Unpleasant doctor experience

[Fabulous]

My family has become the victim of the current family doctor shortage. Our family doctor retired and we are on our own to find a new doctor or do the walk-in clinic thingy and see a different doctor each time (sometimes they don't even show up for work). Most of the time it's huge line ups, 1-2 hour wait and the privillage of a 3 minute visit with the doctor.

So after several month search for a new family doctor, I thought I found one, made an appointment 3 weeks ago. Today the long awaited day finally comes and we arrive at the doctors 10 minutes early. After a 40 minute wait I ask the clerk if this would be a regular type wait for a scheduled appointment with the doctor. The clerk tells me that doctor is not here yet. Great, could you tell me when she'll be here. Nope don't know I called her and she is not answering her phone. Ok we wait 10 more min. Finally the clerk says the doctor just arrived. 10 more min. pass by and we get in to see the doctor.

We sit down and I begin to tell her my problem, alerting her to the faxed report from a specialist doctor who recently performed a colonoscopy on me. I start to tell her that I've been in pain for several months now due to the health problem....and tell her that I am on prescription Tylenol 3.

Right away she tells me that is against medical procedure and that she can not accept me as a patient because I am on pain killers. Well I tell her I don't want to be on pain killers, I need a doctor to help me cure what ever it is that I have. And she tells me that she will not accept new patients who are using Tylenol 3. I am like WTF, is this for real?

Thought doctors are supposed to make you feel better and help you with your health problem. This bitch cussed me out for taking pain medicine. Like I have a choice, to be totally incapacitated with pain all day or somewhat functional and productive without pain. Or maybe just fucking maybe you can diagnose me or refer me to the next specialist so I can get some medical attention.

I am trully feeling the pain of loosing my family doctor. It looks like it's going to be a difficult search. That's my rant for today.

 

[markvee]

It is possible that the doctor has been disciplined by the College of Physicians and Surgeons for a matter of misconduct involving narcotics, and as part of the ruling, has been ordered not to prescribe narcotics.

If this order is the case there probably would be a sign to this effect in the office. You can go here to see if the doctor has been found guilty of misconduct:
http://www.cpso.on.ca/Info_Public/Dis_sum/disc_sumtoc.htm

If the doctor refused you as a patient based on your medical condition, it is possible to complain to the College. Here is the complaint form:
http://www.cpso.on.ca/Info_Public/compform.htm

In any case, you will probably be happier with a different doctor. Here is a link to the Doctor Search page:
http://www.cpso.on.ca/Doctor_Search/dr_srch_hm.htm

Main page of College of Physicians and Surgeons website:
http://www.cpso.on.ca/

I hope this information helps. Good luck in your search.

 

[Fabulous]

It is possible that the doctor has been disciplined by the College of Physicians and Surgeons for a matter of misconduct involving narcotics, and as part of the ruling, has been ordered not to prescribe narcotics.

If this order is the case there probably would be a sign to this effect in the office. You can go here to see if the doctor has been found guilty of misconduct:
http://www.cpso.on.ca/Info_Public/Dis_sum/disc_sumtoc.htm

If the doctor refused you as a patient based on your medical condition, it is possible to complain to the College. Here is the complaint form:
http://www.cpso.on.ca/Info_Public/compform.htm

In any case, you will probably be happier with a different doctor. Here is a link to the Doctor Search page:
http://www.cpso.on.ca/Doctor_Search/dr_srch_hm.htm

Main page of College of Physicians and Surgeons website:
http://www.cpso.on.ca/

I hope this information helps. Good luck in your search.

Thanks, those are excellent links. Especially the complaint form. I just felt so helpless as if I could do nothing, now I will. Thanks so much.

 

[papasmerf]

January 2. 2006

Took my dad to the hospital for blood and tissue in his urine. Since he had prostrate cancer he was under the care of a local urology group. Doctor from that group had rounds that morning for their patients and he came into the ER to see him . He decided to do a Laparoscopy and check him out. This was at 7 AM. Took him into surgery by 07:30 and began the procedure. At 07:50 the doctor came to see me and indicated my dad had a hole in his bladder cause by what was likely a tumor. I asked what are his options and he said he could try to sew it up and then we would discuss the other options. He explained to me he had a surgery on for 09:00 and would take him right after that.

I agreed to the surgery and call my sister who was returning from NEW YEARS in TIMES SQUARE. She met me at the hospital around 10:30 and we were with my dad. At 11:00 they took dad for his procedure and we waited. In the mean time I called my daughter to keep her abreast of the situation and my sisters kids came to the hospital. At 16:40 the doctor came out and told us he had sewed up sever baseball sized hole in his bladder.

Dad was stable and we needed to make decisions as to how the next part of his life would go. Point is when doctors are late they are likely not with their favorite SP but rather with a patient who needs them


BTW the doc who saved his life then had office hours at noon.

 

[Fabulous]

Dad was stable and we needed to make decisions as to how the next part of his life would go. Point is when doctors are late they are likely not with their favorite SP but rather with a patient who needs them


BTW the doc who saved his life then had office hours at noon.

This was not a surgeon, just a family doctor. She wasn't coming from any emergency type appointment. I know this cause the clerk told me that she was just returning from leave (first day back). She was an old lady and probably ready to retire anyway. Just as well that it didn't work out cause I think she was border line senile, she didn't even try to help, she was ignorant and mean. I told her I don't want to be on this pain medicine but most days the pain is unbearable, that's why I need to find a doctor. I started to cry and ask her why? And the bitch instantlly started accusing me of "abusive language" I never swore, I was just upset and crying.

 

[papasmerf]

This was not a surgeon, just a family doctor. She wasn't coming from any emergency type appointment. I know this cause the clerk told me that she was just returning from leave (first day back). She was an old lady and probably ready to retire anyway. Just as well that it didn't work out cause I think she was border line senile, she didn't even try to help, she was ignorant and mean. I told her I don't want to be on this pain medicine but most days the pain is unbearable, that's why I need to find a doctor. I started to cry and ask her why? And the bitch instantlly started accusing me of "abusive language" I never swore, I was just upset and crying.

So find another doctor


But understnd their first call is to the sick and that means hospitals

 

[markvee]

... they're aren't any doctors. I know tons graduate every year....

I don't entirely agree with this.

From http://www.readersdigest.ca/mag/2004/08/doctors.html

Canada’s doctor shortage is partly rooted in a 1991 report commissioned by the provincial deputy ministers of health. In that document, Morris Barer and Greg Stoddart, two health economists, predicted that Canada was facing a physician surplus. In response, provincial governments, scrambling to save money, cut first-year enrollment to Canadian medical schools by about ten percent. Dr. Andrew Cave, an associate professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, says, “Despite the predictions of the gurus ten years ago, in fact, we need more doctors.”

Dr. Dale Dauphinee, executive director of the Medical Council of Canada, coauthored a report in 1999 that calculated that Canada needs to recruit 2,500 new doctors a year. This would cover both physicians retiring or leaving the country and population growth. Our own graduates can’t fill the void: Our medical schools graduate only 1,570 new doctors a year—a shortfall of 930.

....are they going to the US where the money is better, is that why we are in a shortage?

I don't agree with this.

From: http://www.chsrf.ca/mythbusters/pdf/myth19_e.pdf

Since 1980, our net loss has never been more than one percent of all practising physicians

....why we are in a shortage?

The shortage could be solved by increasing medical school enrollment. However, it takes 4 years medical school + 2 years family medicine residency to train a family doctor. It takes 4 years medical school + 4 years pediatrics residency to train a pediatrician. It takes 4 years medical school + 5 years general surgery residency to train a general surgeon. Therefore, increasing enrollment (and enrollement has been increased dramatically since about the year 2000) does not have an impact for at least 7 years. This time until impact can be shortened by 4 years (the length of medical school) by increasing residency positions for foreign trained doctors already in the country who have passed the Canadian medical licensing exam.

From: http://www.readersdigest.ca/mag/2004/08/doctors.html

A major problem is the shortage of residency openings. The provincial colleges of physicians and surgeons, which grant doctors their licences, require that after medical school, doctors complete a residency: at least two years of hands-on training, usually in a hospital. An American residency is treated on a par with a Canadian one, but residencies in other countries are not. Therefore, the majority of immigrant doctors have to complete a residency here.

“The snag is getting the training,” Cave explains. “You can pass all your exams, but you still can’t get into a training program.”

Joan Atlin, executive director of the Association of International Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, estimates that Ontario has between 2,000 and 4,000 immigrant doctors looking for a practice. “Doctors are coming with thousands of dollars of training and experience in their pockets,” says Atlin. “They have a right to be assessed, and if found to be qualified, they should be allowed to practise their profession.”

 

[tboy]

I agree Markvee, I know some med schools in the US are using a rapid contact approach and have 1st year med students working with patients. They found that this greatly improves their bedside manner and helps lessen the load on 4th yr students and MDs. They aren't doing procedures but they are taking down the pertinent info and training with nurses on how to draw blood, etc etc etc.

 

[LancsLad]

In another thread wasn't the OP making negative comments about those of us who sought and received treatment in the US.

You shouldn't complain now about our "wonderful" Ontario system.


Just a thought.

 

[MarkII]

The supply and demand for MD's is truly out of whack in some areas in Ontario. Thats a real problem that needs to be addressed.

My Dad and I spent an agonizing few years in and out of hospitals before my Mother passed.

There were times when the system stalled and we had to be an advocate for her health care, but all in all, the system works.

I know how frustrating it must be to try and FIND a Doctor willing to accept new patients. Been through that myself here in Toronto.

But for every once of the frustrating laments there are a 1000 stories from people who received excellent care from dedicated and caring people.

I'm not for a moment minimizing the problem, but simply pointing out that there are some pretty decent folks trying to maintain dignity and patient care who are really under paid and over worked. While it's easy to criticize remember that a lot of people receive exceptional care here in Ontario from people who don't get paid for the special time they spend caring for patients.

 

[Esco!]

Some time ago I heard that there was a plan to open Canada for British doctors, because they have a surplus. Does anyone have a clue what happened to that initiative?

I think they moved onto Glasgow

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article2039843.ece

 

[xix]

Female doctor

I had a female doctor twice and never again.

The first was because she bought out or took over my old male doctor clinic. Didn't like her attitude from the start and the receptionist nurse changed her attitude from "hello" to "Health Card". Not even a hello, seriously.

Then I went from her to walk-in clinics for a year didn't realize they were all women until I left but they helped me after seeing 4 of them. The last one I guess just got smart and told her I wan't leaving until I get result, so she sent me to a specialist for my throat instead of test.
I guess they get paid from the lab clinics or something.

Then I move cities then I find a doctor not that I wanted to but gf urged me. I thought by the name the doctor was a male but it turned out to be a female. When I went back the second time in 5 weeks she had quit completely and no replacement.

But now I have a male doctor not the greatest and he looks more sick than me. HE wants to see for one problem only for each visit. I changed his attitued when I said " yeah right" - these are simply setup the appointments and I am not asking you to stick your finger up my hole".
He complied. Not nurses or Receptionist ahven't changed at all since 1990. "Health Card" not even a hello. I bet if I was Brad Pitt she would smile and say hello and give me her phone number.

 

[james t kirk]

The OMA loves the shortage and they aren't about to change that anytime soon.

If they doubled the number of students in med school it would surely help, but no-one even dares suggest it.

 

[tboy]

Just goes to show you that all our experiences are different...I have a female doc now and a female GI and will NEVER go back to a male doc...ever. Why? because every male doc and specialist I ever saw saw me as simply a number on a chart or a problem to be solved. All the female docs I've seen find out a bit about you, what you do etc and are interested...why? Because often what you do, and where you do it can contribute to the problem you're seeing them about......(plus my doc is a MILF and there's nothing wrong with a MILF playing with my boys oh I'm going to hell for that lol)

 

[markvee]

The OMA loves the shortage and they aren't about to change that anytime soon.

If they doubled the number of students in med school it would surely help, but no-one even dares suggest it.

The OMA (Ontario Medical Associatoin) doesn't set policy. They are a kind of union for MDs. Therefore, the OMA's primary concern is the well being of practicing MDs.

The Ontario government (The MOH or Ministry of Health) determines the number of medical school spots and the number of residency spots that it will fund with our tax money.

It's easier to increase the number of medical school spots because medical students pay a substantial portion of their costs in tuition.

However, a residency spot is a salaried position, much more expensive. There is no point in increasing the number of medical school spots without increasing the number of residency spots.

In fact, the number of residency spots should be increased even beyond the added medical school spots to take advantage of foreign medical grads who live here and have passed their Canadian medical licensing exams. However, this increase in residency spots will be expensive to the tax payer.

An alternative would be to allow foreign medical grads who have completed residency in their home countries to go into the medical work force either directly (as is already the case US doctors coming here) or after writing the Canadian version of the specialty licensing exams that are administered at the end of residency. However, even in this scenario, increasing the size of the physican workforce will increase the amount of money that we pay through taxes for health care.

 

[tboy]

.......will increase the amount of money that we pay through taxes for health care.

Yes, we do indirectly pay for our healthcare but I love how people bitch and complain about wait times etc when they are directly out of pocket about 1/10th the cost of the treatment BUT those same people will line up 2 days in advance, or at 3 am to buy a new laptop at 20% off on boxing day.......

BTW: is it just me that thinks that our society is fucked when we pay musicians and actors about 100x more than we pay doctors?

 

[Jade4u]

I'm not sure where you are located but here is a list of doctors in Mississauga that is accepting new patients. If you are not in this area then just call your local hospital and ask them which doctors in your area are accepting new patients. http://www.trilliumhealthcentre.org/health/findDoctorMale.html

 

[markvee]

BTW: is it just me that thinks that our society is fucked when we pay musicians and actors about 100x more than we pay doctors?

On average, medial doctor is the highest paid occupational group (except for maybe judge - I believe that this is the reason that MP pay is indexed to judge pay).

The vast majority of musicians and actors make far less than doctors. In fact, a great many actors/musicians have to take a second job waiting tables, etc. Becoming a part of the group that makes 100x than doctors is akin to winning the lottery.

 

[blackdog]

I had no problem finding a new GP. I just looked on the ont. medical assoc. website and filled out the form. I had a choice of 20 GPs taking new patients. Im in downtown T.O. mabey thats why it was so easy. Tboy, muscians and actors don't make much money. Most muscians work in factorys and most actors are in telemarketing. I know musicians with hit records that you know of who have crappy jobs just to pay the rent. One out of every 2000 actors in north america live off thier craft. Doctors are in the top 5% of earners. The fucked up thing about our culture is that people really believe that musicans and actors can make a decent living from what they do.

 

[Don]

BTW: is it just me that thinks that our society is fucked when we pay musicians and actors about 100x more than we pay doctors?

Maybe 'cause the music industry is not government run like our health care