SARS forces Ontarians to U.S. for medical help

Ottawa Citizen(via National Post) ^ | April 10, 2003 | Tom Blackwell

[saluki_in_ohio]

SARS forces Ontarians to U.S. for medical help

By Tom Blackwell The Ottawa Citizen

Thursday, April 10, 2003

TORONTO - Restrictions imposed on Ontario hospitals due to the threat of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome are pushing many Canadians to head south of the border for treatment or diagnostic testing, often at their own expense.

With elective surgeries and outpatient clinics suspended in Toronto-area hospitals, people are paying for MRI scans and other services in the United States themselves rather than wait at home.

The Ontario government has covered the costs of three surgeries in the U.S., fearing danger to the patients if they had to wait longer for the operation here.

"All of our front-office staff have said, 'Wow, are we running more commercials or something, because all of a sudden our Canadian calls have gone way up,' " said spokesman Kevin Burns of Buffalo MRI and CT.

MRI exams in Buffalo cost about $465 U.S., while full-body CAT scans run to as much as $900 U.S. Buffalo MRI says it can do the work within 24 hours.

The Ontario government closed two hospitals and froze most patient visits, elective surgery and clinics at other Toronto-area hospitals to contain the outbreak. Less-stringent limits were placed on other Ontario hospitals. James Young, the province's commissioner of public safety, said yesterday the government wants to start restoring those services, but warned it will happen gradually.

Meanwhile, close to 200 employees of an unnamed Toronto-area company were ordered into quarantine yesterday after an employee who was supposed to be in isolation repeatedly came to work while suffering SARS symptoms.

The incident and others prompted stern rebukes from officials who say their quarantine edicts must be obeyed to control the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome.

The public health department ordered a Toronto high school closed until next Tuesday after learning that a student who may have the illness attended school last week while symptomatic. The city's board of education closed an adjoining elementary school as a precaution.

Toronto health officials have also issued 20 letters of warning to quarantine violators, many of them companies that were ordering employees back to work before their 10-day isolation period had ended.

The number of suspect or probable cases rose by 10 yesterday and now stands at 242 across Canada. Among the five new suspect or probable cases in Ontario is an adopted baby brought back by couple from China at the end of March.

[saluki_in_ohio]

I don't want to make light of the SARS epidemic, but take note that Canadians have to go south of the border to get the care they need.

And to think some in this country want socialized medicine...

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[Mamzelle]

Canada is essentially encouraging the infected to invade US emergency rooms. Thanks, neighbor.

[xJones]

Be fair, the Canadians are having to close hospitals to try and stop the SARS epidemic. They don't really have a choice, and it has nothing to do with socialized medicical care, it's about SARS.

[N. Theknow]

Awww...gee, you mean their wonderful little socialized medicine system isn't working???

Well, of course it's working.

It isn't bogged down with all those sick people now is it?

[Mamzelle]

US hospitals will not close because of SARS! That's an Old Europe type of policy, because the docs they have lack the sense of duty that they should have! Canadian hospital admins are surrendering to this infection, knowing that we'll accomodate the overflow!

Bush said he has quarantine power. Pushing the infected over the border *will* created a higher infection rate in the US.

Close the border, and Canada will have to reopen the hospitals that they *immorally* have closed!

Be fair, my ...

[saluki_in_ohio]

Be fair, the Canadians are having to close hospitals to try and stop the SARS epidemic. They don't really have a choice, and it has nothing to do with socialized medicical care, it's about SARS.

Yes it is unfortunate that Canada doesn't have a choice regarding SARS, and we in the US should do what we can to help our neighbor.

Nevertheless, if Canada had a free-market alternative to government controlled healthcare, the problem of closing off hospitals might not be so severe.

[CJ Wolf]

Close the border. I don't want those canadians bringing that crap down here to infect our hospitals.

[hawkaw]

Be fair, the Canadians are having to close hospitals to try and stop the SARS epidemic. They don't really have a choice, and it has nothing to do with socialized medicical care, it's about SARS.

Yes it is unfortunate that Canada doesn't have a choice regarding SARS, and we in the US should do what we can to help our neighbor.

Nevertheless, if Canada had a free-market alternative to government controlled healthcare, the problem of closing off hospitals might not be so severe.

I agree with paragraph 1 and thank you kindly for paragraph 2.

You are incorrect with paragraph 3. Whether the hospital was a for profit hospital or a not for profit hospital it wouldn't have mattered - we had to stop the outbreak especially at Scarborough General.

Interestingly, the Province has just allowed new "private" MRIs to be going in at a number of locations in Ontario. This is in conjunction with the many "private firms" that offer x-rays and other imaging.

This private part in Ontario's health care is something that few talk about up here. If you look very closely at the health care system you will find that a lot of it is private.

What is public of course is the "insurance" system. And of course the insurance lobby wants to get into the action.

Just to let you know the biggest problem up here with the system has been the lack of funding over the years. Canada and a number of its provinces, including Ontario decided to tackle its major deficit problems in the 1990s. In Ontario and at the federal level, the financial mess was fixed. Now a lot of money is being invested into the system again. Hell even the doctors, who usually set up themselves as businesses in this Province are getting decent wages again. Interestingly enough, in Ontario, the Province pays for the doctors malipractice insurance, something that USA doctors have major problems with.

Is it what I would like to see? I'm not sure. I, myself, have always had very good care but I'm always kinda partial to a less government role.

hawk

[Snowyman]

the problem of closing off hospitals might not be so severe.

And now that SARS is in the US how far away is the day that you wish your hospitals had reacted in the same way. And closed their doors.

Any one who thinks SARS will be contained by sending people away with a fact sheet and the promise to report in if they're showing symptoms is simply inviting an epidemic. How many active cases have you got walking around, breathing and sneezing on everyone from the grocery clerk to the bus driver.

This has got nothing to do with socialized medicine. You think a virus cares?

[saluki_in_ohio]

This private part in Ontario's health care is something that few talk about up here. If you look very closely at the health care system you will find that a lot of it is private.

I have seen some privatized health care in Alberta, however, I was not aware of the privatized part of Ontario's healthcare system. I'll have to look into this some more.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Apparently the government hasn't approved funding for SARS treatment yet. Someone call Hillary!

[saluki_in_ohio]

This has got nothing to do with socialized medicine. You think a virus cares?

I agree that SARS has nothing to do with socialized medicine. Perhaps I should clarify myself.

In my point of "the problem of closing off hospitals might not be so severe" I meant that if Canadians had more choices(that would be made available with a greater free market option), the healthcare shortage caused by hospitals being forced to close due to the SARS virus would not be as great. Flame away.

[gridlock]

This has got nothing to do with socialized medicine. You think a virus cares?

People have been crossing the border into the US to get care for years. Why do you think that Buffalo MRI clinic bothers to advertise in Canada? The SARS related hospital closings just means the Canadians have a better chance of getting the Canadian government to pay for it.

Two things about Socialized Medicine:

1. It is prone to sweeping decisions and overreaction, like any other government program.

2. It is possible to get a full-body CAT scan in Buffalo, New York for $900, and the clinic will get you results within 24 hours. What engine of innovation and cost cutting made this miracle possible? (Hint: Is it possible to get a full-body CAT scan in Canada in less than a year, at any price?)

[Snowyman]

My post to you was also aimed at some of the other posters that seem to think a virus cares who,and where it infects someone. I don't know what type of State or Federal health officers there are in the US but in Ontario the hospitals were closed by the two Doctors mentioned in this article. Wouldn't matter how the hospital was funded.


TORONTO, April 8 /CNW/ - Dr. Colin D'Cunha, Ontario's Commissioner of Public Health and Chief Medical Officer of Health, and Dr. James Young, Ontario's Commissioner of Public Security, today stressed the importance of home isolation in containing the rise of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome(SARS) cases.
"The successful containment of SARS depends on people who are in home isolation staying there for the full 10 days," Dr. D'Cunha said. "It is also important for these people to contact their local public health unit,if they develop any symptoms while at home."
Dr. Young said preliminary reports on the possible 11th SARS-related patient death being investigated, as reported Monday, indicate that the patient did not have SARS.
"Preliminary indications are that this patient did not die of SARS, however, the investigation is continuing so that we can confirm this information," Dr. Young said.
Health officials also clarified that this patient death occurred at the West Lake Terrace Long-Term Care Centre in Prince Edward County and not at the Trenton site of the Quinte Healthcare Corporation, as was reported on Monday.
There continues to be restrictions on services and visitor access at hospitals across the province.
"We are working with hospitals on a plan to ensure a timely reintroduction of services at Ontario hospitals," Dr. Young said. "This plan will take a few days to finalize and communicate. Until then, we are asking for the public's understanding that access to visitors and volunteers will continue to be restricted."
Health officials continue to urge the public to maintain proper hand washing techniques and avoid visiting hospitals and long-term care facilities,unless medically necessary.
As of today, April 8, 2003, there are approximately 190 cases of SARS in Ontario, which includes 91 probable and 99 suspect cases. To date, 40 patients treated for SARS have been discharged from hospital.

[discipler]

I wonder if NBC,CBS, or ABC will give this story the proper attention it deserves. The socialist need to stay in Canada or go to Canada. They are a drain on this society.

[Snowyman]

It is possible to get a full-body CAT scan in Buffalo, New York for $900

That's nice. I can get one at a private clinic in Hull Quebec for $750 and I can get one for my dog or cat in London Ont. for $1000. (No, they don't do humans there)

I can get a MRI in Sudbury in 5-7 days or if I want to drive to Timmins,(which would be a 5 hour drive for me) tomorrow. At no cost. My mother-in- law , who is in Southern Ontario, needed a CAT scan 3 weeks ago. She has cancer. She waited 4 days.

BTW last year a little over 600 people crossed over to the US for procedures that aren't done here. Ontario paid the bill.

[saluki_in_ohio]

My post to you was also aimed at some of the other posters that seem to think a virus cares who,and where it infects someone. I don't know what type of State or Federal health officers there are in the US but in Ontario the hospitals were closed by the two Doctors mentioned in this article. Wouldn't matter how the hospital was funded.

Snowyman,

You still don't seem to be getting my point. I'm sure the doctors were doing what was reasonable and prudent given the grave circumstances.

My point is not who or what funds the hospital, my point is that there would be more hospitals available for people to go to if the Canadian and provincial governments would let the free market do its work. Supply and demand.

[Snowyman]

What makes you think there aren't enough hospitals? Doesn't matter how many there are or would be. They'd be closed.