Broken System

[Slow]

"The pain in Christina Woodkey’s legs became so severe she could barely get around, much less enjoy the hikes that had become a key part of life with her husband.

As a citizen of Calgary, Canada, Woodkey is covered under the Candadian health care plan. Canadian law forbids her to pay for treatments in Canada. She’s at the mercy of a health care program that cannot keep up with demand.

Woodkey spoke with The Gazette and journalists from other American news organizations Sept. 27, as part of a health care conference in Vancouver, B.C., sponsored by Colorado’s Independence Institute, a citizen’s advocacy organization.

“What we have in Canada is access to a government, state-mandated wait list,” said Brian Day, a former Canadian Medical Association director, as quoted in a recent Los Angeles Times news story about Canada’s move toward a private health care option.

Woodkey was placed on the waiting list to see a hip specialist, and she waited for a year. The hip specialist told Wookey she had a condition involving spinal compression, which would require an examination by a neurologist. Her general practitioner made a referral in January, and an appointment to see the neurologist was set for Sept. 30 — nine months later. The hip specialist told her the neurologist would recommend surgery. Woodkey inquired about the wait for surgery, and learned it would be approximately 18 months after seeing the neurologist. Her condition was getting worse by the day, yet Woodkey was looking at a 27-month wait, if all went well, for any kind of relief to begin.

Woodkey’s story isn’t rare. These types of stories are the norm for Canadians in need of more than basic, routine health care. Doctors and nurses in Canada receive uniform compensation rates by the government. Pay has no connection to performance. Because work as a physician carries no promise of wealth or prominence in the community, Canada suffers a physician shortage."

http://www.gazette.com/opinion/gazette-63072-american-medicine.html

[Anapeg]

What I find odd is the fact that people seem to randomly slip through the cracks. While these people experiance their problems my bride went through the process in our back water community in less than six months. Go figure. She who must be obeyed starts with initial surgery on the 23 of this month in a four part attack. Right knee, left knee, right hip then her lower back. All schedualed about a year apart for healing purposes.
We had no problems, no waits, nada. The last couple of days have been really crazy what with calls, appointments and calls like, "can you come over later to-day for yada yada yada" Waits, asolutly. Across the board, absolutely not.

[Slow]

Good morning!

[Anapeg]

Morning Sunshine, how's your day?

[Slow]

Fantastical! :)

[Anapeg]

I am pleased for you sir, positively pleased. Being as how I have already laid in supplies beer hour begins in....................? (please fill in the blank)

[Slow]

I am pleased for you sir, positively pleased. Being as how I have already laid in supplies beer hour begins in....................? (please fill in the blank)

...noon, for the MSU/UM game.

Though I will not be able to participate in such caveman-ish activities.

[Anapeg]

...noon, for the MSU/UM game.

Though I will not be able to participate in such caveman-ish activities.

Preoccupied, are we? What the hell? What comes before or during a feetsball game and beer?

[Slow]

Preoccupied, are we? What the hell? What comes before or during a feetsball game and beer?

I'd tell you, but it would give away my identity.

[Anapeg]

I'd tell you, but it would give away my identity.

This will happen regardless. I can see it now. We meet, in a bar of coarse. We do the Swiss (?) dance where they slap the piss out of one another and yet part as friends. Drunk, happy friends but friends none the less.

[Anapeg]

Slow, an update. My wife has done all her testing and apparently needs some heart work and a stint or two prior to her date with the scalpel. She will be driven to Sudbury by me and I will be reimbursed for the travel and lodging. Then upon our return she will start her three year ordeal with another man (surgeon). I have yet to be billed for anything over and above my taxes, neat eh! :secret:

[Anapeg]

An aside. I JUST received notice that I'm getting a new Vet for personal use, how 'bout DAT! For a while now I've had to go to the hospital to have drugs renewed and chassis work done. This is a good thing, right? It's good to have a personal pusher once again. :thumbs_up:

[NewCasa]

An aside. I JUST received notice that I'm getting a new Vet for personal use, how 'bout DAT! For a while now I've had to go to the hospital to have drugs renewed and chassis work done. This is a good thing, right? It's good to have a personal pusher once again. :thumbs_up:

Heh - when you said Vet, I thought for a minute that our health care system was buying you a sportscar. I know our system is really excellent, but even Canadian health care must have certain limits.....

[Bluesky]

WHat is meant by a new VET? unless he has been reduced now to going to the animal doctor for treatments.

[Anapeg]

What is meant by a new VET? unless he has been reduced now to going to the animal doctor for treatments.

SWMBO says I am an animal. New Vet! Veterinarian, Doctor, Healer,Pusher etc. It's a she to boot! I just know we will like each other.

[Anapeg]

Heh - when you said Vet, I thought for a minute that our health care system was buying you a sports car. I know our system is really excellent, but even Canadian health care must have certain limits.....



CORVETTE!! I couldn't afford the fuel and insurance but DAMN would I look cool sitting on Queen St. on a Friday night.

[Soundbear]

... I just know we will like each other.

Right.


Until the rubber gloves come out!!!

[Anapeg]

right.


Until the rubber gloves come out!!!

snapppp!

[Hans]

"The pain in Christina Woodkey’s legs became so severe she could barely get around, much less enjoy the hikes that had become a key part of life with her husband.

As a citizen of Calgary, Canada, Woodkey is covered under the Candadian health care plan. Canadian law forbids her to pay for treatments in Canada. She’s at the mercy of a health care program that cannot keep up with demand.

Woodkey spoke with The Gazette and journalists from other American news organizations Sept. 27, as part of a health care conference in Vancouver, B.C., sponsored by Colorado’s Independence Institute, a citizen’s advocacy organization.

“What we have in Canada is access to a government, state-mandated wait list,” said Brian Day, a former Canadian Medical Association director, as quoted in a recent Los Angeles Times news story about Canada’s move toward a private health care option.

Woodkey was placed on the waiting list to see a hip specialist, and she waited for a year. The hip specialist told Wookey she had a condition involving spinal compression, which would require an examination by a neurologist. Her general practitioner made a referral in January, and an appointment to see the neurologist was set for Sept. 30 — nine months later. The hip specialist told her the neurologist would recommend surgery. Woodkey inquired about the wait for surgery, and learned it would be approximately 18 months after seeing the neurologist. Her condition was getting worse by the day, yet Woodkey was looking at a 27-month wait, if all went well, for any kind of relief to begin.

Woodkey’s story isn’t rare. These types of stories are the norm for Canadians in need of more than basic, routine health care. Doctors and nurses in Canada receive uniform compensation rates by the government. Pay has no connection to performance. Because work as a physician carries no promise of wealth or prominence in the community, Canada suffers a physician shortage."

http://www.gazette.com/opinion/gazette-63072-american-medicine.html

I hate to point this out to you, but there is no such things as a "Candadian health care plan". (Spelling mistake set aside). The health care plan for Calgary is called AHCIP. Each Province in Canada is required by the Canada Health Act to administer and fund a health care system.
Ontario has it's own system called OHIP.

More information at http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hcs-sss/medi-assur/index-eng.php