Crumby healthcare honcho eats cookie

[mikey_the_redneck]

I rarely go to the doctor, but when I do, there are always a handful of people waiting in the lobby who appear to have nothing more than the sniffles.

These people should be charged money for a visit.....maybe that would reduce the abuse.

[CaptainCrunch]

One thing is becoming pretty clear. That our healthcare system is sliding into a abyss. There have been several articles in papers over the last week of personal stories of people having to wait months for surgery while not fixing life threating positions are seeing major impacts to their life due to chronic pain or other symptoms. There was actually a story of a kid being told by his doctor to eat food to cause a gall bladder attack so that he could jump the line and get it removed because his pain was so severe and he was losing weight rapidly and dangerously.

Look I don't blame the doctors and nurses on a professional level, they work incredibly hard within the system. But I know that we've seen my mother slowly lose her mobility due to a car accident a few years ago and walking and sitting for long periods of time have basically locked her in the house. When she went to see a doctor she was told that it would be about 8 months before they could get her to a specialist to take a look at it. As we speak my parents are looking at going to a private clinic in B.C. where they can pay to get a MRI or whatever they need done.

Look, free health care is great unless it sucks, and right now Canadian Health Care sucks, so free doesn't really do anything but give us something to promote internationally. Look at us we're a liberal democracy with free health care . . . woooow.

I don't even blame the budget dollars, the last time I looked Canada was top three in
per capita spending for health care. I blame how that money is being used and budgeted. Health care has become too salary driven and far too top heavy. Its also being run by complete dolts and incompetants.

In the movie "Dave" Charles Grodin reviewed the white house budget and exclaims that he doesn't understand how they stay in business. If the same thing happened with Canadian Health Care Charles Grodin would grasp his chest and have a heart attack, and then probably die in a hallway because there weren't enough beds available.

[Mazrim]

Originally Posted by mikey_the_redneck

I rarely go to the doctor, but when I do, there are always a handful of people waiting in the lobby who appear to have nothing more than the sniffles.

These people should be charged money for a visit.....maybe that would reduce the abuse.

Are you sure they're not there for something other than sniffles? Perhaps some of them have to go for an injury, or vaccinations before they go on vacation. Some people have regular shots they have to go see their doctor for.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by mikey_the_redneck

I rarely go to the doctor, but when I do, there are always a handful of people waiting in the lobby who appear to have nothing more than the sniffles.

These people should be charged money for a visit.....maybe that would reduce the abuse.

I would rather have them go to the Dr's. Office instead of the ER. They are actually doing the right thing.

[shermanator]

Originally Posted by Mazrim

Are you sure they're not there for something other than sniffles? Perhaps some of them have to go for an injury, or vaccinations before they go on vacation. Some people have regular shots they have to go see their doctor for.

The only time I go to the doctor is when I know I need a prescription to get better. (Strep throat, tonsilitis, lung infections, etc). Most of the time it's a 3 hour wait for a 2 minute conversation and prescription write up.

[mikey_the_redneck]

Originally Posted by Mazrim

Are you sure they're not there for something other than sniffles? Perhaps some of them have to go for an injury, or vaccinations before they go on vacation. Some people have regular shots they have to go see their doctor for.

Yes, many people do many things, but I maintain that abuse of the health care system is a significant problem.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by mikey_the_redneck

I rarely go to the doctor, but when I do, there are always a handful of people waiting in the lobby who appear to have nothing more than the sniffles.

These people should be charged money for a visit.....maybe that would reduce the abuse.

Well it's just great that we have people like you sitting in waiting rooms with advanced instantaneous diagnostic skills.

I counter with the opposite. Getting proper medical treatment has become such an arduous ordeal that many give up.

Even with a GP referral, seeing a specialist can often take over a year. GPs are sometimes saddled with providing care outside their specialty, in which case half-measures are taken.

Maybe you should butt out of other people's business?

[amorak]

Originally Posted by mikey_the_redneck

I rarely go to the doctor, but when I do, there are always a handful of people waiting in the lobby who appear to have nothing more than the sniffles.
.

Mikey the Redneck: Commenting on stuff he has no clue about and no education in since 2005!

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by mikey_the_redneck

Yes, many people do many things, but I maintain that abuse of the health care system is a significant problem.

Of course there's abuse.

Primarily from bureaucrats and self-serving politicians.

There's malingerers under any set-up. Problem is an aging population mean demographic. That's what's taxing the system.

Short of a Logan's Run policy, that fact will have to be addressed.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by mikey_the_redneck

I rarely go to the doctor, but when I do...

[mikey_the_redneck]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Well it's just great that we have people like you sitting in waiting rooms with advanced instantaneous diagnostic skills.

Maybe you should butt out of other people's business?

Oh bull.......everyone knows a handful of people (mostly younger women in my case) who think they are sick all the bloody time, and therefore visit the doctor when it is not necessary, jamming up the waiting rooms for eveyone else.

Maybe you should respect other peoples observations and cut out the condescending crap....

[mikey_the_redneck]

Originally Posted by amorak

Mikey the Redneck: Commenting on stuff he has no clue about and no education in since 2005!

amorak - specializing in the one-liner d-bag drive-by since 2008

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by mikey_the_redneck

Oh bull.......everyone knows a handful of people (mostly younger women in my case) who think they are sick all the bloody time, and therefore visit the doctor when it is not necessary, jamming up the waiting rooms for eveyone else.

I don't 100% agree with everything you're saying Mikey, but I think this absolutely rings true.

I can think of a couple people I know today (and a few others over the years) that are always "Sick". The worst case (a close friend's sister) probably has 10-15 visits a year to the doctor/hospital. One day it's "I think I have fibromyalgia", the next day it's "I think I have acute bronchitis", the next time it's "I think I have hyperthyroidism". Seriously - the sickest human being in world, although she's never been diagnosed with anything......she's been like that since her late teens (known her for ~20 years)

[Coys1882]

Originally Posted by mikey_the_redneck

Yes, many people do many things, but I maintain that abuse of the health care system is a significant problem.

I don't always agree with your posts Mikey but I have to here.

I worked as an orderly/security at the Foothills Hospital for 2.5 years while going to MRC and the wasted resources is rampant but not always from people who are dodging work with hot poo. If people want to sit in Emerg for six hours to have their tummy rubbed - let them. In my experience people who are there to abuse the system for that purpose end up leaving because the Triage nurses know how to prioritize and you'll sit while the 'real' cases go in.

Here's an example of the abuse I think of when I think back to my time in the AHS: A woman in her early 20s would eat a box of Gravol on a weekly, sometimes twice a week basis. She would then show up at the Emerg knowing the triage nurses by first name. They would have her file for quick reference, get her a bed, pump her stomach, give her the charcoal chaser, monitor her for 12 hours - send her home. rinse and repeat as needed. For every one of her - there is 20 more and this was just one hospital.

Money, time and resources down the pot over and over again.

[mikey_the_redneck]

Originally Posted by WilsonFourTwo

I don't 100% agree with everything you're saying Mikey, but I think this absolutely rings true.

I can think of a couple people I know today (and a few others over the years) that are always "Sick". The worst case (a close friend's sister) probably has 10-15 visits a year to the doctor/hospital. One day it's "I think I have fibromyalgia", the next day it's "I think I have acute bronchitis", the next time it's "I think I have hyperthyroidism". Seriously - the sickest human being in world, although she's never been diagnosed with anything......she's been like that since her late teens (known her for ~20 years)

Yeah I know several people like that.

I visit the doc maybe 2-3 times a year, and 1-2 of those visits is just to get a re-fill of eczema cream for my hands. I've been using the crap for 10 years, so I wish I could just avoid the doc altogether and have the pharmacist get me what I need. They seem reluctant to do this....

But instead, .....I wait for 30 mins. past my supposed appointment time to sit in a crowded waiting room with people all around sniffling and coughing. Obviously not everyone does this, but I think it is significant enough. You will never catch me in a waiting room with cold or flu like symptoms, ever.

The secret to avoiding waiting forever at emergency is to go to a smaller center. I had an allergic reaction a few years back and I drove out of Lethbridge to the Coaldale hospital and was serviced in literally less than 5 minutes. This works if you have a non-life threatening emergency like cuts and broken bones, allergic reactions etc....

[bomber317]

Originally Posted by mikey_the_redneck

I visit the doc maybe 2-3 times a year, and 1-2 of those visits is just to get a re-fill of eczema cream for my hands. I've been using the crap for 10 years, so I wish I could just avoid the doc altogether and have the pharmacist get me what I need. They seem reluctant to do this....

But instead, .....I wait for 30 mins. past my supposed appointment time to sit in a crowded waiting room with people all around sniffling and coughing. Obviously not everyone does this, but I think it is significant enough. You will never catch me in a waiting room with cold or flu like symptoms, ever.

I went to a new Family doctor a few years ago. He sucks because he doesn't take the time to treat and diagnose you properly, but the appointments are always on time. Their rule is only 1 problem per appointment.

This is good because I only go and get my prescription refilled every 6 months or so, no waiting, just go in, get my prescription, get out.

Of course, my tune will change once I start a family and want a proper doctor and not just one that gives me prescriptions quickly.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Of course there's abuse.

Primarily from bureaucrats and self-serving politicians.

There's malingerers under any set-up. Problem is an aging population mean demographic. That's what's taxing the system.

Short of a Logan's Run policy, that fact will have to be addressed.

There is a lot of truth to this, fact of the mater is that our population is growing significantly older, as a result of a number of reasons, the first being that the baby boomers are aging and frankly we as a population are also getting significantly older over the past century roughly doubling our average lifespan. Combine that with the health care system taking a very liberal approach to urgent/required medical care and the budget starts getting chipped away at very fast.

There are abuses of the medical system, no one should deny that, but perhaps the larger reason is that we are now pulling out all the stops in order to cure the 80 year old grandmother of whatever ailment she has rather than letting her drift off into the night as would have been the case before. Not saying that we should go around killing old people but after spending a day with people with Alzheimer's and severe cases of Dementia you will soon realize that there are fates worse than death.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by Coys1882

Here's an example of the abuse I think of when I think back to my time in the AHS: A woman in her early 20s would eat a box of Gravol on a weekly, sometimes twice a week basis. She would then show up at the Emerg knowing the triage nurses by first name. They would have her file for quick reference, get her a bed, pump her stomach, give her the charcoal chaser, monitor her for 12 hours - send her home. rinse and repeat as needed. For every one of her - there is 20 more and this was just one hospital.

Perhaps the issue isn't that she is coming into the hospital to get her stomach pumped but looking into the reason as to why she is taking Gravol twice a week and requiring hospitalization. Not saying people should be devoid of any personal responsibility but at a certain point in time the economics of a situation would likely make it so that we we cured some of the root causes of issues it would be more cost effective for our health care system as a whole

[mikey_the_redneck]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

There's malingerers under any set-up. Problem is an aging population mean demographic. That's what's taxing the system.

This is why I am for death panels....








I kid...

[Coys1882]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

Perhaps the issue isn't that she is coming into the hospital to get her stomach pumped but looking into the reason as to why she is taking Gravol twice a week and requiring hospitalization. Not saying people should be devoid of any personal responsibility but at a certain point in time the economics of a situation would likely make it so that we we cured some of the root causes of issues it would be more cost effective for our health care system as a whole

Absolutely - but that's in a red tape free world isn't it? People told me she could not be admitted for psyciatric care because her condition is considered behavoiral and not listed as a mental illness in the DSMV. She strictly did it for attention and knowingly abused the system to get it. There was also a woman who used to skin herself - every couple months she'd take a box cutter to her arms and peel it off. They couldn't do anything other than bandage it because from her elbow to wrist was nothing but scar tissue.