1936 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

Does WebMD count?

My last two doctors were Marcus Welby, MD, and Dr. Quincy.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 06 March 2022 - 04:05 PM.

[todd]

Just post a photo, all of us should be better than one GP

[spanky123]

Last I read, about 40% of people in BC do not have a family doctor.

 

A workaround is to see a Naturopath who in BC can prescribe, order lab tests and refer. They cannot order imaging but that is probably not a big deal for most people. If it is serious you can go to a hospital.

 

The downside is that ND services are not covered by the public system so you will pay $150-$200 a visit. 

[Nparker]

The bottom line: our health care system is broken.

[spanky123]

The bottom line: our health care system is broken.

 

Broken for the average person yes, works quite well if you are connected and/or can afford to pay privately.

[Victoria Watcher]

Not a single MLA is without a family doctor.

Prove me wrong.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 06 March 2022 - 05:25 PM.

[todd]

Not me! I do remember when GPs would make housecalls though.

Prove me wrong.

https://youtu.be/jB40jLdzjiE
gets to the point around 11 minute mark

Edited by todd, 06 March 2022 - 08:05 PM.

[Barrrister]

Actually, my GP still will make house calls. I am beginning to feel like one of the fortunate few.

[Midnightly]

Besides me how many people have a GP here on this site?

i'll admit i'm very lucky and i do... BUT i almost didn't.... my family doctor retired and because i have some health issues she put me on the waiting list for a doctor who was in the office (who would be taking on some of her patients but not all) thankfully i was taken on... but i do know many patients were dropped, my daughter doesn't have a family doc, and neither does my hubby (we both had different docs to prevent being dropped from a doc at the same time due to retirement... and within a year or so both docs had retired).. thankfully my doctor is young-ish so fingers crossed she stays around for a long time and doesn't move away

 

this doctor shortage/crisis was easily predicted 10+ years ago.. heck i've been saying it for more then 10years now that doctor mass retirement and lack of replacement is a HUGE issue... heck in this town people had trouble finding a doctor nearly 20yrs ago (not nearly as hard as it is now ofcourse but the lists for doctors accepting patients were almost nil even then!)

[Spy Black]

The reality is that, unless you have a serious ailment (which will result in admission to the hospital), B.C. is an absolute garbage dump when it comes to providing preventative and/or ongoing medical care.

 

Folks need to quit conflating serious illness (which gets you relatively immediate care), with the sometimes years long illnesses that can result from lack of consistency in ones medical care ... usually caused by no access to a family doctor.

 

B.C. is a tragedy in the making when it comes to personal medical care ... or perhaps I'm being optimistic, and that tragedy is already well upon us.

[Mike K.]

It’s starting to make sense to hop onto the Coho and head down to Washington for a doctor visit.

[spanky123]

It’s starting to make sense to hop onto the Coho and head down to Washington for a doctor visit.

 

Lots of people do although mostly to see specialists. You don't need a referral in most cases which saves a lot of time.

[JohnN]

It’s starting to make sense to hop onto the Coho and head down to Washington for a doctor visit.

Maybe not a coincidence that Google search shows (image below) several Port Angeles family doctor clinics to cluster near the ferry terminal, although could also be due to that area being downtown core. Google search: family doctors in port angeles

Attached Images

• 

[spanky123]

Folks need to quit conflating serious illness (which gets you relatively immediate care), with the sometimes years long illnesses that can result from lack of consistency in ones medical care ... usually caused by no access to a family doctor.

 

Here is a story that gets played out time and time again. Someone starts to get stomach/chest/bowel, etc pains and spend years trying to get anyone to pay attention. Eventually they start urinating/vomiting/pooping blood and finally get attention and imaging only to find out they have stage 3/4 cancer and the clock has started ticking. At that point they can get lots of attention for the short period of time they have left.

[spanky123]

Maybe not a coincidence that Google search shows (image below) several Port Angeles family doctor clinics to cluster near the ferry terminal, although could also be due to that area being downtown core. Google search: family doctors in port angeles

 

Probably a coincidence. They people that I know who travel to the US for medical treatment are usually going to a well known facility like the Mayo Clinic, Stanford or MD Anderson. If it for a more routine surgery like a knee or hip replacement then they will go somewhere warm for recovery!

[Mike K.]

Here is a story that gets played out time and time again. Someone starts to get stomach/chest/bowel, etc pains and spend years trying to get anyone to pay attention. Eventually they start urinating/vomiting/pooping blood and finally get attention and imaging only to find out they have stage 3/4 cancer and the clock has started ticking. At that point they can get lots of attention for the short period of time they have left.

Look at ASE.

His account is one where his doctor kept telling him to eff off, with the verdict that he’s getting old and should expect to feel it.

Many months later and a painful illness in full terror mode, the medical system finally started doing its job …and just well enough to get a passing grade.

[todd]

It’s starting to make sense to hop onto the Coho and head down to Washington for a doctor visit.

why is the life expectancy almost 4 years better in Canada? Maybe bit too anxious to grab the scalpel down there?

Have you not watched Dr. Death yet: https://youtu.be/RKAzfE0wTQA (this one not the Alec Baldwin version)

Edited by todd, 07 March 2022 - 07:38 PM.

[Barrrister]

Mostly better diet than the US. Less MO

[JohnN]

why is the life expectancy almost 4 years better in Canada? Maybe bit too anxious to grab the scalpel down there?

Have you not watched Dr. Death yet: https://youtu.be/RKAzfE0wTQA (this one not the Alec Baldwin version)

Life expectancy relies as much or more on public health measures as for access to physicians.

Other measures that may suggest a difference between Canada and US:

 

Homicide rate, Canada = 1.76 per 100K pop; US 4.96 https://worldpopulat...rate-by-country

 

Total smoking rate, Canada = 17.5, US 25.10: https://worldpopulat...ates-by-country

 

Wiki on healthcare systems of Canada vs US comparison says its complicated and not consistent that Canada better: https://en.wikipedia...e_United_States

Edited by JohnN, 08 March 2022 - 11:12 AM.

[todd]

If you’re “rich” the US health system is great, if you’re not the Canadian is better.