You don’t have a family doctor, and you can’t get an admission bed. So you end up waiting and waiting in the ER for a physician who might not be able to help much, writes Dr. Brian Wall.
Many years ago we got lucky and a recently-graduated doctor took us under her roster. Not losing that is one of the reasons we hesitate to move to a different place, even though our doctor is pretty much only doing phone appointments since the pandemic began.
ER doctors are leaving because we can no longer do what we trained to do; we can no longer help people — our raison d’être — to the standard they deserve. In short, continual moral injury is breaking your ER doctors.
I was lucky to find another doctor after my family GP of decades retired at 85. He wasn’t allowed to keep practicing after 85. He moved to an advisory role in another clinic giving up his practice. He wasn’t able to find someone to buy his single practitioner clinic. The real estate costs and the many services where patients are passed around is the new model listed as reasons he couldn’t sell it. I suspect since everything was still in paper records didn’t help.
The new GP is one of many doctors in the same clinic. He does mostly phone calls with some in person visits but usually it’s phones calls first and it’s 7 - 20 days before one can get an appointment. Anything urgent will need to be a drop in clinic which are full most of the time, or the ER worse case.
I have to wonder how much minor time sensitive cases are burdening the system overall. I ended up at a drop in clinic as the last appointment this summer due to an issue with bandages after a surgery. If this had failed it was the ER next for me as there was no way the GP could fit me within a week unlike the old days with my GP. Thankfully a adjustment to my bandages and cream solved my infection but it was still minor.
I don’t think there’s a easy fix coming soon anytime…
I don’t think there’s a easy fix coming soon anytime
Rarely is for problems that are left to fester for decades. As usual it’ll also be exponential in cost to fix now compared to when things weren’t as bad.
Kinda crazy conservative parties still get a large amount of support running austerity platforms.
This is something keeping me from returning to Canada.
I live in France now. Looking at the ranking linked in the article I see that it doesn’t score very well here either. This is shocking because I find it so much better here in terms of health care. Today, for example, my son was unwell. At 8:30 we called and were given an appointment for 9:15. By 9:30 we had seen a doctor and had a blood test. By the end of the day I was emailed the results. This is the type of experience I’ve had again and again here.
The last time I was home, my partner waited 5 hours in agony in a waiting room. It took us 6 hours to find an clinic or ER that would take us. We drove over 200 km. When all was said and done, they charged us over $900 just to see a doctor. The doctor’s bill was separate.
I cannot even fathom what things must be like in countries that rank higher.
I really hope Canada can find a solution. It should not be like this in any developed country. In fact, it should not be like this in any country.
I think the issue in Canada is inconsiatency due to various funding issues. i’m in British Columbia and don’t have terrible stories, some people might. For me: Called for a dr. appointment got in next day, doctor ordered bloodwork, walked downstairs to the lab for blood draw, results available online in about 12 hours, followup from dr. next day. Seemed reasonable because I was not sick/feeling ill, was just a lymph node check.
Same when I had cancer, once the diagnosis came back positive from a biopsy I was acheduled at admissions, they built a whole plan/tests/ body mask for radiation machine/ nutritionist, etc over 2 week course then into chemo and radiation.
I haven’t had emergency myself, but a family member did --was severe/life threatening and just went right in.
Not having doctor practises open on some weekends does put a strain on emergency room or walk in clinics.
Expats who stop paying their medical services plan (or whatever it’s called in other provinces) are not covered, hence the ER bill. People who intended to live abroad for a long time often cancel them.
That would make sense but they also should have said as much. The way they phrased it is coming off like Canadians in general are getting charged this as well.
I moved back to Canada after living over 20 years in Europe. I regret it every day. My family and I will be returning to Europe as soon as the paperwork comes through.
My GP/Family Doctor closed his practice and moved to the other side of the country 7+ years ago now.
Despite moving to a larger city; I’ve been entirely unable to find a family doctor, walk-in clinics are packed if they are even accepting walkins when you show up.
I had to go to the ER for a broken finger yesterday and sat there for five and a half hours total.
Not to mention our tax dollars will fund private, for profit clinics while our free services are underfunded and understaffed. Our free healthcare system is stressed and failing to intentionally bring in the privatization
Back when I was in school, there were at least 3 people in my grade ( of like 30 kids) that both wanted to become a doctor and had the grades to probably do it. Not a single one of them was able to afford the schooling.
Canada really needs to do more for potential medical students. Why is the most important industry gatekept by wealth?
I dunno what’s the situation in the other provinces, but I remember in Quebec that there were walk-in clinics before.
Now they all need to be scheduled through a system that if you’re not fast enough (between a specific time slot where the appointment for the next day are opening up) you cannot get a time slot.
You’re doubly-screwed if you’re not comfortable using a computer, and calling 8-1-1 will make you wait for up to an hour before you even get to talk to someone about your issue and determine if you need an appointment.
The ER is the healthcare system safety valve, but it can only eject so much pressure before it becomes a bomb.
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Many years ago we got lucky and a recently-graduated doctor took us under her roster. Not losing that is one of the reasons we hesitate to move to a different place, even though our doctor is pretty much only doing phone appointments since the pandemic began.
TL; DR:
deleted by creator
I was lucky to find another doctor after my family GP of decades retired at 85. He wasn’t allowed to keep practicing after 85. He moved to an advisory role in another clinic giving up his practice. He wasn’t able to find someone to buy his single practitioner clinic. The real estate costs and the many services where patients are passed around is the new model listed as reasons he couldn’t sell it. I suspect since everything was still in paper records didn’t help.
The new GP is one of many doctors in the same clinic. He does mostly phone calls with some in person visits but usually it’s phones calls first and it’s 7 - 20 days before one can get an appointment. Anything urgent will need to be a drop in clinic which are full most of the time, or the ER worse case.
I have to wonder how much minor time sensitive cases are burdening the system overall. I ended up at a drop in clinic as the last appointment this summer due to an issue with bandages after a surgery. If this had failed it was the ER next for me as there was no way the GP could fit me within a week unlike the old days with my GP. Thankfully a adjustment to my bandages and cream solved my infection but it was still minor.
I don’t think there’s a easy fix coming soon anytime…
You are lucky, in QC where I am it’s one of the worst waiting time. And now nurses and others are in unlimited strike (with teachers, etc)
Rarely is for problems that are left to fester for decades. As usual it’ll also be exponential in cost to fix now compared to when things weren’t as bad.
Kinda crazy conservative parties still get a large amount of support running austerity platforms.
This is something keeping me from returning to Canada.
I live in France now. Looking at the ranking linked in the article I see that it doesn’t score very well here either. This is shocking because I find it so much better here in terms of health care. Today, for example, my son was unwell. At 8:30 we called and were given an appointment for 9:15. By 9:30 we had seen a doctor and had a blood test. By the end of the day I was emailed the results. This is the type of experience I’ve had again and again here.
The last time I was home, my partner waited 5 hours in agony in a waiting room. It took us 6 hours to find an clinic or ER that would take us. We drove over 200 km. When all was said and done, they charged us over $900 just to see a doctor. The doctor’s bill was separate.
I cannot even fathom what things must be like in countries that rank higher.
I really hope Canada can find a solution. It should not be like this in any developed country. In fact, it should not be like this in any country.
I think the issue in Canada is inconsiatency due to various funding issues. i’m in British Columbia and don’t have terrible stories, some people might. For me: Called for a dr. appointment got in next day, doctor ordered bloodwork, walked downstairs to the lab for blood draw, results available online in about 12 hours, followup from dr. next day. Seemed reasonable because I was not sick/feeling ill, was just a lymph node check. Same when I had cancer, once the diagnosis came back positive from a biopsy I was acheduled at admissions, they built a whole plan/tests/ body mask for radiation machine/ nutritionist, etc over 2 week course then into chemo and radiation. I haven’t had emergency myself, but a family member did --was severe/life threatening and just went right in. Not having doctor practises open on some weekends does put a strain on emergency room or walk in clinics.
In Canada? Doubt. I’ve been at multiple hospitals and this has never been a thing. Ambulance, sure, but never charged to see a doctor.
Nova Scotia. I am not a resident anymore. No doubt to be had friend
Check it: https://www.nshealth.ca/documents-and-reports/hospital-fees-out-country-visitors-english
Expats who stop paying their medical services plan (or whatever it’s called in other provinces) are not covered, hence the ER bill. People who intended to live abroad for a long time often cancel them.
They might no longer have a Canadian/provincial health coverage since they live out of the country.
That would make sense but they also should have said as much. The way they phrased it is coming off like Canadians in general are getting charged this as well.
Sorry for the confusion. I am Canadian, but you lose plenty of rights after 6 months. My wife is Spanish.
We were able to get a partial refund once we returned home.
I moved back to Canada after living over 20 years in Europe. I regret it every day. My family and I will be returning to Europe as soon as the paperwork comes through.
My GP/Family Doctor closed his practice and moved to the other side of the country 7+ years ago now.
Despite moving to a larger city; I’ve been entirely unable to find a family doctor, walk-in clinics are packed if they are even accepting walkins when you show up.
I had to go to the ER for a broken finger yesterday and sat there for five and a half hours total.
This is the ‘slow walk’ to private (read:profitable) health care in Canada.
All these business interests pushing the governments to ‘let it ride, until it breaks’.
Then they can swoop in, take over, and CASH IN BAYBY!
Money, favours, and stock options speak volumes.
Not to mention our tax dollars will fund private, for profit clinics while our free services are underfunded and understaffed. Our free healthcare system is stressed and failing to intentionally bring in the privatization
Back when I was in school, there were at least 3 people in my grade ( of like 30 kids) that both wanted to become a doctor and had the grades to probably do it. Not a single one of them was able to afford the schooling.
Canada really needs to do more for potential medical students. Why is the most important industry gatekept by wealth?
Because of the influence of our neighbors to the south.
We need to look to the EU as a point of reference.
I dunno what’s the situation in the other provinces, but I remember in Quebec that there were walk-in clinics before.
Now they all need to be scheduled through a system that if you’re not fast enough (between a specific time slot where the appointment for the next day are opening up) you cannot get a time slot.
You’re doubly-screwed if you’re not comfortable using a computer, and calling 8-1-1 will make you wait for up to an hour before you even get to talk to someone about your issue and determine if you need an appointment.
The ER is the healthcare system safety valve, but it can only eject so much pressure before it becomes a bomb.