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Topic: knee surgery within a week

Cougyr
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3336

posted 15 February 2006 12:46 PM

Did anyone else pick up on the Alison Forsyth ski accident story? Quite aside from the Olympic story is this:

quote:
Forsyth was treated in hospital and returned to Sestriere where the team is staying. She will fly to Calgary on Tuesday where she will immediately undergo surgery.

So, how does she get her surgery within a week, when the rest of us are told to wait and wait and wait and . . . ? I'm glad that Alison is being treated promptly, but the rest of us deserve prompt treatment too. The next time your doctor puts you off, remind him/her that it only takes a week.

Oh, source: Global

[ 15 February 2006: Message edited by: Cougyr ]

From: over the mountain | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

libertarian
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 6136

posted 15 February 2006 12:54 PM

Interesting. A few years ago a friend had a serious anurism; she lives outside of Toronto. After waiting precious hours no bed could be found for her in or near Toronto so she was helicoptered to Buffalo NY! She stayed there for 3 weeks at Canadian taxpayers expense. Since I love her I am glad of course. However about the very same time Gordon Lightfoot took ill and was immediately found a bed and treated. I have no problem with him and have no proof, yet I bet he jumped a few queues.

From: Chicago | Registered: Jun 2004 | IP: Logged

skdadl
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 478

posted 15 February 2006 12:57 PM

I could be wrong, but I don't think that Lightfoot was in Toronto at the time.

From: gone | Registered: May 2001 | IP: Logged

skdadl
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 478

posted 15 February 2006 12:59 PM

Here we go:

quote:
He was taken to hospital in Orillia, Ont., Saturday and airlifted to McMaster University Medical Centre in Hamilton early Sunday, hospital officials said.

That would have been 7 and 8 Sept 2002.

[ 15 February 2006: Message edited by: skdadl ]

From: gone | Registered: May 2001 | IP: Logged

skdadl
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 478

posted 15 February 2006 01:02 PM

A PS to Cougyr: Does anyone know whether sports surgery just has a different queue? I think that's possible - unfair, of course, but possible.

From: gone | Registered: May 2001 | IP: Logged

robbie_dee
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 195

posted 15 February 2006 01:03 PM

Don't they have private clinics in Alberta? My guess would be that she is going to one of those.

From: Iron City | Registered: Apr 2001 | IP: Logged

Yukoner
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 5787

posted 15 February 2006 01:07 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Cougyr:

So, how does she get her surgery within a week, when the rest of us are told to wait and wait and wait and . . . ?

Maybe she is a non-smoker

From: Um, The Yukon. | Registered: May 2004 | IP: Logged

kropotkin1951
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 2732

posted 15 February 2006 07:50 PM

I think the only relevant question in relation to the Canada Health Act is did she pay for it herself or was it paid for by the provincial medicare. The fight right now is over whether private clinics can receive any health care dollars. Private clinics as far as I understand can do any medical treatment as long as it is not charged to the public system. So is she jumping the queue or merely getting into an exclusice line that is not covered by public health care. Hockey teams have their own doctors and other health professionals they never wait for a checkup but I think it is all paid for out side of the public system.

From: North of Manifest Destiny | Registered: Jun 2002 | IP: Logged

slimpikins
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 9261

posted 15 February 2006 08:08 PM

There are all sorts of ways to queue jump. One way that happens all the time is through the Workers Compensation system. In Alberta, anyways, the WCB always books lots of the more common surgery or procedures without having anyone to put there, on the statistical assumption that there will be someone to take the spot. For example, they may book 20 MRI's a week and then slot injured workers into those as they require, so that they can get them back to work sooner and reduce thier claims cost. The same is true for things like carpal tunnel release surgery and tendonitis and tensovynitis surgery.

When a clinic talks about how there may be a 'cancellation', often they really mean that WCB or a similar organization has booked times and haven't sent a name for the slot yet, so it may be available. After all, it's not like people suddenly get better and cancel MRIs and surgeries, or change thier minds, is it?

This means that you, private citizen, have to wait with your injury, while someone else, who hasn't even been injured at the time you made your appointment for 6 months or longer down the road, will get slotted into that space that was booked months ago by the WCB or some private Disability Insurance company.

From: Alberta | Registered: May 2005 | IP: Logged

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