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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2015-08-19, Page 5Wednesday, August 19, 2015 • Huron Expositor 5 www.seaforthhuronexpositor.com Canadian Health Care: Worth the Wait If you're talking to an Ameri- can, and you want to brag about how great we have it up in Canada, what is the first thing you mention? Our low crime rate, our beautiful wild- life, our high educational standards? My first go -to is our health care system. Now before you flip out about how over- rated our system is, let me tell you about my recent ordeal with the system and why I still find it better than most. I spent all of last weekend in the hospital. I came into the ER Wednesday night with a sharp, throbbing pain in my right side. I sat in the ER wait- ing to see a doctor. I waited, waited and then just to break up the monotony, I waited some more. Six hours later I finally got to see the doctor he examined me, ordered an ultrasound for the next day and sent me on my way with a prescription for the pain. When I went home it was 8 hours after I left. The ultrasound the following morning went quickly and I had my diagnosis in an hour or so: gallstones. They told me I would get a call from a letter to the editor Letter to the editor: Heading It's soon that time of year again, the Seaforth Fall Fair! We are in need of contestants for the junior and senior ambassador competitions. If you are between the ages of 12 and 24, and are interested in participating more in your community, you fit the bill! Running for ambassador is a fantastic opportunity to experience a whole new side of agriculture, meet new friends and to improve your skills! If you are interested in running or have any questions about the process, feel free to contact me at amberbrodiell@ gmail.com. -Yours in agriculture spirit, Amber Brodie Seaforth Fall Fair Ambassador Column Matt Recker surgeon who would sched- ule the operation to remove it, but it could take a couple weeks. I went home praying the medication would make life bearable until then. It didn't. I spent the next day in bed in agonizing pain. The worst pain I ever felt. A constant throbbing ache that could only be avoided by lying on my back completely still. I lasted like this until Friday afternoon when I couldn't take it anymore. I called my family doctor and told him I needed to come in, it was an emergency. He was on vaca- tion but they let me come in and see a nurse practitioner colleague of his. My mother drove me to the nurse's office (since I couldn't walk) and I told her what happened and she looked completely shocked. "They should never have let you leave," she said, which didn't help my confidence. She gave me a shot of some- thing to ease the pain and I was told to go back to emer- gency because I needed sur- gery right away. Back at the ER I waited another three hours to see a doctor and another 3 hours after that before I was told what was wrong. My gall- bladder was inflamed because of the stones and I needed to stay in the hospi- tal for a couple days and possibly have emergency surgery. So there I was in the hospi- tal Saturday night, in pain, tired, annoyed and wanting to be anywhere but where I was. So what do I think about the Canadian health care system? I'm incredibly grateful for it. Are there mas- sive problems? Sure, nothing as complex as a national health care system could be without fault. The wait times are astronomical, I can't help but worry about people with more serious condi- tions than mine who have to wait six hours in agony. There's a serious lack of doc- tors, especially in South- western Ontario towns, and the doctors that are working are so rushed and stressed that they gave me pain pills when I clearly needed anti- biotics (which, luckily, cleared up my inflammation while I was in the hospital, I'm all better now thanks for asking). Canada ranks 10th on the world's health care report card, so while I wish we were more like Japan and Switzerland, why am I thankful for the treatment I received? Zero. That's what my bill was. Not having to pay for any- thing I received is a tremen- dous burden I'm grateful not to bare. We take it for granted in this country that health care is free but if I put myself into American shoes I would be terrified right now. I received two ultrasounds, two CT scans, several medi- cations and 2 days in a hospital bed. If I lived just on the other side of thee river (US), I would be staring at a bill of at least $7000 and that's not including the sur- gery I'm currently waiting for. I've heard many people say that they would rather pay than wait 8 hours to see a doctor but I can't afford to. I have friends in the US who say they're terrified to get sick because it would bank- rupt them and I'm grateful I don't have to worry about that. Our system is flawed, and I think it's in desperate need of change, but I don't complain, I try to remain grateful for what I have. Finally, I'd like to thank the staff at the hospital. The nurses and doctors there were polite, patient, under- standing and happily answered all of my obnox- ious questions. They genu- inely wanted to make my experience as pleasant as possible and while no hospi- tal stay is enjoyable, they did their best to make it as pain- less as possible. Thanks for making me feel cared for everyone. Call 1-866-734-9425 or visit www.medicalert.ca MedicAlert Lets You Live Life.