Comments on: Health care failing people left, right, and centre http://www.abandonedstuff.com/2006/10/27/medi-dead/ News, Insights, and Humour Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:25:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Todd http://www.abandonedstuff.com/2006/10/27/medi-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-7803 Todd Fri, 27 Oct 2006 21:44:19 +0000 http://www.abandonedstuff.com/2006/10/27/medi-dead/#comment-7803 I'm getting more down all the time regarding healthcare. I keep crossing my fingers that nothing serious will happen to me as I'm not sure I really trust the system anymore. If (hopefully not 'when') I get sick or my family does, on the first signs of trouble with getting diagnosis or treatment, I'm going to rock the boat. I'm going to send letters to papers, I'm going to phone radio and TV stations, I'm going to raise a stink. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. Saying that, I know, is easier than actually doing it. When you're ill, it's not easy to 'rock the boat'. You're concerned that people might get upset with you and take it out on you by further delaying your treatment. But I really believe this is the only way to make them stand up and notice you if you need urgent care. In your lab case, I would write letters to your health district and the doctor's office asking them why your lab report was not acted upon before this. I wouldn't let it rest but I'd raise some hell about it. Maybe that way any treatment you may need might be expedited. It's sad in this day and age that people need to push so hard for their healthcare but I think its what is needed. I’m getting more down all the time regarding healthcare. I keep crossing my fingers that nothing serious will happen to me as I’m not sure I really trust the system anymore. If (hopefully not ‘when’) I get sick or my family does, on the first signs of trouble with getting diagnosis or treatment, I’m going to rock the boat. I’m going to send letters to papers, I’m going to phone radio and TV stations, I’m going to raise a stink. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

Saying that, I know, is easier than actually doing it. When you’re ill, it’s not easy to ‘rock the boat’. You’re concerned that people might get upset with you and take it out on you by further delaying your treatment. But I really believe this is the only way to make them stand up and notice you if you need urgent care.

In your lab case, I would write letters to your health district and the doctor’s office asking them why your lab report was not acted upon before this. I wouldn’t let it rest but I’d raise some hell about it. Maybe that way any treatment you may need might be expedited.

It’s sad in this day and age that people need to push so hard for their healthcare but I think its what is needed.

]]> By: Saskboy http://www.abandonedstuff.com/2006/10/27/medi-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-7801 Saskboy Fri, 27 Oct 2006 20:57:54 +0000 http://www.abandonedstuff.com/2006/10/27/medi-dead/#comment-7801 Don't be sorry for "rambling". It's not rambling, it's publishing the truth. That knee story is horrible too. Don’t be sorry for “rambling”. It’s not rambling, it’s publishing the truth. That knee story is horrible too.

]]> By: Amanda http://www.abandonedstuff.com/2006/10/27/medi-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-7797 Amanda Fri, 27 Oct 2006 20:15:06 +0000 http://www.abandonedstuff.com/2006/10/27/medi-dead/#comment-7797 Your liver enzyme results fiasco smacked all too familiar to my ears. My neighbour from home had hip replacement surgery a few years ago, and sees a specialist for upkeep. When she had the surgery she was told she would likely need knee replacement too (due to the accident she was involved in). She elected to leave it for the time being, but at this last appt with the specialist he recommended she go forward with the knee replacement soon. She agreed. He told her all she would need to do was contact her doctors office and have them send off the referral to him, for paperwork reasons, and then she would be booked. He estimated a wait time of six months. She phoned the Dr office and asked what she needed to do to get a referral. Since her case is well known in our small town, the receptionist said she didn't need to do anything, and that a referral letter would be sent immediately. Good. Pat phoned the specialist and let him know the referral letter was in the pipeline. That was in June. Last week, Pat got a call from the local doctor's office. They informed her that she would have to come in for a consultation BEFORE they sent the referral letter. Furiously, Pat reminded the receptionist that she had been told the letter had already been sent, like four months ago. The receptionists response? "Well, you were told wrong." No letter has been sent. And now, according to Pat's specialist, the wait time is longer, and she may well be waiting until January -- of 2008. How pathetic. Sorry for the ramblings. I'm just infuriated with the bureaucracy and the ineptitude displayed in my midst. Your liver enzyme results fiasco smacked all too familiar to my ears. My neighbour from home had hip replacement surgery a few years ago, and sees a specialist for upkeep. When she had the surgery she was told she would likely need knee replacement too (due to the accident she was involved in). She elected to leave it for the time being, but at this last appt with the specialist he recommended she go forward with the knee replacement soon. She agreed. He told her all she would need to do was contact her doctors office and have them send off the referral to him, for paperwork reasons, and then she would be booked. He estimated a wait time of six months.

She phoned the Dr office and asked what she needed to do to get a referral. Since her case is well known in our small town, the receptionist said she didn’t need to do anything, and that a referral letter would be sent immediately. Good. Pat phoned the specialist and let him know the referral letter was in the pipeline.

That was in June. Last week, Pat got a call from the local doctor’s office. They informed her that she would have to come in for a consultation BEFORE they sent the referral letter. Furiously, Pat reminded the receptionist that she had been told the letter had already been sent, like four months ago. The receptionists response? “Well, you were told wrong.”

No letter has been sent. And now, according to Pat’s specialist, the wait time is longer, and she may well be waiting until January — of 2008. How pathetic.

Sorry for the ramblings. I’m just infuriated with the bureaucracy and the ineptitude displayed in my midst.

]]>