[Newsbot]

Title: Canada has longest Emergency Room wait times among top 11 developed nations | TheSpec.com
Category: Health
Posted By: Freakinoldguy
Date: 2012-11-30 20:25:09
Canadian

[Freakinoldguy]

Nice to know isn't it? We seem to keep throwing money at the system and for what ever reason it seems to dissapear into the pockets of administrators, doctors, nurses and hospital supply companies instead of to the core components of the system.

Every time you turn around there's another hospital lottery that raises millions for new equipment for these hospitals so, it makes a person wonder just why they have to do that, especially when the Gov't won't pay to train enough tech's to run this stuff they're getting for free anyway.

I don't know what the answer is but more money doesn't appear to be it.

[Regina]

The answer is less meetings about talking of treatment and more of the actual treatment happening. In a few more years we'll need a PHD to change a bed pan.

[Regina]

The solution is to charge $2-5 for each visit and $25 if you're drunk on booze or solvents. $50 if the police brought you there because they found you on the sidewalk or street.
Place will be empty.

[Strutz]

A co-worker of mine had a recent experience with the local ER. She had a severe cut on her hand which required stitches and she waited 6-1/2 hours to get them. It was a Tuesday night, not especially busy but there was only one ER doctor working...

[RUEZ]

Regina Regina:

The solution is to charge $2-5 for each visit and $25 if you're drunk on booze or solvents. $50 if the police brought you there because they found you on the sidewalk or street.
Place will be empty.

I agree, but Canadians seem to be so proud of this free healthcare even if you have to wait half a day to be seen.

[Regina]

RUEZ RUEZ:

Regina Regina:

The solution is to charge $2-5 for each visit and $25 if you're drunk on booze or solvents. $50 if the police brought you there because they found you on the sidewalk or street.
Place will be empty.

I agree, but Canadians seem to be so proud of this free healthcare even if you have to wait half a day to be seen.

Free.............

[Unsound]

Regina Regina:

The solution is to charge $2-5 for each visit and $25 if you're drunk on booze or solvents. $50 if the police brought you there because they found you on the sidewalk or street.
Place will be empty.

Problem with that is most of the people who're in ER for booze or solvent related issues... won't have the $25 and won't ever pay it. So then what? Turn them away? Expensive as it is I don't want to live in a place where people who need help get turned away from the hospital.

A little more staffing, and a lot more education about what constitutes an "emergency" would help a lot. Too many people going in cause their cold symptoms haven't gone away after 3 days like the box said. Maybe if GPs where easier to get that would alleve some of that?

[Brenda]

Unsound Unsound:

Regina Regina:

The solution is to charge $2-5 for each visit and $25 if you're drunk on booze or solvents. $50 if the police brought you there because they found you on the sidewalk or street.
Place will be empty.

Problem with that is most of the people who're in ER for booze or solvent related issues... won't have the $25 and won't ever pay it. So then what? Turn them away? Expensive as it is I don't want to live in a place where people who need help get turned away from the hospital.

No, get their health care card and bill them, just like they do when you are brought there by ambulance. (which is $80 pp per trip in BC).

$1:

A little more staffing, and a lot more education about what constitutes an "emergency" would help a lot. Too many people going in cause their cold symptoms haven't gone away after 3 days like the box said. Maybe if GPs where easier to get that would alleve some of that?

And stop offering only casual contracts. Or more, no contracts at all...

I wouldn't mind paying $2 orso per ER visit, I agree that it would keep the unnecessary users away. Go spend your time at Timmies instead of the ER...

[saturn_656]

Unsound Unsound:

Problem with that is most of the people who're in ER for booze or solvent related issues... won't have the $25 and won't ever pay it. So then what? Turn them away? Expensive as it is I don't want to live in a place where people who need help get turned away from the hospital.

There should be a price for being a total moron, and $25.00 is a small (too small?) price to pay for wasting the time of highly paid professionals.

[Prof_Chomsky]

Like always the problem is funding.
...more important to reduce cap gains taxes on the uber rich

[Regina]

Unsound Unsound:

Regina Regina:

The solution is to charge $2-5 for each visit and $25 if you're drunk on booze or solvents. $50 if the police brought you there because they found you on the sidewalk or street.
Place will be empty.

Problem with that is most of the people who're in ER for booze or solvent related issues... won't have the $25 and won't ever pay it. So then what? Turn them away? Expensive as it is I don't want to live in a place where people who need help get turned away from the hospital.

A little more staffing, and a lot more education about what constitutes an "emergency" would help a lot. Too many people going in cause their cold symptoms haven't gone away after 3 days like the box said. Maybe if GPs where easier to get that would alleve some of that?

You take it off their social assistance or income tax.

[bootlegga]

Unsound Unsound:

Regina Regina:

The solution is to charge $2-5 for each visit and $25 if you're drunk on booze or solvents. $50 if the police brought you there because they found you on the sidewalk or street.
Place will be empty.

Problem with that is most of the people who're in ER for booze or solvent related issues... won't have the $25 and won't ever pay it. So then what? Turn them away? Expensive as it is I don't want to live in a place where people who need help get turned away from the hospital.

A little more staffing, and a lot more education about what constitutes an "emergency" would help a lot. Too many people going in cause their cold symptoms haven't gone away after 3 days like the box said. Maybe if GPs where easier to get that would alleve some of that?

That's the point of the new Family Clinics we are opening in Alberta. It allows people to see a doctor outside of regular hours (and when private clinics may be closed) and avoid trips to the ER.

When they opened the NE Clinic a decade ago, it helped ease the strain somewhat on people rushing the Royal Alex. The government is hoping that opening 100 or so of these clinics across the province will do the same thing.

[jj2424]

bootlegga bootlegga:

Unsound Unsound:

Regina Regina:

The solution is to charge $2-5 for each visit and $25 if you're drunk on booze or solvents. $50 if the police brought you there because they found you on the sidewalk or street.
Place will be empty.

Problem with that is most of the people who're in ER for booze or solvent related issues... won't have the $25 and won't ever pay it. So then what? Turn them away? Expensive as it is I don't want to live in a place where people who need help get turned away from the hospital.

A little more staffing, and a lot more education about what constitutes an "emergency" would help a lot. Too many people going in cause their cold symptoms haven't gone away after 3 days like the box said. Maybe if GPs where easier to get that would alleve some of that?

That's the point of the new Family Clinics we are opening in Alberta. It allows people to see a doctor outside of regular hours (and when private clinics may be closed) and avoid trips to the ER.

When they opened the NE Clinic a decade ago, it helped ease the strain somewhat on people rushing the Royal Alex. The government is hoping that opening 100 or so of these clinics across the province will do the same thing.

Yes REDford claims they're new yet they've been around for 10 years. I've used one for the last couple of years as it's more convenient then making an appointment with your own doctor. They are very efficient with their scheduling, leave your name and they can always tell you how long it will be.
That way you don't have to sit in the waiting room with all the hackers and sneezers , just leave and come back 15 minutes before your estimated time.

[Gunnair]

Strutz Strutz:

A co-worker of mine had a recent experience with the local ER. She had a severe cut on her hand which required stitches and she waited 6-1/2 hours to get them. It was a Tuesday night, not especially busy but there was only one ER doctor working...

The few times I ended up in emergency resulted in a wait less than an hour.

Guess I was lucky after being unlucky.

But, as has been said, Emergency often gets clogged up with non emergency cases for flues and fevers.