I'm not part of the canadian health care system but wait times in Canada seem to be dependent on triage. Not just how serious your own symptoms are, but how they compare to the others your competing with to get care.
It doesn't surprise me that in Okotoks, a smaller centre you go to the hospital in severe pain and you are seen right away.
Last year I had the fabled H1N1, after 10 freakin days of unpleasant flu symptoms I went to emerg. There are 2 larger hospitals here in Winterpeg that get all the serious stuff. I thought it would be a better Idea to go to a smaller hospital that was closer to me.
The problem is everybody had the same idea as me. I was competing with seniors and kids with colds.
Of course I had been popping tylenols all day and drinking obscene amounts of water so when I was triaged my fever had broke, and I was well hydrated, so there was no evidence of my 10 day agony, they had to take my word for it.
Needless to say I was in the Hospital for 8 hours before I saw a Doctor.
I didn't have the more serious symtoms of H1N1 (shortness of breath) so that probably contributed to it.
|