Rant about Ohip

[danmand]

It is not good to grow old in Ontario.

A year and a half ago I had to go to the US to get treatment for a life
threatening cancer. Now I have a benign tumor on my hand, and from the
time I saw the doctor to when I am scheduled to have surgery is about 6 months.
Because this current tumor is beneign, I am resisting my urge to get it removed
in the US.

Can anybody please explain why it takes less ressources to let someone wait
for 6 months for surgery, instead of a few weeks?

In my opinion, and I was a systems designer earlier in my life, the medical
system in Ontario is hopelessly inefficient. There is no need for more money, or more dioctors, it is entirely a systems problem.

 

[Brookstone]

I agree the healthcare, or rather the system here isnt the greatest. Specifically when you need to see some kinda of specialist other than your family doctor.
My mom has a lot of testing etc she needs to do on a regular basis, and everytime you have to wait at least 2-3 months. Back in Oct, i requested a MRI scan on my knee, a month later i get the appointment date in the mail scheduled for April.

And what about the people who need to wait years on a waiting list just for a family doctor. That is just not right.

I guess the only exemptions are athletes, celebrities etc

 

[danmand]

The cruel reality is that these delays are simple medical rationing.

But it does nort work. I am not going to die from this condition.

 

[aries]

It's not the best, I had a ruptured disk in my back and I was in pain for a over year. It took 6 months to get an apointment with a specialist and another 6 months for an MRI scan. Then I waited another 2 for surgery! I couldn't walk with out being in extreme pain!

 

[danmand]

It is demeaning and unacceptable that we have to beg doctors for treatment. I am fortunate that I could afford to go to the US for
treatment, but it is a disgrace that the system is so poor.

And don't blame the ills of Ontario's system on the fact that it is
universal. I lived for a fairly long time in a country with a well functioning
universal health care system.

 

[K Douglas]

It is not good to grow old in Ontario.

A year and a half ago I had to go to the US to get treatment for a life
threatening cancer. Now I have a benign tumor on my hand, and from the
time I saw the doctor to when I am scheduled to have surgery is about 6 months.
Because this current tumor is beneign, I am resisting my urge to get it removed
in the US.

Can anybody please explain why it takes less ressources to let someone wait
for 6 months for surgery, instead of a few weeks?

In my opinion, and I was a systems designer earlier in my life, the medical
system in Ontario is hopelessly inefficient. There is no need for more money, or more dioctors, it is entirely a systems problem.

danmand for one of the first times ever I agree with you entirely. all the money in the world isn't going to solve the problem we face in health care. it is absolutely unacceptable that you have to wait six months for cancer surgery (I don't care if its benign or not). I am appalled but not surprised.

 

[danmand]

danmand for one of the first times ever I agree with you entirely. all the money in the world isn't going to solve the problem we face in health care. it is absolutely unacceptable that you have to wait six months for cancer surgery (I don't care if its benign or not). I am appalled but not surprised.

Fortunately, the tumor on my hand is not a cancer, but a giant cell tumor,
which is beneign.

 

[hunter001]

Fortunately, the tumor on my hand is not a cancer, but a giant cell tumor,
which is beneign.

Maybe the doctors are busy with people that have potentially terminal cancer.

I had benign skin cancer and I don't remember it being very long between when I saw the specialist and when I had the operation. It was a matter of weeks I believe. It seemed like a turnstile process but it was getting people through. It was about 1.5 years ago.

It seems every type of cancer is different and waiting lists accordingly.

 

[danmand]

Maybe the doctors are busy with people that have potentially terminal cancer.

Actually, the plastic surgeon I am waiting for, is busy with boob jobs.

 

[hunter001]

Actually, the plastic surgeon I am waiting for, is busy with boob jobs.

You can wait. There are more important things.

 

[pencilneckgeek]

With baby boomers in Canada set for retiring enmass over next few years, the situation will only get worse and unaffordable as well. I don't see present system in its current state surviving beyond 10 years.

 

[FOOTSNIFFER]

Maybe they should have used more Scandinavians to design OHIP's systems.
They seem to be pretty good at that sort of thing.

 

[nautilus]

I would still rather get ill here than in th USA.
Part of the problem here is because the system is universal, with no user fees, too many people are inclined to line up for care for the slightest thing. I'm not disagreeing that there are big problems, but it could be much worse.

 

[train]

Are you telling me that the waiting hasn't improved as Dalton said it would when he imposed the health surtax ? Surprising since we all know that Dalton doesn't lie and he runs a very efficient government

In fact it's so efficient he won't allow you to spend your own money on something simple like imaging (MRI, CT scans etc) if he can help it. He's just trying to save you money after all.