Divorcebusting.com Forums Divorcebusting.com Archives Surviving the Big D Archives I will survive...or do even better!

Gosh! Your dad sure has been through the ringer, hasn't he? In my experience, if you arrive by ambulance, they will see you quicker, and the medics will stabilize you before leaving you in the ER. But, that's on the west coast ... don't know about your area. This referral thing is ridiculous, but that's socialized medicine ... does your dad have his own doctor who can refer him? Hope he's feeling better now.

Remember to take care of yourself too ... you've not had a good year, health-wise, either.

I just realised ... by using an ambulance, one is paying to jump the line, in a way.

He was to see his family doctor today and get a referral. Again, if he gets worse we'll take him to emerg and let them hospitalize him. Enough is enough!
Btw, re: the socialized medicine issue, my uncle lives in Georgia and was diagnosed with a heart ailment and prescribed meds for it. One day he was having pains and was near a hospital so he drove to the emerg, when they did tests they determined he didn't have a heart problem at all, he had cancer! Somehow his lump under his arm was previously diagnosed as a heart ailment. It ain't just socialized medicine!

I just drove by a Sikh temple in our neighbourhood and the whole temple and fence around it was lit up with Christmas lights. What a nice gesture on their part. I wonder if they'll be having any Christmas Carol Singh Alongs? lol, sometimes I just outdo myself!

LOL with the singh alongs.

I've heard of issues in the USA too. Socialized medicine lends itself to problems where emergencies are concerned ... all the rules and regulations. Ugh! But, if one plans and gets tested (for everything your doctor will allow) then you can sometimes pre-empt the emergencies, and get to see specialists in a timely fashion. Nothing is perfect though. I must say, where cancer is concerned (in B.C. anyway) there was no waiting for ops, and tests etc. I went in for my biopsy so fast, I couldn't decide if I wanted it or not. Well, of course I had to, but I didn't have time to really be scared.

Anyway, have a good weekend.

BM: It is true that you do get faster care if you arrive by Ambulance. In my son's case (last month) - he would have died if he had not arrived by ambulance. But some people take advantage of this knowledge and waste paramedics time. I wish there was a way of governing this. That said - when in doubt - call 911.

Barb

Dad went to his family doctor who told him to discontinue all the medication he's been taking. Since he's been taking the new meds he's sicker than before. So, we'll see how that goes. Doc's other advice was if he gets sicker, go to emerg.
Yes, it's frustrating!

Yes, I agree SFO ... there should be a way to govern the use of ambulance paramedics. You do have to pay for them, but in BC it's a lot cheaper than in Alberta (BC $80, AB $250 last time I heard). That should curb one's usage. If it's a small thing, I never go to emergency, I go to my doctor the next day or a clinic. If everyone else did that, then EM wouldn't be so full. But, on the other hand, walk-in clinics are just a busy. We do need doctors in Canada.

WOW! Those are both CHEAP! I just got a bill for my mom's paramedic service (from the county fire department which I pay with my homeowners taxes but aren't covered!) to take her from the dialysis office to the hospital. They literally share the same parking lot. $575.00. INSANE!

In Ontario we pay $75 for ambulance to the ER. Well worth it in a true emergency. I believe they should charge much higher if it is deemed a "non emergency situation".

JMHO,

Barb