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I'm waiting months to see a specialist. What can I do?
The Globe and Mail ^ | July 10 2011 | LISA PRIEST

Posted on 01/10/2014 8:28:06 AM PST by justlittleoleme

The Question: I've had pain in my right knee for more than a year. After waiting five months, I had an MRI which showed two ligament tears. The specialist cannot see me for months. I have to work and care for my two children under age 10. The anti-inflammatory pills do not help, and my leg is so swollen I can hardly walk. What is my right to be treated?

The Answer: It's frustrating: You've paid into medicare for years and it's not available when you need it. Rationing and waits are endemic to our public health-care system, but that's cold comfort for you now. Across Canada, it can take months just to see an orthopaedic surgeon and more months before the operation. Hip and knee replacements have shorter waits because they have a higher priority with governments.

(Excerpt) Read more at theglobeandmail.com ...


TOPICS: Canada; Culture/Society; Government
KEYWORDS: formom; healthcare; obamacare; universal
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This article is about Canada's healthcare system. I know this is an old article, but it illustrates the problem with universal healthcare.
1 posted on 01/10/2014 8:28:06 AM PST by justlittleoleme
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To: justlittleoleme

He may have had a pain in his knee for a year, but America has had a pain in her butt for five now.


2 posted on 01/10/2014 8:34:00 AM PST by bk1000 (A clear conscience is a sure sign of a poor memory)
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To: justlittleoleme

Step 1: Fly to Mexico.
Step 2: Obtain fake Mexican passport and grow a moustache.
Setp 3: Sneak into the US and go to an emergency room.


3 posted on 01/10/2014 8:34:42 AM PST by Boogieman
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To: justlittleoleme

“Are you one of Holder’s people?”


4 posted on 01/10/2014 8:35:55 AM PST by Sir Napsalot (Pravda + Useful Idiots = CCCP; JournOList + Useful Idiots = DopeyChangey!)
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To: justlittleoleme

Here is a study on wait times that was done as well....

http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3430156

“Data from our EMR-based researchable database indicate that the median wait to see a specialist in southwestern Ontario is 53 days, with longer waits for neurosurgery and orthopaedic surgery visits, and shorter waits for paediatrician visits. There are significant variations between specialties and by practice, and further research is needed to understand the specific reasons for these. Future work should model the patient-, physician- and contextual-level factors that determine specialist wait times.”


5 posted on 01/10/2014 8:37:32 AM PST by justlittleoleme
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To: justlittleoleme
but it illustrates the problem with universal healthcare.

Single-payer is great if you break your arm or have a ruptured appendix but if you need some form of specialized care or elective surgery, you're in trouble. And if you're over 65, forget it.

6 posted on 01/10/2014 8:37:54 AM PST by Drew68
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To: FReepers
Socialist Healthcare
Coming To A Country Near You


Click The Pic To Donate

Support FR, Donate Monthly If You Can

7 posted on 01/10/2014 8:42:04 AM PST by DJ MacWoW (The Fed Gov is not one ring to rule them all)
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To: DJ MacWoW

Get into your onesies and grab a hot cup of cocoa!


8 posted on 01/10/2014 8:48:03 AM PST by catman67
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To: Boogieman

Simpler get a paste on mustache from costume shop, some dark makeup, go to ER cheaper. than going to mexico, they don’t ask for your papers at the ER. Be prepared to wait at least 8-10 hrs to be seen. LOL

We have only 1 public hospital, rest private, they tell them to go to the MED.


9 posted on 01/10/2014 8:53:08 AM PST by GailA (THOSE WHO DON'T KEEP PROMISES TO THE MILITARY, WON'T KEEP THEM TO U!)
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To: justlittleoleme

I just got an email from my mother about regular Medicare.

Her words: Apparently, seniors are labeled “under observation” in rehab after a hospital visit. Then the bill is not paid by Uncle Sam. Seniors must be labeled “inpatient”.

She’s one of the five remaining peeps who get their info from Brian Williams. Has anyone heard anything like this? Is it another hidden gem in O’care?


10 posted on 01/10/2014 8:53:12 AM PST by ToastedHead
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To: justlittleoleme

Canadians have had to go south to USA for medical care for years, since they got their socialized scheme. Now where will Americans go for medical care once Obamacare takes firm control? South, south to Cuba!?


11 posted on 01/10/2014 8:57:54 AM PST by faithhopecharity (no)
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To: justlittleoleme

Are you a fan of universal healthcare...if so be brave and forgo care to help your fellow citizens, remember sacrifice is holy. If you were not in favor of Universal healthcare you’re screwed....you are the victim of your fellow citizens (morons) who wrought this plague upon you.......my heart goes out to you!!!


12 posted on 01/10/2014 8:59:18 AM PST by ontap
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To: ontap

um no... not a fan.... its already getting bad with wait times to see specialist and it has only just begun....


13 posted on 01/10/2014 9:02:34 AM PST by justlittleoleme
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To: faithhopecharity
Algodones
14 posted on 01/10/2014 9:05:41 AM PST by Jeff Chandler (Obamacare: You can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs.)
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To: justlittleoleme
Here's a gem from the report:

From a policy perspective, the good news is that waiting time in our sample is not associated with SES. Instead, patient age, sex and severity – which can be considered proxies for need – are associated with wait times, providing evidence that there is equity in waiting times in our sample.

The good news is that even though wait times are abysmal, there is EQUALITY! Everybody gets the same poor results.

15 posted on 01/10/2014 9:12:49 AM PST by the_Watchman
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To: the_Watchman
patient age, sex and severity – which can be considered proxies for need

The good news is we have a policy to discriminate based on age and gender.

16 posted on 01/10/2014 9:17:25 AM PST by null and void (It is as if they all had one head. Too bad they don't all have one neck.)
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To: null and void

In America, they will soon have proxies for “voting pattern” to determine who gets care or not.


17 posted on 01/10/2014 9:18:06 AM PST by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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To: justlittleoleme

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/expathealth/7949665/Expat-guide-to-Canada-health-care.html

For a more realistic view f Canadian healthcare including life expectancies, etc.


18 posted on 01/10/2014 9:34:27 AM PST by AnAmericanInEngland
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To: the_Watchman
We live in an area swarmed by Canadian snowbirds each winter.....you can't get anywhere near the parking lots of the many medical office buildings here during "season", but if you get close you'd swear you were in BC or Alberta judging by the license plates.

It's believed there are more MRI machines in our Coachella Valley than in all of Canada.

19 posted on 01/10/2014 9:44:17 AM PST by ErnBatavia (The 0baMao Experiment: Abject Failure)
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To: All

For those of you who, like me, are slow SES stands for socioeconomic status. (Had to look it up on Wikipedia).


20 posted on 01/10/2014 10:00:21 AM PST by pluvmantelo (Disqus seems to be taking longer than usual. Reload?)
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