Health Care?

Mantra

Have you ever had a day that left you thinking that Health and Care are two words that shouldn't be strung together?

Just venting .  .. but I really think if we have a one tier health care system, then it should be one that is at least a reasonable facsimile of health-care. Obviously I've had a bad day fighting our system.

It started with a doctor's appointment that ran close to 1.5 hours late. Then they had the nerve to ask if I mind waiting so they can squeeze in a walk-in first??? WTF . . . of course I mind waiting. I'm now running 20 minutes late for an appointment!! Do they not realize that some patients have lives too that involve things outside of sitting in their waiting room reading extremely old magazines. BTW . . . don't know if anyone knows but President Clinton was caught lying in a sex scandel with someone named Monica! Wow, I wonder how that's gonna turn out?? And how old do you think that magazine was?

Then I spent endless hours trying to book a colonoscopy. Actually, I'm begging to book it!  I have to BEG for a colonoscopy!! SERIOUSLY!??

Next call is to my GP. The snotty little girl who is on some kind of power trip gives me an appointment for 2.5 weeks from now. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!?? I'm sick and need to see her. And now she gets even snottier and says "listen, do you want the appointment or not?? I need an answer now!" And I'm left wondering . . . where did she get such wonderful people skills from? I'll bet her parents took out a second mortgage just to send her to charm school. 

And last but not least my fipple is bleeding. PS said to go to my local GP. GP is a 2.5 week wait. I call our local hospital who tells me to go see my PS or local GP. Dial up the PS office who tells me to see my GP. Suddenly I find myself singing the song "there's a hole in the bucket dear Liza Dear Liza . . . remember than never ending song?!

Perhaps this is all being blown out of proportion because I just did our taxes and our marginal tax rate is unbelievably high. Then add 13% HST to almost everything we buy and I'm thinking . .. . what's left for us to live on? Oh, right, we pay exorbitant taxes because of our Health Care. Hmmm, I'm suddenly humming the tune There's a Hole in the Bucket again. I wonder why?

crazy4carrots

Bad day, Mantra?

Our answer to waiting an undue amount of time in the doc's waiting room is to tell the receptionist that our time is valuable and we're leaving because we've waited too long and have another appt.  Next time, we don't wait!  On the other hand, if the wait is caused by an emergency (as that walk-in might well have been), the doc is excused.

I don't know why you would have spend hours booking a colonoscopy.  Isn't this a matter for your gp to handle? We do need referrals for a specialist.

As for your bleeding fipple -- seems to me you need to go to an Urgent Care Centre or Emerg for that.  Anything that is bleeding uncontrollably needs to be seen pronto.

Having said all that -- there are situations where incompetency raises its ugly head and maybe you experienced it all in one day.  Thinking of you with hugs attached!

Linda

Alpal

Trust me - long waits, rude, incompetent staff and really old magazines are not limited to Canada. Lucky me, I get to pay for all that! Hope tomorrow is better day for you!

Edited to add that I have no idea why I just posted in this forum. It's been a long day! Sorry for the intrusion.

Mantra

Hey Lindasa, Definitely not an emergency walk-in . . . it was a Sports Injury Doctor! Why they thought I wouldn't mind just letting someone in ahead of me just because she's in a rush (I guess) since she was walking, talking and actually smiling, I have no idea. Perhaps they thought I was a super duper nice person who loves being walked all over.  

And the colonoscopy issue that has been going on since last November. I had a colonoscopy at a cancer hospital. Since that hospital does not put patients to sleep, she could not complete the colonoscopy because of unbelievable pain.Something was found and removed but serious enough to warrant another colonoscopy to complete the rest of the bowel she couldn't see.  Two referrals were sent to a place that puts patients to sleep. A referral from my GP and one from the surgeon. Somehow a power struggle has emerged and the doctor I was referred to has refused to do it stating that I don't need it even though both my other doctor's insist I do. So after months and months of arguing, phone calls and emails, the doctor's have decided to stand back and let him calm down and see if he'll do it in a year (even though he told them 3 years!!). Oh sure, let's just wait a year to see if his temper tantrum has subsided. I mean, heck, the worst case scenario is only colon cancer. What difference is a year going to make in the grand scheme of things?!. So I'm left begging this doctor to reconsider and do my colonoscopy. No. No. And no. So now I'm being referred to another colonoscopy clinic. And again I'm left shaking my head and thinking . . . who in the world has to beg for a colonoscopy?? I live in the US 4 months a year and I could have had one done there in a heartbeat . . . and they'd throw in a toaster oven and 4 movie passes too!! Of course, the price was way above budget and anyway I really thought a doctor who has two referrals would honour those doctor's request. Guess not!

Ah yes, the bleeding fipple. I did end up going back to the hospital a few hours after the initial surgery. The emergency doctor on call put in three stitches and sent me on my way. The fact that it is still bleeding . . . albeit not too badly apparently means they need to remove the bandage and change it. But who is going to do it? Not me says the PS. Not me says the GP. Not me says the hospital. Ummm, okay? Who's left? Me? NO YOU CAN NOT DO IT YOURSELF! Doctor's orders! If this was April 1st I'd swear someone was playing a prank on me. But it's not. And they aren't. There's a hole in the bucket dear liza dear liza . . . combined with The Little Red Hen. After all , apparently life is but a song and a fairy tale.  

What a strange place we live. A place where doctor's are overworked, underpaid and patients keep on paying high taxes to be treated like crap and benefit from some mythical thing called Health Care.

And yes, it's been a very bad day. Honestly, I do applaud our system and have experienced a lot of good care. As you said, I just happened to experience all the bad stuff in one very long day. I guess everyone has one of those days and today happens to be mine. Lucky me . . . and guess it's time to repeat my Mantra . . .. Life is a series of peaks, valleys and plateaus. Definitely a valley day and hopefully tomorrow will find me standing on a peak. Fingers crossed  

crazy4carrots

Ohmygosh Mantra -- you have really been given the runaround!  FYI I worked in the Toronto hospital system for years so I'm guessing you had the colonscopy at PMH.  You were likely referred to another gastro at TGH.  If I can offer a wee bit of advice: it sounds as though your GP is not standing up for you.  Put your foot down and demand that he refer you to another gastro.  There is an excellent Endoscopy Clinic at St. Mike's (I knew the docs when they were at The Wellesley and they are the best in the business).

And for your fipple -- well, I just cannot understand why the doc who put in the stitches won't change the dressing, or at least ask a nurse in the Emerg to do it.  Doesn't make sense!  But again, it sounds as though your gp is letting you down.  Maybe a good ass-kick is in order!

Sending hugs again,

Linda

pip57

I didn't even know they did colonoscopies without sedation any more!!  There are so many special clinics that do nothing but colonoscopies.  I would ask for a referral to one.  You should be booked within 10 days. 

As for waiting for 1.5 hours...it is annoying but expected.  My American sister has the same issues.  I always try to put myself in the position of the person ahead of me.  Maybe they needed some extra time and one day I will be the one holding people up.  As for the walk in...I would have told them that yes, I do mind, it it was an issue for me.  However, I usually plan 1/2 day for appointments so that it isn't an issue.  

Also, always take a game book or novel with you.  You will be much more inclined to wait.  And I hate picking up old magazines that a million sick people have already touched! 

After saying all that, it is your right to be annoyed and then vent.  That is why we are here for you!! 

Mantra

Lindasa, yep . . . PMH. And now I'm more than a little annoyed that my surgeon didn't refer me to the hospital right down the street and instead I was left to find myself a place that puts you to sleep. I'm going to ask my GP to refer me to St. Michaels. Thanks for the info.

Interesting article today in Toronto Star. This guy's business is to broker and arrange medical procedures for Canadian who choose to skip the queue and head south of the border. Link below.

http://www.moneyville.ca/blog/post/971702--6-things-to-know-about-medical-tourism?bn=1