mona Morgan and Karen Reeves-Mitchell. They, along with three other care workers, discussed what a day in the life of a community health worker is like.

The BC HCA Registry

If you are a Health Care Assistant in BC, you are required to register in the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry. 
For more information please follow the link below for The BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry Website:
http://www.cachwr.bc.ca/
This is a really informative website, explaining the background of the registry, guiding HCA's on how to register, and it offers information to employers and to the public.
Here is a quick link to the FAQ section of the website: http://www.cachwr.bc.ca/FAQ.asp?NavPage=15&Ticket

What Is My Title?

Sometimes it can be confusing being a HCA, because there are many different titles or names that go along with the career. This can also make it confusing when searching and applying for a job.
Here is a list of commonly used titles:

-Health Care Assistant
-Client Care Attendant
-Geriatric Health Aide
-Home Support Worker
-Institutional Aide
-Medical Assistant
-Nursing Assistant
-Personal Care Attendant
-Residential Care Aide
-Community Care Worker
-Personal Care Assistant
-Nurse’s Aide
-Community Service Worker
-Home Health Aide
-Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
-Community Health Worker
-Home-support Worker
-Long-Term Care Aides
-Continuing-Care Assistants

A Special Day to Mark on your Calendar

Come October it is time for HCA's to be recognized throughout the Province of British Columbia because October 18th is the official "Health Care Assistant' s Day"!

http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/2012/10/bc-celebrates-health-care-assistant-day.html

Amazing Dementia Care Education

Check out these U-tube videos of Teepa Snow, who I would say is one of the best educators of how to care for and understand someone who has dementia. Such a valuable resource for HCA's who are working with dementia patients on a regular basis.
http://www.youtube.com/user/teepasnow?feature=results_right_main
If you are looking to gain some personal educational credits, you can obtain educational certificates in dementia care training by watching Teepa Snow videos on the 'Dementia Care Academy' website:
https://dementiacareacademy.com/static/health_care_professional.htm
This website is also full of many links to other resources for the health care worker.

Who is Katie Anyways??

Hello Everyone:

I just wanted to give you a little backgroud information about me :-)
Off the bat, you might be thinking "why is an RN blogging about HCA's?"
Well, the answer to this question is that I am currently teaching the HCA program at the University of the Fraser Valley in Chilliwack BC. I started this blog as a requirement for a course I am taking at Vancouver Community College towards obtaining my Provincial Instructors Diploma. (for more information of the program you can access the link to your right titled "SIE-Instructor Diploma Program").
I have an extensive background in Health Care, starting with myself being a HCA, which is why I have such a passion for increasing the recognition and respect for HCA's in our Health Care System. Since I have both worked as and worked with HCA's I deeply respect and value their contribution to a health care team.
Hopefully this blog will help me share my passion, as well as, resources pertaining to HCA's, health care and education.
Cheers,
-Katie

Technology in Health Care

Hello Everyone:

Since I am enrolled in a course called 'Media-Enhanced Learning' through VCC which has a focus on the incorporation of technology in education, I am going to try and find interesting articles and links regarding technology in our Health Care System. Just as technology is advancing into the classroom it is also advancing into hospitals, home care and care facilities.
Here is the first article I found in Forbes titled "5 Ways Technology is Transforming Health Care" regarding emerging technology in Health Care: 
http://www.forbes.com/sites/bmoharrisbank/2013/01/24/5-ways-technology-is-transforming-health-care/

Stay tuned...more article and links to come!