a healthcare rant......... (Page 2)

Perhaps.  But, the Canadian system is not even on the table for discussion.  I am not entirely sure why everyone thinks it is.

Perhaps because Aquagirl is Canadian, and working within the Canadian health care system?

John

If it makes you feel any better, I also injured my knee this summer and now I can't do anything about it because my insurance won't cover an elective procedure and it costs ~ what I make in a year.

If it makes you happier: I had a similar injury. Went to my GP (had to go anyway), got a referral. Went to the ortho doc who then ordered an MRI. At the follow-up, he confirmed the torn meniscus. Then we scheduled the same day arthroscopy to fix it. Total time from initial consult to surgery was 3 months.

After 2 weeks, it felt terrific and still does.

So, basically, the payoff is worth the aggravation.

Oh Josh....I am sorry to hear. That well and truly sux.  
Perhaps you should consider becoming Canadian??  We would make you wait an ETERNITY but eventually we would get you fixed up. And while you were waiting you could sit around and drink lots of really good Canadian beer. Our healthcare system may not be perfect........but trust me, our beer is!

If all it took were one anecdote to prove your case, I could prove pretty much anything.

Wish it were that easy........there are NONE to be had here. Which is why my Doc is so busy, his practice is overloaded. Which is why I can NEVER get seen in a timely fashion. Sigh...........

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Sorry to hear this. I've had similar problems getting in to see specialists re a medical problem ... 7 months to get in to see the specialist at his office, just to be told it'll be appx 5 months from there to get in to see him at the hospital (where I needed the surgery) ... frustrating, to say the least.

My get-around is that I see a naturopathic doctor. Is that an option for you? Yup they're not covered under provincial health care, but most health plans repay at least a portion. But at least I can get in quickly, and generally get either another referral or a solution in the mean time.

Sorry to hear about your knee issue aquagrrrrl!

I don't know where this bullship rumour got started that our Canadian health care is so great. Maybe Michael Moore had something to do with it.

Yeah sure it's free, that's why we get taxed the $hit out of everything...

Don't get me started on so-called Canadian health care!!!

[hijack on] This is not proof of the problems of socialized medicine.  I will counter aquagirl's difficulty getting seen with an anecdote from the US.  We have pretty good health insurance in the gear-family.  Gear daughter #1 had just started college when she developed some unusual abdominal symptoms.  Went to the local ER where they declared it to be anxiety (which, being a psychiatrist, I knew did not match her symptoms) and sent her home without so much as a pregnancy screen.  Mrs. gearboy drove to her college and went with her to the student health clinic to demand a series of tests that we believed would be prudent (it helps to have a mom and dad who are docs, and know docs).  Turned out to be gallstones, and she needed to have surgery.  Which they would be happy to do in 3-4 months.  We made some calls to docs we know locally, and got her in within a week or so. 

The only reason her care was expedited was because mrs gearboy and I are both docs, and pushed the system.  Otherwise, her "best medical care in the world" from the US would have either missed the diagnosis, delayed the diagnosis, or delayed the surgery for several months. With no need to have a "socialized medicine" bogeyman. Care is highly dependent on local resources.  [/hijack off]

I tore the meniscus in my right knee on the 1st of this month, had an MRI on the 4th, and have my surgery scheduled for the 21st.  The ONLY reason I have had this done so fast is just like Gearboy said above.  I am an RN and my wife is a Nurse Practitioner that refers to the Ortho doc doing my surgery.

I have a friend with the exact same diagnosis and has been told by his insurance that before they will approve surgery he must first try physical therapy.  US healthcare is already rationed by Insurance companies that dictate to healthcare providers what they will and will not pay for.  At my wifes office there is one person whose job is to basically argue with insurance companies all day so that treatments they feel are apprpriate can be performed

Update....sobbing as I write this. Tried to put some weight on my knee (it has been 8 days of crutches and ice and NSAIDS) and found that it did not hurt at all. Walked gingerly around the house for a bit.No pain. Then all of a sudden CLUNK and searing pain........cannot walk....cannot weight bear at all.....


Going to go to a private clinic and pay 600$ for an MRI. At least then I will know whats what. 

 

Sorry to hear about your injury and hope you get better soon and also sorry it turned into a debate on healthcare, When I ranted about my knee on the athena and clyde thread it turned into a talk about painful hemorrhoids and fiber supplements.  My knee surgery is monday (torn meniscus) your symptoms sound strikingly similar

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There aren't 330 million people relying on the Military Health System. Socialized means everyone has equal access and I doubt being non-military myself, I would get an appointment in a couple of days even though my tax dollars pay for your salary and that system.

I'm just saying you can't call a system that is paid for by every taxpayer but limits access to only a few as an example of how a a system that is paid for by a few and accessed by everyone will function. 

BTW, I am sorry for your injury, Aquagirl.

Edited by Jackemy 2009-09-15 6:20 AM

I said an "example".  Not definitive proof.  Add up a lot of examples and you build a strong case.

Because Aquagirl started the complaints about the health care system herself (go back and read the OP).  I was simply tacking onto the sentiment.  If she had not complained about the lack of access to an MRI and length of time it took to get to a Doctor then it never would have been mentioned.  I have expressed deep sympathy for her while at the same time agreeing with her point.  How is that vitriolic?


And I'd like to add... Aquagirl if I in anyway offended you by adding those comments I sincerely apologize.  I saw your original post as frustration with the Canadian healthcare system.  If I misconstrued that I do apologize.

And I feel for you.  I really do.  I hope it all turns out OK.

Edited by TriRSquared 2009-09-15 7:08 AM

Very sorry to hear about this.  I'm not interjecting anything into the debate that formed around this....Not sure where you live in Canada, but I'm in Detroit and I read an article the other day about many Canadians who are able to get approval to come across to our side to get your MRI's and other procedures and your healthcare system still foots the bill.   Maybe that's something you can take advantage of?

I did indeed start the thread as a "rant" on the current state of my very broken health care system. So no offense was taken by any of the comments made thus far.

Don't get me wrong.......I love Canada and cannot imagine living anywhere else. I also cannot fathom having any other sort of healthcare system in place.........even though I know there are serious problems with this current model that our tax dollars cannot seem to support anymore. There are serious problems with it........and I am not sure it can be mended.     

My knee on the other hand CAN be mended I am sure. Its just a question of how long it will take.
For now I would be grateful just to be able to walk across my kitchen to get myself a cup of coffee.........what I NEED is a wife to look after me!!  Any takers??