Comparing U.S. and other medical systems

[Grace]

I don't understand where you are coming from here. Why would anybody wait in an enormous queue in ER when they could go to their family doctor? I can certainly say that that does not happen here.

I'm guessing sparks did the ER waiting on a weekend or holiday when Family Docs are not available.

[sparks19]

I don't understand where you are coming from here. Why would anybody wait in an enormous queue in ER when they could go to their family doctor? I can certainly say that that does not happen here.

because in London ontario you can't GET a family doctor. none of them are taking patients. Plus it was after hours anyway and I had huge white plotches on my throat that was affecting my breathing. Turned out I had mono and they couldn't do anything for me anyway.

Now I'm speaking specifically about london because thats where most of my experience lies. But unless you have had a family doctor for many years you can't get a new one. there aren't enough doctors for the demand and they have all stopped taking patients as theya re over loaded as it is. And if you DO have a family doctor you often can't get in same day or next day. you have to wait sometimes a week or more.

So... they go to the ER because what other option do they have?

here in Lancaster we have luckily not had to use the ER although we almost did once when Hannah had a high fever and vomitting but we got her fever down and didn't end up having to go but that was on a sunday night at like 7 pm. But I have called Hannah's doctor first thing in the morning when she's been sick and gotten an appt for a few hours later.

[sparks19]

I'm guessing sparks did the ER waiting on a weekend or holiday when Family Docs are not available.

not that particular time but that is another issue. family doctors don't work around the clock and you don't always get sick on their schedule lol so people cram into the ER.

[pomtzu]

not that particular time but that is another issue. family doctors don't work around the clock and you don't always get sick on their schedule lol so people cram into the ER.

I think that Grace and KK thought you waited 12 hours in a U.S. hospital - when it was a Canadian hospital.

Not everybody knows that you're an import!!!

[Killearn Kitties]

Well the situation in London, Ontario sounds horrific. All I can say is that it is a million miles away from the situation here.

[sparks19]

Well the situation in London, Ontario sounds horrific. All I can say is that it is a million miles away from the situation here.

yeah... the system pretty much sucks in London lol. it's actually not THAT bad in other places in Ontario and I don't know about other provinces but if there were a list I could find I would bet London would be at the bottom. and on top of that they CLOSED one of the hospitals there so that's one less hospital taking patients.

but my basic point was when you have a HUGE population I don't think there is much that can be done about the ER being full with people who probably dont' NEED to be there

[sparks19]

I think that Grace and KK thought you waited 12 hours in a U.S. hospital - when it was a Canadian hospital.

Not everybody knows that you're an import!!!

LOL an import

yeah I've yet to actually experience an ER visit here... but as Hannah gets older I'm sure I will be old hat when it comes to that lol

[Killearn Kitties]

but my basic point was when you have a HUGE population I don't think there is much that can be done about the ER being full with people who probably dont' NEED to be there

Yes I know I don't post in the Dog House, but I still know that this doesn't accord with your political view ... but there is something that can be done about the ER being full of people who don't need to be there ... give them access to a family doctor!!!

[sparks19]

Yes I know I don't post in the Dog House, but I still know that this doesn't accord with your political view ... but there is something that can be done about the ER being full of people who don't need to be there ... give them access to a family doctor!!!

but if the family doctors aren't taking patients... what can you do? I mean here in the US they are because not everyone has one and with this population if it becomes "free" then they are going to become over run. there jsut aren't enough doctors for the demand and when everyone starts flocking to the doctors for every sniffle and sneeze and bruise they get full and overworked. this is what happened in London. People started going to the doctor for every little thing and they filled up... so they started walk in clinics... now because of the family doctor shortage the walk in clinics can be just as long a wait as the ER.

They can't work around the clock and can only handle so many patients. when the patient load gets to be too much they stop taking new ones. I know even some pediatricians here aren't taking new patients because they are filled.

and.. again... after hours if you need help where else can you go but to the ER.

[Grace]

I think that Grace and KK thought you waited 12 hours in a U.S. hospital - when it was a Canadian hospital.

Not everybody knows that you're an import!!!

Actually, I thought she might be talking about an ER in this country. I do know she's an import, and a very talented one

I once spent 9 hours in an ER. Oh, I started getting treatment immediately for my trimalleolar ankle fracture, but it was so busy, and the Ortho guy kept having to run up to one of the patient units. Not a fun time.

[pomtzu]

Actually, I thought she might be talking about an ER in this country. I do know she's an import, and a very talented one

I once spent 9 hours in an ER. Oh, I started getting treatment immediately for my trimalleolar ankle fracture, but it was so busy, and the Ortho guy kept having to run up to one of the patient units. Not a fun time.

Yes - she is - I have to agree with you about Sparks.

With my wrist fracture, they shot me up with a lot of pain meds, splinted it really good, and sent me home, to come back in the a.m. for surgery.

[Killearn Kitties]

but if the family doctors aren't taking patients... what can you do? I mean here in the US they are because not everyone has one and with this population if it becomes "free" then they are going to become over run. there jsut aren't enough doctors for the demand and when everyone starts flocking to the doctors for every sniffle and sneeze and bruise they get full and overworked. this is what happened in London. People started going to the doctor for every little thing and they filled up... so they started walk in clinics... now because of the family doctor shortage the walk in clinics can be just as long a wait as the ER.

They can't work around the clock and can only handle so many patients. when the patient load gets to be too much they stop taking new ones. I know even some pediatricians here aren't taking new patients because they are filled.

and.. again... after hours if you need help where else can you go but to the ER.

Forgive me for being so thick, but I just don't get that. People here don't go to the doctor for every sniffle, sneeze and bruise, so why would they do that anywhere else?

Does the Canadian system really make no provision for out-of-hours consultation? The British system does.

[sparks19]

Thank you both

Yeah I've been to the ER more times then I would like to remember lol.

At least the time I went when I waited 12 hours (6 were in the waiting room and other 6 were in a bed at least) they had a tv with a vcr and lots of disney movies so I watched Mary Poppins and two others lol.

When the doctor finally came in he made me lay down, looked at my throat, tapped on my stomach and said ... I think you have mono. drew some blood and sent me home. so the actual exam was less than 5 minutes lol and I was TICKED to find out it WAS mono and I basically had to suffer through it but at least he gave me some good anti inflammatories to help my throat just too bad I had to crush them up because my throat was so sore and swollen that I couldn't swallow them.

Mono is something I wouldn't wish on ANYONE.

The time I broke my leg... I don't really remember anything about that trip other than I did NOT want to go to the hospital because I was scared (I was 8) so I think I blocked o ut that whole experience in my mind lol.

[Grace]

Mono is something I wouldn't wish on ANYONE.

I was 7 when I had Mono. It used to be called the Kissing Disease, but I wasn't that type at 7

[sparks19]

Forgive me for being so thick, but I just don't get that. People here don't go to the doctor for every sniffle, sneeze and bruise, so why would they do that anywhere else?

Does the Canadian system really make no provision for out-of-hours consultation? The British system does.

I don't know WHY they do that... but they do. I've seen people taking their kids to the walk in clinic because they were sick but the kid spent the entire time running around the office. I've also known people who have skipped out of work and then gone to the doctors to try to get a note SAYING they were sick when they weren't and to get a note you have to see the doctor.

Oh yeah.. it really does happen. People go in for everything and anything and then get mad when someone who is REALLY sick gets taken in before them.

no there is no after hours consultation. if you are sick or injured after doctors hours... you go to the hospital... especially if you don't have a family physician.

I remember the doctor I had for a while (she was the only one taking patients in ALL of london and there was a reason she had openings...because she was the worst doctor I have ever encountered) she was closed on Mondays, open tuesdays, half day wednesday, full day thrusday and closed on Friday, saturday Sunday. because she had SO few in office hours it could take two WEEKS to get in to see her. One time I was going to have my yearly woman exam done and apparently they are only allowed to do a certain amount of PAP's in a month (don't get that but that's what I was told) so I couldn't get an appt with her for THAT particular thing for THREE months. so yeah... no after hours visits at ALL