Walk-In Clinic

[Gazpache]

having been part of both sides of health care in this country, I've got to say if you're really really sick, they move heaven and earth for you. If you're just Joe Blow Average, it's molasses.

Sorry this is going to be a super long rant.. and due to the emotion involved and how exhausted I am, I seriously hope it makes sense!

My dad has kidney cancer that metastasized to a football sized tumor on his hip. I've got nothing bad to say about the care he's had. The doctors have been really quick with appointments, they get him in for tests right away, get him on treatment plans right away.. they're fantastic. I'm actually positive one doctor saved my dad's life because he personally sped up the process by at least 6 months. Dad's had amazing care.

Myself on the other hand.. forget it. I've been unable to walk since April 2010 due to severe knee issues. My treatment has been just absolutely ridiculous. April 2010 I get put on the urgent list for an MRI. Apparently urgent in Manitoba means 4 months. So because I was in a wheelchair at the time, we decided to pay to have it done in Grand Forks North Dakota. They got me in the next day and sent me home with the results, rather than waiting 2 weeks for results here. It cost $2000 for it but it sped the process up by at least 3-4 months. I've seen 8 going on 9 doctors now. Most appointments have had a minimal 6 month waiting list. I've had to wait 4-5 months for tests, and months for government assisted physiotherapy (done at the hospitals so it's free because I have no health coverage). I've been lucky in a way that they set me up with so many doctors that I saw many of them at pretty much the same time as another. Had it been 6 month wait for every doctor one after another after another.. I would have only seen 4 by now.
Even at that, to try to find a doctor who will spend more than 5 minutes with you while you've waited 6 months for them is nearly impossible. Also trying to explain to some doctors that despite the fact nothing shows on tests, there really is something seriously wrong with me.. is nearly impossible. It's almost like they're trained to go into every appointment with the idea that the patient is faking and it's up to the patient to prove something is really wrong.. and even at that they still don't take you seriously.
I actually had one doctor tell me to and I quote "Suck it up. Throw the crutches away and just start walking again." Honey, if I could, I would. (I moved to crutches from the wheelchair once they got me on a pain medication good enough to allow me to have some movement. If it wasn't for the pain meds honestly I doubt I'd be able to get out of bed).
They can't figure out what's wrong with me. 8 doctors, no answers. They're telling me that at 28 I will never walk again and am permanently disabled. it's been such a slow, drawn out, stressful time.. everything just takes forever. I'm so tired of the system and so tired of the BS involved with it.

So yeah basically the whole point of that long winded blurb (that hopefully made sense.. I'm exhausted from a very brutal day).. is that I find if you're dealing with something like heart disease, cancer or a stroke, the Canadian system works well... as it should. I believe that it's absolutely imperative that people with serious illnesses like that get treatment immediately.
But if you're just a regular person who's non critical, it's a very slow painful process to go through.. and you have to be your own advocate. You have to try to co-ordinate care, keep on top of things, keep records and advocate for yourself to each and every doctor because absolutely nobody wants to be the doctor that spearheads things.

Sorry.. long, disjointed, probably incoherent rant over...

[pac182]

I miss my old Dr. he retired a few years ago. But every time you called someone picked up the phone and most often they would squeeze me in that day or the next (since they knew I rarely ever went). In November I got sick and it spread to my eyes so I got pink eye. Called the new Dr. couldn't even get through just got message that he was leaving at noon. Decided to go to the walk in clinic since waited 2 1/2 hours in waiting room 45 mins in room (I was bored and texting my friend and said i'm this close to rubbing my eyes over everything in this room) Dr. comes in says what's the problem? Say pink eye told to pull down my lids yes that's pink eye asked 2 questions and bye. Then got to spend 40 mins waiting for the pharmacist to put label on box of eye drops. I'm glad that I realy ever need a Dr.

[***Kimura***]

Its unfortunate that so many have such sad stories about our health care, I'm sorry for all those who have or are suffering. I'll bring a lil light to this sad thread by saying that I have never had any problems as far as getting surgery when I needed it. I have waited an hour to see a Dr. & I have waited hours at a hospital to get Xrays. I am thankfull that everyone in this country has the right to health care. I would hate for it to be like the U.S, where you may have to pay as much as $20,000 just to have a child in a hospital. In Canada, if you want to pay for health care, we have private clinics too. We should be thankful that we live in such an amazing country.

[theweaves_dad]

In reply to Gazpache's post:

I understand what you are saying. I must admit that the treatment that Chris got after hiis accident was nothing short of amazing. We both believe 100% that if the paramedics had of gone to Brantford General Hospital first instead of going straight to the trauma unit of Hamilton General Hospital, he would not be here today. Especially considering that his blood pressure dropped to 0 over 0 on the way to Hamilton.

Once there, there was alot going on. In the span of four hours, he was x rayed, had a CT scan done, had a battery of blood work done, had his legs worked on right in the trauma room and was on the OR table 7 hours after arriving at the ER. Following that, he was sedated, received 4 blood transfusions in 2 days, and started to wake up.... It was the efforts of the ER staff and the surgeon that kept him around.

I understand that you are frustrated but keep battling until you get to where you need to be. Don't sit there and be silent, make sure you are not forgotten about or fall through the cracks o the system. I wish the best to you... It is frustrating when YOU know something is wrong, but no one can give you the answers!

[theweaves_dad]

I miss my old Dr. he retired a few years ago. But every time you called someone picked up the phone and most often they would squeeze me in that day or the next (since they knew I rarely ever went). In November I got sick and it spread to my eyes so I got pink eye. Called the new Dr. couldn't even get through just got message that he was leaving at noon. Decided to go to the walk in clinic since waited 2 1/2 hours in waiting room 45 mins in room (I was bored and texting my friend and said i'm this close to rubbing my eyes over everything in this room) Dr. comes in says what's the problem? Say pink eye told to pull down my lids yes that's pink eye asked 2 questions and bye. Then got to spend 40 mins waiting for the pharmacist to put label on box of eye drops. I'm glad that I realy ever need a Dr.

That does not sound to different from going to a regular doctor. I have spent over an hour in the waiting room for my doctor for a five minute visit. Heck in Brantord's fracture clinic, you have better odds at winning lotto 6/49 then getting out in less then 3 hours. I talked to a guy once who was there for a 11:00 appointment, I talked to him getting dinner in the Tim Horton's at 4:00 pm!

I have not put in my posts that when I do have to go the ER anymore, I plan on being there no less then eight hours. Anything short of that is a bonus. I know people complain about our health care, heck I do sometimes, but really how do you solve it/ make it better? Healthcare costs enough now. I honestly have no answers really. I like my Health card, not a credit card and I don't want to pay more in taxes!

[betholio]

Or you could have just gone to the pharmacy and bought yourself a box of Polysporin drops for what was possibly a viral infection anyway.

I can't complain about the Canadian health care system. Yes, I've waited at walk-in clinics and for specialists but that's expected so I bring a book to read. If I do feel a need to visit the ER for something that can't wait until I can get in with the NP, I take steps to avoid a wait like showing up at 7am. The ER is normally quiet at 7am. Lunch time on a Saturday is packed so I wouldn't go at that time unless I was gushing blood. I think one can take steps to avoid long waits if they set their alarm clock early enough. Ask for the first appointment of the day with a specialist. Unlikely he/she is too behind at that point.

OHIP has paid for me to have two healthy babies and for my dh's numerous hernia issues and for various other things that have come up in our lives (Telehealth is an awesome service too). They looked after my Gram very well at the end of her life. I just can't complain. Yes, if we were in the US, the ER/walk-ins would be less busy but that's because everyone has a $200 co-pay so they don't go unless their leg is hanging off.

[jayne_a]

My son has a lot of medical issues. With one of his specialists, we put him on a list when he was 6 months old. By age 2 he still wasn't at the top of the list. We moved to another province, and forgot to take him off the list as we put him on a MB list, well we moved back to Sask and low and behold at one of DS regular check ups with our original doctor he said DS was at the top of the list now. That was this year and DS was 5. we were on a list for 4.5 years. Since that first initial app this past Feb. , DS has had 4 app. with the specialist, and things are moving along quickly, but it still took way to long for my son to be seen in the first place.