In America????

[sparks19]

I'm sure that's true. However ... how does that help this woman get her son to a dental clinic? It gets her to the hospital ... but that's not where she needs to go.

They can certainly give the child antibiotics at the hospital... which in turn would help stop infection from spreading... which in turn would help him LIVE. It's not a perfect solution but it's better than doing nothing.

[Catty1]

In Canada, each province has its own health system.

In the richest province, Alberta, where I live, we pay premiums for health every 3 months - I have prescr insurance thru Blue Cross (which I get only thru Alberta Health). Extra premiums.

No, the premiums won't break me and some folks have company insurance.

But I will wait three times as long for a "free" knee replacement etc

In Alberta, several women with at-risk pregnancies had to have their babies in another province and in the USA because there were not enough beds.

Baby Boomers mean lots of people in need, and not enough nurses, doctors etc. We have doctors leaving general practice because their pay does not meet overhead.

Just a POV from the north.

[sparks19]

In Canada, each province has its own health system.

In the richest province, Alberta, where I live, we pay premiums for health every 3 months - I have prescr insurance thru Blue Cross (which I get only thru Alberta Health). Extra premiums.

No, the premiums won't break me and some folks have company insurance.

But I will wait three times as long for a "free" knee replacement etc

In Alberta, several women with at-risk pregnancies had to have their babies in another province and in the USA because there were not enough beds.

Baby Boomers mean lots of people in need, and not enough nurses, doctors etc. We have doctors leaving general practice because their pay does not meet overhead.

Just a POV from the north.

So basically things in Alberta are the same as they are in Ontario. I can't say that I have ever heard much from anyone from Alberta on how their healthcare system is working. We have the exact same problem in Ontario. LONNNNNNNNG waits.... not enough beds.... and Dr's constantly leaving because they can't make any money there.

Even when I had to get my widsom teeth out.... I had to wait over a year to get in to the maxillo-facial surgeon. Not enough supply for the demand.

[Catty1]

It's not even so much the money...overloaded doctors are burning out. And nurses too.

I wish I could wave a magic wand and have everyone do as much preventive care as possible - lifetsyle changes, etc.

I know it wouldn't help the whole thing...but I do wonder how much of the space in long lineups is caused by people who have been eating/smoking/drinking too much, and the health effects of that?

The teeth are a different matter....

It's a tight situation.

[emily_the_spoiled]

As someone who has worked in health policy (as a health care professional, policy maker, and researcher) in both Canada and the US, the end result of the systems are not that much different. The big difference is how they get to the end result. For what ever reason (either long wait lists, no insurance, etc) there is always a segment of the population that will delay their care. The major difference between Canada and the US, is that in Canada you will EVENTUALLY get the care. Unfortunately in the US you will receive the care when you get appropriate insurance, enough cash, or by the time it is too late (as in the case of this little boy).

[wombat2u2004]

As someone who has worked in health policy (as a health care professional, policy maker, and researcher) in both Canada and the US, the end result of the systems are not that much different. The big difference is how they get to the end result. For what ever reason (either long wait lists, no insurance, etc) there is always a segment of the population that will delay their care. The major difference between Canada and the US, is that in Canada you will EVENTUALLY get the care. Unfortunately in the US you will receive the care when you get appropriate insurance, enough cash, or by the time it is too late (as in the case of this little boy).

Exactly...I couldn't agree more !!!!
Wombat

[columbine]

I know it wouldn't help the whole thing...but I do wonder how much of the space in long lineups is caused by people who have been eating/smoking/drinking too much, and the health effects of that?

WAY too much, because junkfood, cigs, and beer are heavily advertised on the cheapest form of entertainment, TV, and all that Madison Avenue glitz has the strongest effect on the least educated minds. So lousy health is a "poverty tax" that we all end up paying with our wallets, and the wage-earners and below pay a far higher rate in a far more precious currency. This is the true cost of free enterprise. Emptor just doesn't caveat, because it's so much more profitable to train him/her not to.

Love, Columbine (who had Fritos for lunch and is currently enjoying a refreshing beverage containing ethanol)

[Edwina's Secretary]

Columbine...WOW! How eloquently you have summed it up....( pass the Fritos! )

[mugsy]

Gee I didn't realize that being poor made you not able to make decisions and should be released from any and all responsibility for yourself. And I wonder why my lower socio-economic students don't perform well....that's IT! They don't have to answer to anyone, including themselves.