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Re: Canadian Health Care System
Amie #192349 01/15/08 02:07 PM
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 Originally Posted By: Amie
 Originally Posted By: Worfzara
I do know that Ontario’s MRI machines are running 24 hours a day due to the demand and depending on your situation you could wait up to 6 months, again sig less than the 18 months reported here.


Just offering a personal experience on this one . . . Ian was booked to get an MRI on his knee (so not life-threatening, but certainly something that pained him every day) - booked the appointment in May . . . and the MRI was scheduled for the following June, 13 months later, at 8:30 pm, 185 km away. A month before it was due, he got a call pushing it out a month longer. So he waited just over 14 months in total.


My dad had been having some knee problems over the last year. Finally, around the last week of November, his knee 'went out'. He was in a lot of pain, but could walk a little. He saw a doctor two days later, got an MRI (again two days later), and three weeks later was able to get the surgery he needed. His condition was certainly not life threatening, but it did greatly affect his quality of life.

So, in the Canadian health-care system - how long would it take to see a specialist, get an MRI and then get an operation?

Re: Canadian Health Care System
NDinUSA #192368 01/15/08 03:56 PM
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I work in the Healthcare field and
1.I would not like the US system.

2. There are not 18month waits for surgery. In fact most provinces have published wait times online which has driven demand to bring surgical wait times. A health region in BC has mandated they will reduce their orthopaedic waits by 11% this year.

3. I really dont do much paperwork to get my healthcare, just pay my monthly family premium of $88.

4. $264 a quarter for my family of 4 isnt large, but we get taxed to pay for the system.

5. I sell medical equipment and one nurse that worked in the US and Canada said to me a lot of the equipment in the US is disposable because its used and that cost is billed to the HMO of the patient. In canada most of the equip is reuseable because its much less costly and not to mention environmentally friendly.

Its like using paper plates at home and throwing them out or buying some plates. As a result in Canada the Sterile Processing Staff are much more educated to reprocess the equipment than in the US, where you can be working at Burger king on Monday and sterilizing a resectoscope the very next day with no qualifications.

Some things like MRI have long wait times, but you can pay if you really want to. The NBA and NHL teams in Toronto get MRI's because they pay for use. The province may not adequately fund a MRI centre's operation and they do some work for a cost to meet the financial needs. Vince Carter of the Raptors had an MRI a few years back and that was the response of the manager of the site.

I also ran into a US citizen at a B&B where I stay in BC and he was talking about this whole "socialist" healthcare system with his bad knee from skiing. He asked how much to get a knee done in Canada and what are the requirements. When I told him it was covered by taxation and no extra out of pocket costs and the only requirement was that his Dr. said it needed to be operated he changed his tune. It seems that he is 45 and loves skiing and soccer, but his HMO doesnt deem his bum knee a hinderance to his everyday life, just his recreational life, so he cant get a knee replacement which would cost around $20k.

For the most part, the US has great Dr.'s and if you really need care its not a long wait, but you pay thru the nose as a patient because healthcare is a business.

In Canada its seen as a public service offered and because some people believe that if something is free, they should take all they can....the system can get bogged down. Waits on Vascular, Orthopaedic and general surgery are not too long and there are some amazing surgeons that I have seen. Care is great and cost is not an issue which makes me grateful. When my 4 year old is coughing to the point of passing out from whoopingcough, I am only thinking of his wellbeing in the ER at 3am........not that I may have to cancel the family vacation because of what this is gonna cost.

Re: Canadian Health Care System
nitrojiber #192370 01/15/08 04:05 PM
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 Originally Posted By: nitrojiber
 Originally Posted By: Amie
 Originally Posted By: Worfzara
I do know that Ontario’s MRI machines are running 24 hours a day due to the demand and depending on your situation you could wait up to 6 months, again sig less than the 18 months reported here.


Just offering a personal experience on this one . . . Ian was booked to get an MRI on his knee (so not life-threatening, but certainly something that pained him every day) - booked the appointment in May . . . and the MRI was scheduled for the following June, 13 months later, at 8:30 pm, 185 km away. A month before it was due, he got a call pushing it out a month longer. So he waited just over 14 months in total.


My dad had been having some knee problems over the last year. Finally, around the last week of November, his knee 'went out'. He was in a lot of pain, but could walk a little. He saw a doctor two days later, got an MRI (again two days later), and three weeks later was able to get the surgery he needed. His condition was certainly not life threatening, but it did greatly affect his quality of life.

So, in the Canadian health-care system - how long would it take to see a specialist, get an MRI and then get an operation?


Depends on where you are and if you want to pay. I know a friend and his 12 yr old son had knee problems from a football game. He seemed to get care rather quickly, probably 3-4 weeks to get referred to a ortho specialist to get an mri, but the surgery wait was going to be a couple months, so he went to another hospital an hour away in Banff. The surgeon there does all the knees for the national ski team and international skiiers regard him well also.

I have heard of other older neighbours experiences with getting knee replacements that took longer. I think its a priority basis in some cases where a 60 year old with a limp isnt as much a priority as a 12 yr old that is still growing who needs ACL surgery.

The other option is there is a private clinic in the city that is run by surgeons with priviliges at local hospitals. Also there is a private MRI facility. If you wanted, you could pay for your MRI and knee surgery here in Calgary if you wanted.

Re: Canadian Health Care System
ctown #192372 01/15/08 04:27 PM
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Well, it is encouraging to hear that most of you are pleased with your health-care system (since we are definitely heading towards government run health care).

We have a huge problem with illegal immigration here though. How are non-citizens handled?

Last edited by nitrojiber; 01/15/08 04:28 PM.
Re: Canadian Health Care System
nitrojiber #192374 01/15/08 04:35 PM
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 Originally Posted By: nitrojiber
Well, it is encouraging to hear that most of you are pleased with your health-care system (since we are definitely heading towards government run health care).

We have a huge problem with illegal immigration here though. How are non-citizens handled?


Not really sure. our borders are with the US, but I guess if you say EH enough you can get healthcare. I'm sure it goes on but I guess some borrowing of ID or fake ID might grease thru the system.

Re: Canadian Health Care System
ctown #192375 01/15/08 04:37 PM
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Here's a link to the province of alberta surgical wait list.

http://www.ahw.gov.ab.ca/waitlist/CategoryOverview.jsp

And here is one for British Columbia

http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/waitlist/


I also forgot to mention Pharmaceuticals. I would inquire as to why the same drugs are so much more expensive in the US than in Canada, even when they come from the same drug company? I have a friend in Pharmaceuticals with some insight as some of you may have also.

Ask some Dr's where the nicest Pharma sponsored CME was that they attended? Bahama's, Bermuda, Hawaii, Strasbourg, Paris, Rome???

Pharma companies rules on entertaining physicians changed in canada a couple years ago, so they cant do as much as they used to.

Last edited by ctown; 01/15/08 04:42 PM.
Re: Canadian Health Care System
nitrojiber #192382 01/15/08 05:38 PM
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 Originally Posted By: nitrojiber
Well, it is encouraging to hear that most of you are pleased with your health-care system (since we are definitely heading towards government run health care).

We have a huge problem with illegal immigration here though. How are non-citizens handled?


What an interesting thread and people are staying civilized! I love this board.

To receive subsidized health care in Canada, you have to produce your Health Card. You need to be a citizen to get one. Of course, I'm sure it could be faked but so can citizenship. I have never heard of such being a problem so I must assume it's pretty rare. If you were a visitor from the States, you would be asked to provide insurance information, but the good news is that if your life is threatened, you will never be refused. I have no idea what we do when you wake up from your life saving operation and you still have no insurance in your home country.

I assume we ship you to our National Prison Igloo and force you to build the holes in Tom Horten's doughnuts using nothing but broken hockey stick blades for tools until you can be reintroduced into society in a work term as a Celine Dion roadie.


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Re: Canadian Health Care System
Murph #192385 01/15/08 05:49 PM
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A little precision (at least valid in Quebec). You don't need citizenship per se. If you are a landed immigrant or a refugie or have some other form of visa (working permits and so on), you can obtain coverage after six months through official channels and a Health Card with photo is handed out.

And I agree with Murph that it is very nice to have threads like this and everything is done in a civilized manner. \:\)


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Re: Canadian Health Care System
EFalardeau #192387 01/15/08 05:52 PM
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Is any part of the health care system subsidized through taxes on goods and services?


Rick


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Re: Canadian Health Care System
Wid #192391 01/15/08 05:56 PM
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I don't think any level of Canadian governements is that specific on which element of revenue is used for what. They all add it to the big pile and spend from it. Then again, I might be completely wrong!


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