3 ms·

The system has serious issues, but I think you're being a bit too harsh. Trust me - I come from a country with a barely functioning single payer system, so my d

by lbrito 4y ago

The system has serious issues, but I think you're being a bit too harsh. Trust me - I come from a country with a barely functioning single payer system, so my dynamic range here is pretty good. Family doctor crisis is real, there are absurdly long wait times and people suffer as a result. But some things are also top notch. My wife just had our first son a few weeks ago and everything was really good - and parts of the process that were free would be very expensive in other places.

enw 4y ago
It’s relative. I’ve been in countries where the care is both top-notch, and you can get specialist attention and full-body checkups in a matter of days.
- gautamcgoel 4y ago
  Which places?
  - tverbeure 4y ago
    Not the person you're replying to, but: Belgium. I haven't lived there for more than 20 years, but until 2000, one of their big issues were medical overconsumption. As in: there were too many doctors and specialists, and it was considered too easy to get medical attention. But for those who needed it, it was fantastic. And the quality of care that I experienced there was on par or better with what I get in the US. I don't think much has changed. I just went back, had a very minor medical issue, and within 2 hours after making my first call, I had see a primary care physician, who wasn't 100% sure, so she called in the specialist next door as well.
  - asdfdsfasdf 4y ago
    South Korea
- z5h 4y ago
  Proper triaging and optimal utilization of resources doesn't imply you should be seen quickly. You should be treated at a pace that data shows is "good enough" given the severity and nature of symptoms.
  - deepspace 4y ago
    Exactly. Specialist wait times in Canada are often exaggerated by special interest groups. A few years ago, my family doctor noticed something concerning. I was seen by a specialist within a week, and was in the operating room a few days later. It was a potentially serious situation but not immediately life-threatening, yet I still received fast and efficient treatment. There are longer wait times for high-demand procedures affecting 'quality of life', but that is the nature of triage. The important part is that the whole episode cost me nothing more than a few sleepless nights, while a friend in the US who went through a similar process and spent a similar time waiting for surgery ended up with substantial medical debt.

by lbrito 4y ago

enw 4y ago

It’s relative. I’ve been in countries where the care is both top-notch, and you can get specialist attention and full-body checkups in a matter of days.

gautamcgoel 4y ago
Which places?
- tverbeure 4y ago
  Not the person you're replying to, but: Belgium. I haven't lived there for more than 20 years, but until 2000, one of their big issues were medical overconsumption. As in: there were too many doctors and specialists, and it was considered too easy to get medical attention. But for those who needed it, it was fantastic. And the quality of care that I experienced there was on par or better with what I get in the US. I don't think much has changed. I just went back, had a very minor medical issue, and within 2 hours after making my first call, I had see a primary care physician, who wasn't 100% sure, so she called in the specialist next door as well.
- asdfdsfasdf 4y ago
  South Korea
z5h 4y ago
Proper triaging and optimal utilization of resources doesn't imply you should be seen quickly. You should be treated at a pace that data shows is "good enough" given the severity and nature of symptoms.
- deepspace 4y ago
  Exactly. Specialist wait times in Canada are often exaggerated by special interest groups. A few years ago, my family doctor noticed something concerning. I was seen by a specialist within a week, and was in the operating room a few days later. It was a potentially serious situation but not immediately life-threatening, yet I still received fast and efficient treatment. There are longer wait times for high-demand procedures affecting 'quality of life', but that is the nature of triage. The important part is that the whole episode cost me nothing more than a few sleepless nights, while a friend in the US who went through a similar process and spent a similar time waiting for surgery ended up with substantial medical debt.