What are you doing to protect yourself from our failing healthcare system?

I've had both positive and negative experiences with our health care system and worry/wonder about it's capacity to help me if I need it . I know people who work in the system at different levels and say similar things. There are unfortunately multiple issues plaguing the health care system, but it seems that money is not necessarily one of them. Two big factors seem to be staff shortages, from GP's to hospitals, and data management issues. Are you or people you know doing more to take care of your own health as best you can via things like lifestyle choices? Does it affect how you choose to ride you bike or do other sports? As we get a bit older I wonder if people are being more proactive about their health and what things they may be doing to protect it. I'm thankful that from a genetic aspect I don't seem to have a lot to worry about and that from a lifestyle aspect I've been pretty good on doing what I need to do to stay healthy, but the thought of whether I'll be able to access the care I need should something significant happen does concern me far more now that when I was in my 20's.

https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/the-life-boat-is-full-why-canadas-entire-health-care-system-is-failing

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/health-data-canada-sharing-information-1.6652770

IMO, increased bloat and inneficiency is the biggest problem.

An aging population as well as more medical intervention options is also a factor.

My wife has a genetic disorder that degenerates connective tissues among many other things so I am intimately aware of the pros and cons of the current system.  She had one of her hip joints replaced a year ago and the other one is likely in the next few years.  

The healthcare issues don't make me take care of myself any better (I just worry about things much), but it is good to know how the system works if you want to get taken care of.  If you have a good GP, hang on to them for dear life because that is where it all starts.  You should also become your own GP and advocate because it took us almost 20 years to figure out my wife's disorder and that would have never happened without doing our own research when things started getting worse for her 10+ years ago.  I find the best GP is the one that listens and then gets your ass to a specialist when needed.    

At the end of the day, you will most likely be fine.  If something big comes up that is urgent you will still get good service.  Heart attacks, cancer, that sort of thing is dealt with quickly if it is critical.

On the pro side of things I went to my GP for a usual checkup in the fall and she had a nurse practitioner working with her.  The NP gave me a full once-over and found that my thyroid was swollen.  I hadn't noticed.  They got me into an ENT within about a month (late October I think) and after a few scans I was told it had a 25% chance of becoming cancer but it wasn't urgent as far as cancers go.  Thyroid cancer is minor and not life-threatening.  Regardless, I am getting that sucker removed on Feb 1st.  It would have been even faster but they want me to stay overnight for the observation after the surgery because I have sleep apnea.   

You worry too much Syncro.  :)

I have a good GP (skier/ mtn biker) managing my file so recently she went back to in person visits for a quick check altho I usually see her at the ski hill or biking on the bluff, so i guess she figures if he is out there its good

recently had to use the system for colonoscopy/ acl surgery/

other than all the masking I can't say I noticed any difference, the small local hospitol provides about the same as it always did and you gotta leave town for some things

Posted by: chupacabra

If you have a good GP, hang on to them for dear life because that is where it all starts. 

You worry too much Syncro.  :)

Not having a GP at all is what causes part of the concern. That puts me at risk for falling through the cracks and not getting access to care for things that could initially be minor but turn serious like what happened to Greg Price in Alberta. His cancer was caught early enough that he should have survived but problems in the system led to him not getting the care he needed in time and he died as a result. There are far too many instances of people dying or suffering debilitating long term health issues because they couldn't get the help they need. It's a bigger problem than most people realize.

Posted by: syncro

Not having a GP at all is what causes part of the concern. That puts me at risk for falling through the cracks and not getting access to care for things that could initially be minor but turn serious like what happened to Greg Price in Alberta. His cancer was caught early enough that he should have survived but problems in the system led to him not getting the care he needed in time and he died as a result. There are far too many instances of people dying or suffering debilitating long term health issues because they couldn't get the help they need. It's a bigger problem than most people realize.

I don't doubt that it is getting worse, especially after COVID.  Do you know anyone with a good GP near you?  Get them to drop your name and see if you can get in for an appointment.  Find a lump somewhere and have them check it out if you don't have anything legit and if there is a needed follow-up appointment you are practically pals by then.  Your chances of becoming a regular patient go way up.  That is how I landed my last 2 GPs and since I knew they were good before seeing them it wasn't a crap shoot.  It still takes me a long time to get an appointment, but for things like my thyroid we just schedule the next appointment as I leave the office so I have been in once a month for the last few months and I can get her to check out other things while I am there.

I know a local MD who quit running an office after 10 yrs cuz she said it wasnt worth the hassles and the after hr calls.

Alot of the old MDs worked 70 hrs a week ( and smoked ) 50% of the new MD's are women who want to have kids and quality of life, the gov needs to change how HC is administered or we will lose more MD's

I got a couple of GP's thru girlfriends and one of my own GP's (skier/ biker/ runner) by stalking him outside his office before rounds

Posted by: XXX_er

I got a couple of GP's thru girlfriends and one of my own GP's (skier/ biker/ runner) by stalking him outside his office before rounds

This is the way.  :)

Reality is there are huge waiting lists to find a GP. Myself have been on waiting lists for 20 years. First me started December 2002 because mover to Scarborough. Moved in 2007 to Kingston and start the waiting list thing again. It took getting maimed and left to die by a driver and a veteran I knows wife who is a nurse to get me in the back door to a walk in clinic. Not a GP but a bit of a resource. The guy isn’t GO material as it is a fight to get anything.

And if I wasn’t a veteran I wouldn’t have been able to access mental illness help after getting hit. Well, unless was able to spend $200 every two weeks for it. 

Oh, those supports a year ago where cut by the management at NDHQ by the way. 

Oh….wait did hey tell you how resilient you are?🤬

Posted by: chupacabra

Posted by: XXX_er

I got a couple of GP's thru girlfriends and one of my own GP's (skier/ biker/ runner) by stalking him outside his office before rounds

This is the way.  :)

At one point I had a GF who was a GP. That is almost the way.

Quality honey, lemons and marijuanas. Have not been sick in 20 years. Other than my retina exploding.

I think the HC system needs > herbs and spices

I made sure to break my leg outside of the country so that I would not be a burden on our own system.