Members Only Healthcare Clinic

[paullind10]

A members only clinic will be opening up in Edmonton and Calgary shortly after a successfull start up in Vancouver.

Of course they pay for membership, $2000-4000/year but they get top notch healthcare services. Most of which focuses on preventative healthcare, rather than the public system approach of treating patients after they fall ill.

These clinics work on what you eat, diets, exercise and more. They provides hours of doctor and nurse care and many basic tests, contrary to the public system where 5 minutes and you're rushed out the door.

Is an 'ounce of prevention worth a pound of cure'? The clinic director claims this is a more effective healthcare system that will reduce costs in the long run.

Would you like to see the Canadian public healthcare system more proactive or keep prescribing us expensive medicine like Lipitor to combat the obesity epidemic?
--
Healthcare Reviews , http://www.healthcarereviews.com , building a better healthcare system through patient feedback.

 

[karrie]

A responsible doctor now will offer treatment options to overweight patients to prevent health problems. My doc deemed me a healthy young woman when I went for my physical, but made sure to state that if I ever want to lose some weight, to go back in for a consultation, and she'd get me into a program.

But, I suppose that's one of the bonuses of being at a teaching clinic where patients are given more time for their appointments.

 

[jenn]

Private clinic willing to treat patients for free


Published: Friday, April 18, 2008
Doctors at the controversial Copeman clinic must accept patients even if they aren't willing to pay the company's $3,000 annual membership fee when the facility opens in Calgary, says the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta


http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/city/story.html?id=448d8989-2cb2-403d-9011-afecd918dd54

 

[gerryh]

so the reason for dropping 3 grand into these doctors bank accounts would be???????????

 

[karrie]

so the reason for dropping 3 grand into these doctors bank accounts would be???????????

To get something that they're supposed to get for you ANYway.

To make you feel special.

 

[DurkaDurka]

To get something that they're supposed to get for you ANYway.

To make you feel special.

Supposed being the key word.

 

[#juan]

I see this clinic as the sharp end of the wedge. This is one step towards American style health care.

 

[karrie]

Supposed being the key word.

If you can't phone and make an appt. to get help with preventative health care from your doc, then you ought to be making some calls and complaining. The modern push to walk away when something's not working, and buy something that will rather than to fix what you had in the first place, is ruinous.

 

[DurkaDurka]

If you can't phone and make an appt. to get help with preventative health care from your doc, then you ought to be making some calls and complaining. The modern push to walk away when something's not working, and buy something that will rather than to fix what you had in the first place, is ruinous.

Karrie, perhaps there is an abundance of general practitioners accepting new patients in Alberta, that's not the case here in the GTA though. Many residents in the GTA are forced to reply on walk-in clinics where you will only be treated for the symptoms you have, not the underlying problem.

 

[karrie]

Karrie, perhaps there is an abundance of general practitioners accepting new patients in Alberta, that's not the case here in the GTA though. Many residents in the GTA are forced to reply on walk-in clinics where you will only be treated for the symptoms you have, not the underlying problem.

I've lived in many towns with doctor shortages. Do you think that these clinics will solve that? Or will they just get everyone signing on to pay more per year, and then end up short of their own docs too? I highly doubt that it will create new doctors.

 

[Outta here]

Karrie, perhaps there is an abundance of general practitioners accepting new patients in Alberta, that's not the case here in the GTA though. Many residents in the GTA are forced to reply on walk-in clinics where you will only be treated for the symptoms you have, not the underlying problem.

This is generally the case in Alberta too. Karrie really lucked out with the doctor she now has - most people arriving here without a family doctor are hooped. I just recently tried to get my doctor to accept a new patient. She fell all over herself apologizing that she couldn't - she's up to her eyeballs in patients already... accepting more would mean her current patients have to wait longer to see her. A few years ago I could get a same day appointment with her if I needed it... now it's a minimum week to 10 days.

 

[YoungJoonKim]

Well, I'm sure a few exceptional people who REALLY need this will be using it.
I doubt my family will go to one of these ..clinics though..
We go to what we pay with our tax dollar, not waste it

 

[gerryh]

This is generally the case in Alberta too. Karrie really lucked out with the doctor she now has - most people arriving here without a family doctor are hooped. I just recently tried to get my doctor to accept a new patient. She fell all over herself apologizing that she couldn't - she's up to her eyeballs in patients already... accepting more would mean her current patients have to wait longer to see her. A few years ago I could get a same day appointment with her if I needed it... now it's a minimum week to 10 days.

and Jen and I lucked out with ours when we moved here in 2001 from BC.... as for waits... we don't book appointments.... we just walk in... when he spots us...we get in pretty quick because he knows that the only reason we are there is because something is wrong... not just a damn cold or a hang nail.

 

[dj03]

So how long do I have to wait in the waiting room if I pay $3k a year vs. nothing?

 

[paullind10]

Does anyone not see the value of preventative healthcare. Or do you all like the easy way, taking a pill?

When I see my family doctor it's usually a 5 minute visit, that includes diagnosis and treatment and rushed out the door. This rushed approach leaves little to be desired and most people would rather go without healthcare services then deal with these cold doctors who are in a rush to 'treat' as many people in a day to make more money, they take as many shortcuts as possible and would rather prescribe Lipitor than a healthy diet and exercise because it takes an extra 5-10minutes to actually explain to someone that poor diet and exercise decisions cause most of their problems.

This private clinic provides something I have never experienced in the public system.

 

[karrie]

Does anyone not see the value of preventative healthcare. Or do you all like the easy way, taking a pill?

What you don't seem to understand is that this IS the easy way out. Demanding change in the existing system, to make it work better for everyone and tackle the challenge of preventative care is the route we should be taking. But that takes work and time. People would rather just pitch money at the problem and leave it to the poor to suffer with the existing shabby system.

 

[tracy]

, they take as many shortcuts as possible and would rather prescribe Lipitor than a healthy diet and exercise because it takes an extra 5-10minutes to actually explain to someone that poor diet and exercise decisions cause most of their problems.

Maybe that's because people already know that obesity causes their problems and the second you point it out they jump down your throat for it. Doctors don't just prescribe pills because it's easier for them. They do it because it's what most patients want. You'd have a hard time convincing me people don't know that poor diet and lack of exercise are unhealthy for them.

 

[Colpy]

Maybe that's because people already know that obesity causes their problems and the second you point it out they jump down your throat for it. Doctors don't just prescribe pills because it's easier for them. They do it because it's what most patients want. You'd have a hard time convincing me people don't know that poor diet and lack of exercise are unhealthy for them.

Exactly.

I lived on tobacco, butter and beef, and weighed close to 260 lbs.....I knew it was unhealthy for everyone else, but I had every faith in my own invincibility.

Then I couldn't walk 5 blocks without backache, I started suffering pains in my left arm, shortness of breath.....quit smoking Christmas Day 2006, and by March 23 had lost 20 lbs.....just in time for a heart attack. 95% blockages. Quadruple bypass.

We might know we're killing ourselves on some intellectual level, but until it hits you in the gut........

 

[Dexter Sinister]

....just in time for a heart attack...

For whatever it's worth Colpy, I'm glad you survived that. There's a lot we don't agree on--you're a good deal further right politically than I am on most things for instance--but you're smart and provocative, you know things I don't and you think about things in ways that I don't, until I've heard from you on them. I'd miss that.

 

[dj03]

just in time for a heart attack. 95% blockages. Quadruple bypass.

If you don't mind me asking, how old were you? I've never smoked and am pretty fit but struggle with weight (270) and eating properly...I'm 35 and starting to feel like I am on a short countdown to do something about it.