1934 replies to this topic

[Mike K.]

Many Canadian-educated health professionals leave for the much greener pastures of the US. And it sounds like these two doctors didn’t even have to leave, they can operate from here!?

Now you and I are having to rely on nurse practitioners, if we’re fortunate enough to get an appointment to see one.

[spanky123]

Many Canadian-educated health professionals leave for the much greener pastures of the US. And it sounds like these two doctors didn’t even have to leave, they can operate from here!?

Now you and I are having to rely on nurse practitioners, if we’re fortunate enough to get an appointment to see one.

 

They can do tele-health. Pick your hours, work from home and get paid more.

 

Listening to CFAX yesterday Screech was lamenting that doctors don't get paid as well as dentists or vets. Not sure if that is true or not but of course the later two are privately paid! You want to solve the doctor shortage overnight then open up a hybrid system like they have in the UK and many socialist countries. Will never happen though, you think that 1/3rd of MPs and MLAs don't have a family doctor? Why would they care about dupes like you and I.

Edited by spanky123, 20 January 2022 - 08:53 AM.

[Mike K.]

Right. And choose nice places like Florida or Texas from which to practice, instead of ending up in northern Alberta.

The Americans will even pay your student loan off.

[LJ]

I think there should be a user fee to go to the doctor. Nothing huge $10-$20 each visit.

 

Might reduce the number of people going to the doctor for minor complaints.

 

Most insurance plans in the US have co-pays or deductibles.

[spanky123]

I think there should be a user fee to go to the doctor. Nothing huge $10-$20 each visit.

 

Might reduce the number of people going to the doctor for minor complaints.

 

Most insurance plans in the US have co-pays or deductibles.

 

I would be ok keeping it free but at least allow doctors to work for themselves after say a minimum of 30 hours a week in the public system.

[AllseeingEye]

Having reached my sixth decade a year ago and currently in the midst of a major and quite painful health challenge, bearing in mind the furor arising from the Eagle Creek medical center story this week, my extremely good fortune at never *not* having a GP has been mightily reinforced.

 

I can't imagine the frustration, or the fear by those who have potentially serious life threatening medical conditions, of having to trudge down to an overcrowded and understaffed clinic and literally having to "take a number", eventually - if they're lucky - to be seen by a doctor they don't know and who wouldn't know them from a hole in the wall. If nothing else COVID has shone a light into the gaping holes in the vaunted Canadian medical system and it will be fascinating to see how senior levels of government respond. Whatever they do I hope they do it before my guy retires.....!

[Nparker]

...If nothing else COVID has shone a light into the gaping holes in the vaunted Canadian medical system and it will be fascinating to see how senior levels of government respond....

I am not optimistic that the government's response will result in much change for the better.

[Barrrister]

I doubt that much positive will be done about the medical system. If anything the move to clinics will not improve things. If you start to feel that the politicians dont care it is only because they really dont care. 

[Nparker]

...If anything the move to clinics will not improve things...

This has been the direction in BC now for a number of years and preventative health care for most people has only gotten worse.

[AllseeingEye]

I doubt that much positive will be done about the medical system. If anything the move to clinics will not improve things. If you start to feel that the politicians dont care it is only because they really dont care. 

 

No it definitely will not which is why people like me with a GP are damn fortunate.

 

My leg infection was getting worse in spite of the antibiotics so a call to my GP to arrange for a next day call back and 25 minute consultation over the phone happened yesterday and within 3 hours I was picking up some new heavyweight penicillin as well as painkillers that actually work and for the first time in two weeks I actually had a decent night sleep last night. Having to slog my way through the lineup at a clinic and wait for a doctor who had no knowledge of my medical background nor ready access to my medical history files - if I even got to see him or her on the first attempt - is unimaginable.

 

And for those people with far more critical health issues than me, who don't have ready access to their own GP the stress must be overwhelming, particularly with surgeries including many major procedures, now being postponed indefinitely due to hospital overcrowding, staffing shortages, illness and/or burnout. 

[Mike K.]

Weren’t we supposed to have an electronic health record by now? 20 years ago it was just around the corner.

[spanky123]

Weren’t we supposed to have an electronic health record by now? 20 years ago it was just around the corner.

 

We have centralized health records and your GP can see them. The problem isn't access to information, it is the ability for your GP to review 5 years of your medical history within the 6 minutes they have been allocated to diagnose and treat you.

[Victoria Watcher]

I still like WebMD for most issues.  

 

Right now, for example, I either have gangrene or leprosy.  Or low blood pressure.  Or lupus.  So I've already narrowed it right down even before seeing a doctor.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 21 January 2022 - 08:26 AM.

[Mike K.]

We have centralized health records and your GP can see them. The problem isn't access to information, it is the ability for your GP to review 5 years of your medical history within the 6 minutes they have been allocated to diagnose and treat you.

I don’t seem to luck out with physicians who know that, because they keep asking questions that should be answered by the record, but answers for which I no longer personally recall.

What exactly is the system we have, as in what does it capture?

[spanky123]

I don’t seem to luck out with physicians who know that, because they keep asking questions that should be answered by the record, but answers for which I no longer personally recall.

What exactly is the system we have, as in what does it capture?

 

You can see your own records if you want. BC Health has a portal that shows all of data going back many years now.

[Mike K.]

Interesting.

Thank you.

[spanky123]

^ You should check. I have spoken with several people that had comments on xrays or other tests that they were never told about. The notes get sent to a GP who then overlooks them or just fails to follow-up

[LJ]

I had to pay to have my medical records sent to my new GP.

[spanky123]

I had to pay to have my medical records sent to my new GP.

 

At least you have a new GP!

[JohnN]

Last private walk-in clinic on the West Shore to close as doctor shortage worsens

 

On Monday, the Colwood Medical Treatment Centre announced it would shut down its walk-in clinic on April 15.

 

The clinic is the last private walk-in clinic available on the entire West Shore, according to the walk-in clinic tracking website medimaps.ca. The government-run West Shore Urgent & Primary Care Centre is the last remaining walk-in service in the area. Wait times often stretch beyond two hours to receive care at the facility.

 

Change for doctors, and potentially patients, on Vancouver Island could be on the horizon as the Doctors of BC has started a new round negotiations with the province about pay. Last updated in 2019, the Physician Master Plan (PMA) is currently being discussed between the B.C. government and doctors.