Alberta Health system brutal

[Ackleyman]

Originally Posted by Jim

I would take it further than that, anyone going to ER is charged $500 that way the people with money can move to the front of the line. People willing to pay $1000 get some kind of express VIP status and are given even more priority.

I think that's all bad.

[Phil McCracken]

So last February I was diagnosed with an enlarged prostate, and my prostate specific antigen (PSA) was very high. My urologist immediately referred me for 3 procedures to ensure it was not cancer: Bone Scan, prostate biopsy, and an abdomen local scan. All procedures were performed in Red Deer...within one month. I was pretty happy that. And no cancer found.

However, about one month ago, I had another PSA done and the numbers were higher than previous ones. So the Dr. referred me for a MRI. The equipment is only available in Edmonton and Calgary.

I received a letter last week from the U of A hospital for a MRI appointment in mid December...so about a six months wait...oh well...

[mmmtracksoup]

Originally Posted by MountainTi

You paid for out of pocket correct?
Can do the same for yourself as well so......

So all good if I pay for it twice? My almost 50% tax rate isn't enough?

But we certainly agree, cut my taxes by 1/3 and let me pay my way for it all. Like they say, 'if you think health care is expensive, wait till its free'. I guess we found that out good and hard just like we deserved.

[Cement Bench]

my psa was if 25 means you are dead mine was 22.5

emergency surgery within a month, 7.5 hours as it went wrong

depending on readings don’t wait around just sayin

Originally Posted by Phil McCracken

So last February I was diagnosed with an enlarged prostate, and my prostate specific antigen (PSA) was very high. My urologist immediately referred me for 3 procedures to ensure it was not cancer: Bone Scan, prostate biopsy, and an abdomen local scan. All procedures were performed in Red Deer...within one month. I was pretty happy that. And no cancer found.

However, about one month ago, I had another PSA done and the numbers were higher than previous ones. So the Dr. referred me for a MRI. The equipment is only available in Edmonton and Calgary.

I received a letter last week from the U of A hospital for a MRI appointment in mid December...so about a six months wait...oh well...

[Jamie Black R/T]

Originally Posted by Cement Bench

depending on readings don’t wait around just sayin

agreed.

Phil if you can, pay for a private MRI. If nothing else you wont have to wait 6 months to ease your mind.

[DirtShooter]

Originally Posted by Phil McCracken

So last February I was diagnosed with an enlarged prostate, and my prostate specific antigen (PSA) was very high. My urologist immediately referred me for 3 procedures to ensure it was not cancer: Bone Scan, prostate biopsy, and an abdomen local scan. All procedures were performed in Red Deer...within one month. I was pretty happy that. And no cancer found.

However, about one month ago, I had another PSA done and the numbers were higher than previous ones. So the Dr. referred me for a MRI. The equipment is only available in Edmonton and Calgary.

I received a letter last week from the U of A hospital for a MRI appointment in mid December...so about a six months wait...oh well...

About $900 and you can have it in a week.

[Cement Bench]

if your reading’s are really really high I will donate 50 bucks to get one early

my doc might have saved my life

[JBE]

I paid for an Mri on my knee last year. $550.00

[leeelmer]

They lied to you.
There are two mri machines in red deer
One at the hospital and one at central Alberta medical imaging
I have had mri’s done at both

Dont wait

[Phil McCracken]

Originally Posted by leeelmer

They lied to you.
There are two mri machines in red deer
One at the hospital and one at central Alberta medical imaging
I have had mri’s done at both

Dont wait

I hear you.

My urologist is from Red Deer, and the MRI I require for my condition, I'm told, can only be done in Edmonton or Calgary. I figured he would know that.

Been to CAMI twice already for my bone scan and biopsy. Other scan was at the Red deer Hospital.

Thanx...

Presently looking into private facilities and pay for the service.

[traderal]

I occasionally have to remind myself that I can drop 700 or more for a pet visit to the vet but will myself wait a few months to get a scan just because its "free'. I also tell the booking staff to call me if someone cancels and have twice shortened my wait that way but you have to be available at a few hours notice.

[Coiloil37]

I spent 36 years in Alberta and have enough experience with its medical system. When we moved here it’s a two tier system and being as I didn’t understand it, I thought it would be expensive and just as evil as what I heard throughout Alberta since Klein.

Well here we are four years later and this system, hands down chits all over canadas public system. We have a public system here that’s just as free as canadas, we also have a parallel private system.

My first experience was when a guy I work with hurt himself at the gym one morning. He drove to a private clinic, they did an X-ray, didn’t see what they wanted so did an MRI. Torn ligaments, these are your options to fix it and these are the surgeons available who specialise in that. Who do you want to pick. He chose a surgeon and had surgery the next morning. Pretty smooth. Cost him about a grand. Could have driven to the public hospital and it would have been free but possibly a little slower.

Next we did three weeks in the public hospital with the little girl. Private room, menu, meals whenever we wanted one, ocean view, brand new hospital, lovely staff and some of the best specialists I’ve ever come across. It was all completely free, including the 1.5 hour transfer via ambulance to the Royal brisbane children’s hospital.

A year ago I gave myself two hernias. I booked in with my doc on Thursday. Had an ultrasound on Friday and met with the specialist of my choice on the Monday. He had theatre Tuesday and Thursday and was happy to book me in the following day. I had some stuff to do so I booked in the following Tuesday. Again, all private room, menu, staff was unreal, stayed over night which bumped the price up my $750 deductible for admission which is only paid once per year max… total cost out of pocket was $1200.


My private health is the equivalent of benefits in Canada. Has all the drugs, eye care, dental, chiropractic etc covered and costs $149/fortnight for a family of 5. We never pay anything for the children for anything, ever and all of our dental is free, two sets of glasses and a checkup per year free. Yea we pay a bit out of pocket if we need to be admitted and a little bit for specialists or appointments but it’s not enough to care about when the service is immediate.


After seeing both systems at play with family who’s still struggling through canadas system I would take this every day of the week. My mother in law has cataracts and had her drivers license pulled about four months ago. She’s on a wait list for surgery with no date confirmed. Here that would be dealt with inside a week.


We can go round and around this bush but my money says canadas problems continue to grow. People continue to bicker, billions are wasted, people die and nothing improves. It’s sad.

[Smoky buck]

Originally Posted by Coiloil37

I spent 36 years in Alberta and have enough experience with its medical system. When we moved here it’s a two tier system and being as I didn’t understand it, I thought it would be expensive and just as evil as what I heard throughout Alberta since Klein.

Well here we are four years later and this system, hands down chits all over canadas public system. We have a public system here that’s just as free as canadas, we also have a parallel private system.

My first experience was when a guy I work with hurt himself at the gym one morning. He drove to a private clinic, they did an X-ray, didn’t see what they wanted so did an MRI. Torn ligaments, these are your options to fix it and these are the surgeons available who specialise in that. Who do you want to pick. He chose a surgeon and had surgery the next morning. Pretty smooth. Cost him about a grand. Could have driven to the public hospital and it would have been free but possibly a little slower.

Next we did three weeks in the public hospital with the little girl. Private room, menu, meals whenever we wanted one, ocean view, brand new hospital, lovely staff and some of the best specialists I’ve ever come across. It was all completely free, including the 1.5 hour transfer via ambulance to the Royal brisbane children’s hospital.

A year ago I gave myself two hernias. I booked in with my doc on Thursday. Had an ultrasound on Friday and met with the specialist of my choice on the Monday. He had theatre Tuesday and Thursday and was happy to book me in the following day. I had some stuff to do so I booked in the following Tuesday. Again, all private room, menu, staff was unreal, stayed over night which bumped the price up my $750 deductible for admission which is only paid once per year max… total cost out of pocket was $1200.


My private health is the equivalent of benefits in Canada. Has all the drugs, eye care, dental, chiropractic etc covered and costs $149/fortnight for a family of 5. We never pay anything for the children for anything, ever and all of our dental is free, two sets of glasses and a checkup per year free. Yea we pay a bit out of pocket if we need to be admitted and a little bit for specialists or appointments but it’s not enough to care about when the service is immediate.


After seeing both systems at play with family who’s still struggling through canadas system I would take this every day of the week. My mother in law has cataracts and had her drivers license pulled about four months ago. She’s on a wait list for surgery with no date confirmed. Here that would be dealt with inside a week.


We can go round and around this bush but my money says canadas problems continue to grow. People continue to bicker, billions are wasted, people die and nothing improves. It’s sad.

Hear the same kinda of stories from others living in countries with multi tiered medical

[Grizzly Adams1]

Originally Posted by Cement Bench

if your reading’s are really really high I will donate 50 bucks to get one early

my doc might have saved my life

My doc prescribed a PSA since I was in my late 40's, PSA elevated when I was about 50 . Relatively simple brachytherapy day surgery dealt with it, that was 25 years ago. Buddy's doctor wasn't as proactive, he's a year older than me, his end is in sight. Early detection is everything with cancers.

Grizz

[Scott h]

Originally Posted by Coiloil37

I spent 36 years in Alberta and have enough experience with its medical system. When we moved here it’s a two tier system and being as I didn’t understand it, I thought it would be expensive and just as evil as what I heard throughout Alberta since Klein.

Well here we are four years later and this system, hands down chits all over canadas public system. We have a public system here that’s just as free as canadas, we also have a parallel private system.

My first experience was when a guy I work with hurt himself at the gym one morning. He drove to a private clinic, they did an X-ray, didn’t see what they wanted so did an MRI. Torn ligaments, these are your options to fix it and these are the surgeons available who specialise in that. Who do you want to pick. He chose a surgeon and had surgery the next morning. Pretty smooth. Cost him about a grand. Could have driven to the public hospital and it would have been free but possibly a little slower.

Next we did three weeks in the public hospital with the little girl. Private room, menu, meals whenever we wanted one, ocean view, brand new hospital, lovely staff and some of the best specialists I’ve ever come across. It was all completely free, including the 1.5 hour transfer via ambulance to the Royal brisbane children’s hospital.

A year ago I gave myself two hernias. I booked in with my doc on Thursday. Had an ultrasound on Friday and met with the specialist of my choice on the Monday. He had theatre Tuesday and Thursday and was happy to book me in the following day. I had some stuff to do so I booked in the following Tuesday. Again, all private room, menu, staff was unreal, stayed over night which bumped the price up my $750 deductible for admission which is only paid once per year max… total cost out of pocket was $1200.


My private health is the equivalent of benefits in Canada. Has all the drugs, eye care, dental, chiropractic etc covered and costs $149/fortnight for a family of 5. We never pay anything for the children for anything, ever and all of our dental is free, two sets of glasses and a checkup per year free. Yea we pay a bit out of pocket if we need to be admitted and a little bit for specialists or appointments but it’s not enough to care about when the service is immediate.


After seeing both systems at play with family who’s still struggling through canadas system I would take this every day of the week. My mother in law has cataracts and had her drivers license pulled about four months ago. She’s on a wait list for surgery with no date confirmed. Here that would be dealt with inside a week.


We can go round and around this bush but my money says canadas problems continue to grow. People continue to bicker, billions are wasted, people die and nothing improves. It’s sad.

Good to hear some positive first hand experiences. It seems that there are a lot of countries that have good workable parallel systems. We just seem so preoccupied with avoiding US style healthcare that we don’t examine some of the other very good options.

[Sporty]

Originally Posted by Smoky buck

Hear the same kinda of stories from others living in countries with multi tiered medical

The problem here is that too many Canadians have been gaslit into believing it's our way or the US way with nothing else in between. So many countries with well regulated private/public systems that our performs ours by leaps and bounds. Try to explain that to people and suddenly you're a right wing republican trying to sell out our healthcare. It's mind boggling that many Cdns won't admit that our system is in shambles.

[pittman]

The reasons that health care is designed the way it is in Canada is outlined in the Canada Health Act. There are 5 big tenants in this act. The first being that it is publicly administered, and the third being that all insured people can receive the same quality of health care.

While I don't deny that a tiered system can improve access for some people, this generally comes to the detriment of others - specifically those who cannot pay. The other factor in this decision is that when looking at other health care systems, the most affordable systems tend to be ones with a single payer (the government). As the numbers of payers increase, so does the money spent on administration. Generally health care systems are best when administrative costs are lowest.

Another factor to consider is staffing shortages. Right now in Canada we really don't have many doctors or nurses to spare. Making parallel systems with this staffing issue in mind really does come at the expense of the public system. Generally the private systems pay employees more, and select for healthier patients so you can see why folks prefer that kind of employment. This leaves the public system understaffed with sicker patients.

There is plenty of room for improvement in the Canadian system for sure, but my argument would be to focus on improving what we already have in place.

[HVA7mm]

Germany seems to have figured out a multi-payer system that works quite a bit better than ours (albeit at a slightly larger cost in relation to GDP). I'm sure that many wouldn't mind their tax dollars topping up a system like that to have the access to healthcare that Germans have (instead of squandering it on a bunch of other useless .......).


I wouldn't mind seeing a two-tiered system here, one for the users and one for the constant abusers. The abusers get to go to the back of the line.

Much of the backlog in Canada's healthcare "system" would likely go away if the governments and the unions representing healthcare workers could simply hug it out instead of the non-stop combative stance between the two. Idiots in the media/social media certainly don't help on this front.

[does it ALL outdoors]

I haven't read this whole thread but has anyone had to go to DynaLIFE for bloodwork or tests lately?

I had an appointment, and walked out an HOUR AND A HALF after my appointment time, she could care less about my appointment, what a DISASTER they are!

If your in Edmonton you have another choice for lab work.

There is a small lab in the north east emergency clinic that almost nobody knows about.

Had to get blood work recently and went there, they got me in 5 min EARLY and I was out of there before my appointment time, it was beautiful.

DynaLIFE is a train wreck and needs to go!

[ram crazy]

Originally Posted by does it ALL outdoors

I haven't read this whole thread but has anyone had to go to DynaLIFE for bloodwork or tests lately?

I had an appointment, and walked out an HOUR AND A HALF after my appointment time, she could care less about my appointment, what a DISASTER they are!

If your in Edmonton you have another choice for lab work.

There is a small lab in the north east emergency clinic that almost nobody knows about.

Had to get blood work recently and went there, they got me in 5 min EARLY and I was out of there before my appointment time, it was beautiful.

DynaLIFE is a train wreck and needs to go!

I was in and out in about 15 mins the last time I was there.

[pittman]

Originally Posted by does it ALL outdoors

I haven't read this whole thread but has anyone had to go to DynaLIFE for bloodwork or tests lately?

I had an appointment, and walked out an HOUR AND A HALF after my appointment time, she could care less about my appointment, what a DISASTER they are!

If your in Edmonton you have another choice for lab work.

There is a small lab in the north east emergency clinic that almost nobody knows about.

Had to get blood work recently and went there, they got me in 5 min EARLY and I was out of there before my appointment time, it was beautiful.

DynaLIFE is a train wreck and needs to go!

FYI, Dynalife took over the provincial lab service last year as per the UCP government. It's been a huge headache.

I thought privatization was always better?

[Big Sky]

Milk River ER shut down for a week. Rural doctor shortage.

https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/milk-rive...tage-1.6481056

[Rancid Crabtree]

Originally Posted by pittman

FYI, Dynalife took over the provincial lab service last year as per the UCP government. It's been a huge headache.

I thought privatization was always better?

Over time and with competition it is better by most any measurable.
You would know better than I but I think the issue is more a lack of competition than a issue of privatization failing. If dynalife isn’t delivering get another contractor who can.

[pittman]

Originally Posted by Rancid Crabtree

Over time and with competition it is better by most any measurable.
You would know better than I but I think the issue is more a lack of competition than a issue of privatization failing. If dynalife isn’t delivering get another contractor who can.

They also recently privatized the food service at the big AH hospitals (not the covenant hospitals). It's embarrassing how bad the food has been since. They've requested feedback etc etc. for months and nothing has changed. I spoke with some former food service employees and they were all let go (to be re-purposed elsewhere) as they wouldn't accept the minimum wage and lack of benefits that this new private company offered.

I appreciate the value of competition as much as anyone else, but its not the solution to every problem. Private companies serve their shareholders first and foremost. They earned the contract with a low bid and their product shows.

[Mayhem]

Originally Posted by does it ALL outdoors

I haven't read this whole thread but has anyone had to go to DynaLIFE for bloodwork or tests lately?

I had an appointment, and walked out an HOUR AND A HALF after my appointment time, she could care less about my appointment, what a DISASTER they are!

If your in Edmonton you have another choice for lab work.

There is a small lab in the north east emergency clinic that almost nobody knows about.

Had to get blood work recently and went there, they got me in 5 min EARLY and I was out of there before my appointment time, it was beautiful.

DynaLIFE is a train wreck and needs to go!

Originally Posted by ram crazy

I was in and out in about 15 mins the last time I was there.

Same experience here, and I didn't have an appt....There was literally a person coming/going every 5 mins.

[pikergolf]

Originally Posted by Mayhem

Same experience here, and I didn't have an appt....There was literally a person coming/going every 5 mins.

My last trip for blood work was with Dyna Life. I had heard really bad stuff so was prepared for the worst. Was able to book a day for 4 days in, not bad. When I got there they told me they were behind, expect a 45 min wait. I got called about 35 min later and was in and out. I was impressed with the amount of people they were putting through though. Big difference from when I went to the hospital just before covid and watched the unionized workers doing blood. Sooo relaxed there, took forever even though the place was almost empty. Do one have a 5min chat with someone do the next. I was pulling my hair out by the time I left.

[Scott h]

Originally Posted by pittman

They also recently privatized the food service at the big AH hospitals (not the covenant hospitals). It's embarrassing how bad the food has been since. They've requested feedback etc etc. for months and nothing has changed. I spoke with some former food service employees and they were all let go (to be re-purposed elsewhere) as they wouldn't accept the minimum wage and lack of benefits that this new private company offered.

I appreciate the value of competition as much as anyone else, but its not the solution to every problem. Private companies serve their shareholders first and foremost. They earned the contract with a low bid and their product shows.

I remember when BC made the same change to private food services and cleaning (Sodexo). There were huge numbers of layoffs, and then nearly 100% of the jobs were filled with new immigrants that would work for the much lower wages. While the food quality was hit and miss prior, it got really unappealing after the change over. The cleanliness was definitely not improved either. There is currently a move back to rehiring back to hospital positions and getting rid the private supplier.

[Bushrat]

Originally Posted by pittman

They also recently privatized the food service at the big AH hospitals (not the covenant hospitals). It's embarrassing how bad the food has been since. They've requested feedback etc etc. for months and nothing has changed. I spoke with some former food service employees and they were all let go (to be re-purposed elsewhere) as they wouldn't accept the minimum wage and lack of benefits that this new private company offered.

I appreciate the value of competition as much as anyone else, but its not the solution to every problem. Private companies serve their shareholders first and foremost. They earned the contract with a low bid and their product shows.

The terms of the food service contracts are what the bidders bid according to the standards of the deal. The contractors would just as soon serve gourmet meals as tv dinners. I don't blame the contractor, they are pricing and serving what the gov't is paying for. If they want a $2.00 meal the contractor will give them a $2.00 meal, if they want steak and lobster the contractor will give a steak and lobster price. I don't blame the contractor, I blame the gov't for cheaping out.

[brazeau]

Originally Posted by pittman

They also recently privatized the food service at the big AH hospitals (not the covenant hospitals). It's embarrassing how bad the food has been since. They've requested feedback etc etc. for months and nothing has changed. I spoke with some former food service employees and they were all let go (to be re-purposed elsewhere) as they wouldn't accept the minimum wage and lack of benefits that this new private company offered.

I appreciate the value of competition as much as anyone else, but its not the solution to every problem. Private companies serve their shareholders first and foremost. They earned the contract with a low bid and their product shows.

Where's the oversight on awarding contracts? As was pointed out elsewhere, you want to pay $2 for a meal, you get a $2 meal. The bidding process and the awarding of contracts is not based on price alone or at least shouldn't be. Delivery, quality, scope of menu, volume, patient expectations, value, etc should all come into play. Anyone who awards a contract based solely on price (unless specifically directed to do so) is derelict in their duty and are just plain incompetent. But unfortunately, we're talking about government involvement over any bidding process so we shouldn't be surprised at the lack of qualified direction and resource to perform this function.

[pittman]

Originally Posted by Bushrat

The terms of the food service contracts are what the bidders bid according to the standards of the deal. The contractors would just as soon serve gourmet meals as tv dinners. I don't blame the contractor, they are pricing and serving what the gov't is paying for. If they want a $2.00 meal the contractor will give them a $2.00 meal, if they want steak and lobster the contractor will give a steak and lobster price. I don't blame the contractor, I blame the gov't for cheaping out.

You're neglecting the part of a private service that goes to shareholder profit. That can make the difference between something edible and otherwise.