... yet we cannot shake the belief that, despite all evidence, the grass is always greener south of the border.
I'll gladly change my system with yours ANY day!
I'll gladly change my system with yours ANY day!
What's right about our health-care system
- Thread starter #juan
- Start date
Oh god another my 'doc' is bigger than yours argument.... it is so demeaning....everyone has their special little speech all lined up to relate and these mean nothing because everyone is waiting to tell their own stories..... my turn now...
I have spend half my life in the Canadian system and half my life (just a bit less) in the U.S. system and I have no negatives to report on either side of the 49th.
My Canadian family are constantly asking me about my health care and how I am being treated since I became a 'chronic' user of the system about eight years ago.... I am being treated extremely well and if I forget to make my regular appointment - the doc's office is on the phone a week later to remind me... I can't escape them... these bossy little caregivers.... and I love them for their caring....
As with any large family my close relatives have run the gamut of serious illness and early death while another lively group are dancing into their nineties having a grand time of being treated like kings and queens because of their advanced ages.... all are healthy too. There are the usual births (average at least one a year in the past ten years)....all babies are healthy ... moms fine.... dads fine... lucky us! There are no horror stories to report.... no lengthy waits for attention... the family take care of their personal responsibilities in making appointments for prevention and check up necessities, rather than waiting for emergency treatment... I think a lot of this "FIRE!!!" hollering has to do with extreme cases and not within groups of people to do their own part. These are both American and Canadian families, in some cases comprising three generations.... some four..and five.
Perhaps the lines are longer in Canada these days.... perhaps I will pay more for medical care in the U.S. but I also pay less taxes. Comparing both nations I think they do a fine job of taking care of the sick, and have excellent prevention programs in place. I don't know if the U.S. will ever get on the kind of socialist care Moore advocates... but until the undocumented people are papered up and begin to demand good jobs with medical care or are able to pay for their own care....the public will always be paying for two at the doc's office.... the numbers are staggering... but at least they receive the care they need (in most cases).
What I write may not suit everyone's story here... it is mine alone....my own opinion.... but I think I have some basis for comparison in both countries and I was before and am now satisfied with my medical care.
I have spend half my life in the Canadian system and half my life (just a bit less) in the U.S. system and I have no negatives to report on either side of the 49th.
My Canadian family are constantly asking me about my health care and how I am being treated since I became a 'chronic' user of the system about eight years ago.... I am being treated extremely well and if I forget to make my regular appointment - the doc's office is on the phone a week later to remind me... I can't escape them... these bossy little caregivers.... and I love them for their caring....
As with any large family my close relatives have run the gamut of serious illness and early death while another lively group are dancing into their nineties having a grand time of being treated like kings and queens because of their advanced ages.... all are healthy too. There are the usual births (average at least one a year in the past ten years)....all babies are healthy ... moms fine.... dads fine... lucky us! There are no horror stories to report.... no lengthy waits for attention... the family take care of their personal responsibilities in making appointments for prevention and check up necessities, rather than waiting for emergency treatment... I think a lot of this "FIRE!!!" hollering has to do with extreme cases and not within groups of people to do their own part. These are both American and Canadian families, in some cases comprising three generations.... some four..and five.
Perhaps the lines are longer in Canada these days.... perhaps I will pay more for medical care in the U.S. but I also pay less taxes. Comparing both nations I think they do a fine job of taking care of the sick, and have excellent prevention programs in place. I don't know if the U.S. will ever get on the kind of socialist care Moore advocates... but until the undocumented people are papered up and begin to demand good jobs with medical care or are able to pay for their own care....the public will always be paying for two at the doc's office.... the numbers are staggering... but at least they receive the care they need (in most cases).
What I write may not suit everyone's story here... it is mine alone....my own opinion.... but I think I have some basis for comparison in both countries and I was before and am now satisfied with my medical care.
One thing is for sure, in Ontario anyway there is a shortage of doctors. It can be difficult to find a doctor that is accepting new patients and even harder to find a good one. All over though is the walk in clinic. Just like a fast food joint only more often very slow.
Fine if you just need a prescription and know what you need but if you have something undiagnosed, it can be a real problem getting it addressed.
Fine if you just need a prescription and know what you need but if you have something undiagnosed, it can be a real problem getting it addressed.
Most people have a regular doctor who they see for check-ups and who they would call in an emergency. As I get older more of my friends and people I have known for years are having cancer treatment, by-pass surgery, and laser jobs on their eyes, etc, and, none of them complain about the medical system. When I was finding the doctor I have now, I went through a few doctors till I found one I liked. People new to the system will go through the same process. One of the biggest problems our system faces is those people who, for one reason or another, go to the doctor because they are lonely or something and really don't need a doctor. I have long been an advocate of nurse practitioners who could take some of the pressure of the doctors and screen out some of these abusers. Knee and hip replacement surgeries are increasing in Canada but some will still go across the border for a while yet. I think our system is improving in those areas where there has been a few problems. The biggest dangers to our system right now are those who would try to change it to the American system. Our system is fine. Leave it alone!
http://www.oma.org/pcomm/pressrel/pr040420.htm
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2005/09/14/ont_medical_school_20050914.html#skip300x250
http://www.tiny.cc/QFurG
Doctor shortage puts health system at risk: OMA
CTV.ca News Staff
Ontario could have a 2,400-doctor shortage by next year if action is not taken immediately, says a study on the deepening crisis that was released by the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) on Monday.
"The year 2005 finds the province in the midst of a deepening physician resources crisis," highlights the report.
The shortage could jump to 2,800 physicians by 2010, says the report.
"The number of Ontario residents without a family doctor has grown to 1.2 million, and the provincial physician shortage now exceeds 2,100 doctors," says the report.
The area most adversely affected by the shortage is family medicine, which is referred to as a "dying specialty."
OMA President Dr. Greg Flynn says the province needs to do more.
"The province still lags behind the rest of the country in terms of physician resources and our ability to care for patients," Flynn said in a release on the OMA website.
"Although the province has taken several steps to train more doctors and certify those trained abroad faster, much more remains to be done, before we will see improvements."
Overall, the Liberals received a 'C' grade by the OMA, who evaluated the government on their response to 21 previous recommendations needed to improve the situation.
The report highlights aging physicians who plan on retiring or cutting back as one factor that will contribute to the already-dire doctor shortage.
"Nineteen per cent of practicing MDs (4,100) are over 60, and 11 per cent (2,300) are over 65," says the report.
Last week, Health Minister George Smitherman said an additional $33 million was being giving for medical school funding which will create 141 new family residency positions in Ontario in 2006.
That will mean an estimated 337 more family doctors by 2008, Smitherman said.
More suggestions from the report:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2005/09/14/ont_medical_school_20050914.html#skip300x250
http://www.tiny.cc/QFurG
Doctor shortage puts health system at risk: OMA
CTV.ca News Staff
Ontario could have a 2,400-doctor shortage by next year if action is not taken immediately, says a study on the deepening crisis that was released by the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) on Monday.
"The year 2005 finds the province in the midst of a deepening physician resources crisis," highlights the report.
The shortage could jump to 2,800 physicians by 2010, says the report.
"The number of Ontario residents without a family doctor has grown to 1.2 million, and the provincial physician shortage now exceeds 2,100 doctors," says the report.
The area most adversely affected by the shortage is family medicine, which is referred to as a "dying specialty."
OMA President Dr. Greg Flynn says the province needs to do more.
"The province still lags behind the rest of the country in terms of physician resources and our ability to care for patients," Flynn said in a release on the OMA website.
"Although the province has taken several steps to train more doctors and certify those trained abroad faster, much more remains to be done, before we will see improvements."
Overall, the Liberals received a 'C' grade by the OMA, who evaluated the government on their response to 21 previous recommendations needed to improve the situation.
The report highlights aging physicians who plan on retiring or cutting back as one factor that will contribute to the already-dire doctor shortage.
"Nineteen per cent of practicing MDs (4,100) are over 60, and 11 per cent (2,300) are over 65," says the report.
Last week, Health Minister George Smitherman said an additional $33 million was being giving for medical school funding which will create 141 new family residency positions in Ontario in 2006.
That will mean an estimated 337 more family doctors by 2008, Smitherman said.
More suggestions from the report:
- Eliminating disincentives for doctors working abroad to return home to practice.
- Allowing freer movement of physicians between provinces to provide urgent assistance to under-serviced areas.
- Establishing an action committee to address the family medicine crisis in Ontario.
- Eliminating the restrictions and penalties currently in effect for re-entry positions and increasing the number of postgraduate re-entry positions.
This is probably the thing I dislike most about Canadians. They are constantly comparing themselves to the US, over every little thing, then suddenly it becomes "Well who cares".
I'm sure there are more things you dislike about Canadians. You've made that clear. Early in this topic I said that the topic was to point out the positive aspects of our system not to make a competition with any American system. Your first comment triedit was that the Canadian medical system "sucked ass". It does not!.....your manners do!
I wonder how many of those were people like me who just didn't bother to get one. When I lived in Toronto, I didn't have a regular family doctor. I didn't need one. I just used the hospital's family medical clinic for my regular checkups and birth control prescriptions. I saw whatever doc or resident was on that day. It was convinient because I could usually make an appointment for right before or right after my shift. I do the same thing here in the US. I technically don't have a doctor, but I always see one when I need to.
Sort of proves my point though, he didn't flock back to the US.
My mom and dad have both received cancer treatment in BC. Neither experienced long waits and their follow up care has been excellent. My dad just had prostate cancer last summer, resolved with surgery fortunately. Both are in Kamloops, a city with a hospital I would NEvEr work in, but they've not had problems with the medical care there.
Individual experiences will vary, but overall both systems have similar results in patient outcomes.
Toro,
That is an outrage!!! My husband was notified in the dr.'s office the moment they read the x-ray that he had two tumors on his lungs. He was sent the next day for an MRI, then a few days later, a PET scan. Within a week, he had a biopsy. If he had had to wait 5 months, undoubtedly the cancer would have spread and the prognosis would have been hopeless.
Now, he did have to wait about 3 weeks to get onto the chemo schedule, but since his cancer had not spread, it wasn't a big risk. He is in remission. Knock on wood. I live in one of the 10 best cities for cancer treatment in the US, so we were very lucky.
We had two insurances, and they covered 96% of the bill, less the co-payments. But, we got a private grant for the co-payments, and total reimbursement for the presciptions. PLUS, our dr. was Indian and voted one of the top ten best in our city. Many people from other areas come to either Dallas or Houston to be treatment for cancer. We were blessed in that respect, and we really could not complain about any of our drs., hospitals, labs, etc.
Uncle
I can't really think of anything good to say about our healthcare system.
-- Every ER visit we have had has been a collosal waste of time with huge waits.
-- Just because you don't pay per visit does not mean its free. We pay dearly for it on our taxes.
-- Its a pain in the butt to see my family doctor since she is booked months ahead.
-- Every specialist my son has been refered to has been months and months waiting (the clock is still ticking).
I guess the only good thing is that you won't die bankrupt. You may die but you won't be bankrupt.
-- Every ER visit we have had has been a collosal waste of time with huge waits.
-- Just because you don't pay per visit does not mean its free. We pay dearly for it on our taxes.
-- Its a pain in the butt to see my family doctor since she is booked months ahead.
-- Every specialist my son has been refered to has been months and months waiting (the clock is still ticking).
I guess the only good thing is that you won't die bankrupt. You may die but you won't be bankrupt.
In the Comox-Campbell River area there is an ongoing brouhaha over the possible building of a regional hospital. Presently both cities have a hospital but the talk is to integrate into one big one. Meanwhile no one wants to lose their hospital to build one in the middle. So nothing gets done. There are about 10 groups who claim to have some form of authority over the others in the decision-making process. Primarily a bunch of politicians seeing who can shout the loudest with the most doctors standing behind them. There are too many chiefs and not enough indians. It's probably a microcosm of the system; more squackers than doers.
He was a Canadian who moved from Saskatchewan. He couldn't "flock back" to the US because he was unable to.
Doesn't surprise me. The public administration aspect of health services tends to be a trainwreck. The biggest influence on that is that in the business world specialists advance while the cross-disciplinarians are left in the trenches to do the work. The Peter Principle in spades. Not that its unique to the socialized version of the sector. More like the way it manifests itself tends to be very public and very ugly.
afa the rest of the story goes it always strikes me as ironic that cost-saving measures are popular until they hit home. But hey! We need tanks so let it rot.
I think you meant squawker.
The previous post WAS about Canadians going to the US for treatment. He could have, but didn't. Most Canadians don't.