Raj Sherman: increase primary healthcare

[SebC]

This relates to something that was said in the thread I created about Gary Mar's views on healthcare (http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=108115), but I decided to create a new thread for it.

Here's the point that was made:

Originally Posted by joe_mullen

I apologize for banging on about this point, but the solution is increased access to primary care. Obviously, that's not an easy problem to solve and it will take some time to see the results. Sadly, our government officials (and the majority of the public for that matter) are more concerned with measures like ER wait times and MRI wait times. These are all a function of peoples access to primary care. If you improve that vital step, everything eventually falls in line.

Well it turns out Raj Sherman (Alberta Liberal leadership candidate and former PC) agrees. Here's his proposal: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/opini...351/story.html.

Particularly notable:

Sherman said universities must guarantee 70 per cent of its medical graduates — instead of the current 30 per cent — become family doctors, pediatricians, gerontologists or general internists rather than “fancy schmancy” specialists such as himself to ensure people are taken care of before they need emergency care. Each of those doctors, then, needs to be supported with a team of nurses and other health-care professionals in primary care networks better managed than currently, Sherman said.

[Flash Walken]

Epic tag.

[Daradon]

I wouldn't mind things working in this direction, they already have a few ideas in place to increase primary care as an alarming amount of Albertans don't have a family doctor, but I'm not sure if this is the way to go about it. Even if it's part of it, i don't think they should change the averages from 30 to 70 percent. What about 40? Or 50?

[Slava]

Are you voting for him Seb?

[LChoy]

Just my quick 2 cents. I totally agree in principle, but it's going to have to be a system wide change. You have to appeal to the students going into med school. Family medicine isn't "sexy" compared to surgery and other more exciting medical disciplines. You're dealing with many A type personalities that have been in competition all their lives for coveted spots. We have to make family medicine more appealing to the masses. Maybe we give new graduates of the family medicine office support, provide linkages for new doctors into the PCNs, or create rotation programs so family physicians can rotate at a hospital to do ER or something else a couple days a week to keep things interesting.

[Flash Walken]

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/doctor-hotspot/

I posted that link in the debt ceiling thread, but it is relevant here as well.

The need for broad access to primary care is in the long run, a huge financial relief to the medical system.

A more statistically based application of primary care should go hand in hand with that.

[You Need a Thneed]

How about coverage for dental and eye care gets included? I'd rather not have to pay $110 for a five minute eye checkup.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

How about coverage for dental and eye care gets included? I'd rather not have to pay $110 for a five minute eye checkup.

Dental and Optometry should totally be included. I wish pharmaceutical was included as well; theres something inherently stupid about a system where finding out whats wrong with you is free, yet getting the prescription is a potential barrier.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

How about coverage for dental and eye care gets included? I'd rather not have to pay $110 for a five minute eye checkup.

Why don't you buy Blue Cross coverage? Its well worth it.

[Flash Walken]

As long as we are talking about healthcare overhaul...

As someone currently seeing a physiotehrapist multiple times a week, I think society as a whole would greatly benefit having physiotherapy sessions covered based on need.

The improvement in quality of life is substantial and likely further reduces the strain on the medical system down the line.

[scotty2hotty]

Just to open a can of worms ...

More money is not the problem. The healthcare budget is increased substantially every few years. Are people healthier now than they were 10 years ago? 20? 50?

Our entire culture needs a health overhaul. The vast majority of people are overweight, eat junk, would never dream of a glass of water, smoke, sleep poorly, have crappy relationships, stressful jobs, spend little time outdoors and consider a 15 walk to be exercise because they saw it on a poster in their doctor's office.

We just wait for the inevitable, act surprised when we get sick, and assume a pill will be there to save us when we do.

I don't pretend to have any actual answers. I just wonder if any person much smarter than me with some actual power will have the balls (or female version) to one day stand up and say "all right, no more money. It's time for this population to wake up and take responsibility for your own health and well being ....and this is how you're going to do it .........."

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Azure

Why don't you buy Blue Cross coverage? Its well worth it.

I have benefits, but they don't cover everything.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

How about coverage for dental and eye care gets included? I'd rather not have to pay $110 for a five minute eye checkup.

How about the government pay for every little thing we don't like to pay for, so they can double our taxes to pay for it or go into massive debt. Yay....

[c.t.ner]

I've spent some time talking to recent and upcoming Med School grads, and they say that the biggest deteriate to getting into the family doctor and pediatricians business is the costs.

Unlike becoming a specialist, Family Doctors and Pediatricians essentially have to run a small business. They need an office, a staff, supplies, etc., It also doesn't help that Family Doctors and Pediatricians don't make as much as a specialists do. So if you're a young med school grad coming off thousands of dollars of loans, these avenues aren't going to look nearly as enticing as becoming a specialist.

I think until those underlying issues are resolved we're still going to face some major shortages with family doctors. I don't think setting a mandatory level is going to help if there aren't changes to pay structure, etc.,

Also on a side note, interesting to see Raj vying for the leadership of the liberals. He's a huge loss for the new leadership of the Alberta PCs (Which is understandable considering what happened to him). I really do hope he retains a seat in the Alberta Legislator, he's a great voice for the issues that are plaguing the Health Care system.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Fire

How about the government pay for every little thing we don't like to pay for, so they can double our taxes to pay for it or go into massive debt. Yay....

I don't ask the government to pay for everything. I think eye and teeth health is more important than a whole lot of other things that are covered, though.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Epic tag.

Sadly, not original.

Originally Posted by Slava

Are you voting for him Seb?

In the ALP leadership race? I don't know yet. I signed up so that I can vote, but to be honest I consider myself pretty apathetic at the provincial level except where it comes to the electoral system itself, which drastically needs to be reformed (e.g. I did not get involved in the Alberta Party at all).

I might vote for Raj just because people know him, which could increase the party's support and displace some PCs, who I find to be generally incompetent and stale.

I know who I'm not voting for though: Bruce Payne. Union leader? Pastor? Yeah, I think I'll stay far, far away.