Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Wait times for “non-priority” surgeries
Topic Started: Dec 10 2013, 09:26 AM (1,559 Views)
Berton
Member Avatar
Thunder Fan
[ * ]
Wait times for “non-priority” surgeries

Katie’s story

Three years ago, Katie (name and some details changed to protect her identity) was in a car accident on a rural road two hours outside of an urban centre. Her ankle was crushed in the accident, and after a delay of several hours due to weather, she was air-lifted to the nearest trauma hospital to undergo emergency surgery.

While the emergency surgery saved Katie’s foot, she was left in agonizing pain from the bones in her ankle grinding on each other. The pain was so extreme that she could not walk. She was unable to work, and barely able to care for her three young children.

For the next two years, Katie sat on various waiting lists, first to see a pain doctor and then to see a specialist in foot and ankle surgery. She was prescribed powerful opioids to treat her pain, but they were not effective – she remained unable to walk.

After an entire year of waiting just to see the foot and ankle surgeon, Katie was placed on another wait list to have her ankle fused. She had her surgery six months later.

Katie’s pain is now almost completely gone, and she is able to walk for the first time in nearly three years. But while this surgery gave Katie her life back, she spent nearly two years on various waiting lists before finally getting the operation. What frustrates Katie and her surgeon is that if she had needed surgery for her hip or knee instead of her foot, she might have had to wait only half the time.

(continued)

LINK

What happens when bureaucrats make medical decisions.

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Neutral
Member Avatar
Fire & Ice Senior Diplomat
[ * ]
It happens all the time in Canada.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Berton
Member Avatar
Thunder Fan
[ * ]
In pain for 3 years because of wait time?

Unable to walk for 3 years because of wait time?

Unbelievable.
Edited by Berton, Dec 10 2013, 12:36 PM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
tomdrobin
Member Avatar
Fire & Ice Senior Diplomat
[ * ]
Denying those operations to those who can't afford insurance definitely shortens the waiting line.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Brewster
Member Avatar
Fire & Ice Senior Diplomat
[ * ]
Keeps the wait time averages short too.

If you never have the surgery, there's never a report of a long wait.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Deleted User
Deleted User

Can't speak to this case but here is nothing stopping her from paying for it herself at a private clinic. If she ws American without insurance she would have to pay for it. Chances are it would still be far cheaper in Canada. She can buy insurance for it as well depending on province. my wife once paid $5000 for ahsoudler opertaion at a private clinic because she wante to get back to work earlier rather than wait 2 months for it in the public system. She was later reimbursed by workmans comp.

She needs an arthritic toe fused. She would have to wait about 30 days, but we will be in Mexico so she will get it done in May. In the interim she got a cortisone shot in the joint.

That ladies issue may be a symton of doctor shortages, somethign plagueing both our countries right now with tthe aging demographic. Both the AMA & CMA put a lot of obstacles in front of immigrant doctors who want to practice. I know a girl who was a surgeon in Moscow who is currently working in a nursing home because of the Medical association roadblocks. My father is currently teaching a Brazilian guy English. His father is the most renowned opthomologist in Brazil and teaches it at university & guest lectures in it here in Canada. He wants to immigrate & practice in Canada. No luck after 5 years of trying. Talk about a waste of talent.
Quote Post Goto Top
 
Berton
Member Avatar
Thunder Fan
[ * ]
The fact remains that she had to wait for 3 years and it is a common problem.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
tomdrobin
Member Avatar
Fire & Ice Senior Diplomat
[ * ]
Bertie knows more about Canadian health care than Canadians. :sarcasim:

Another case of living in the alternate reality of right wing ding land.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Neutral
Member Avatar
Fire & Ice Senior Diplomat
[ * ]
Knowing more than the canooks on this board isn't saying much.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Deleted User
Deleted User

Yes I have to admit, on sunglasses, you have us beat. On other subjects? Well that is another matter entirely.
Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · Fire And Ice General Discussion · Next Topic »
Add Reply

Website Traffic Analysis