A place to start-snopes and Wikipedia entries on Canadian healthcare

[underpants]

I found this interesting. Note that Wiki says that wait times at emergency room ARE longer in Canada while snopes doesn't fully cover it.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/medical/canada.asp


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_and_American_health_care_systems_compared

[Spazito]

1. On contentious issues, I would not use wiki as a source....

it is great on historical facts, for the most part, but only on non-political subjects. Here are some links I think are helpful for those who are interested in the Canadian Healthcare system:

http://www.amsa.org/studytours/CHS_FactSheet.pdf

http://www.uottawa.ca/services/markcom/news/documents/R...

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/francis/archive/2009/05/12/health-care-lies-about-canda.aspx

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/francis/archive/2009/05/13/u-s-healthcare-lies-part-ii.aspx


I hope these are helpful.

[underpants]

5. Excellent thanks

I tend to find Wiki to be a good place to get a general sense on things but also I find questions as I read posts there

[Vinca]

2. But do people die on emergency room floors while

hospital employees walk around them?

[unpossibles]

3. probably not

And everyone I know who is Canadian (as well as from other countries with better health care than ours) thinks we're morons for paying too much for bad service.

Shit, I know I've had long waits and incorrect diagnoses, hidden charges, and all sorts of problems with our health care, not to mention that the idea of being labeled with a "prior condition" which makes it harder to change carriers/jobs makes insurance essentially useless to millions of people.

[Vinca]

4. And whatever you do, don't age. Hit about 50 and they don't want to insure you.

At this point (60), I imagine if I called to get an insurance quote I'd hear loud laughter.

[unpossibles]

7. yep. It's the kind of business which does not want your business if you actually need to use it.

And yet people think it works?

[ConcernedCanuk]

6. SOME have longer wait times - that's the way our triage works.

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If I go in complaining of an ingrown toenail, depending on other injuries/illnesses waiting - I might wait quite a while

All patients are seen in order of need.

If someone comes in frantic because they ran out of meds and are freaking out, they will get medical attention immediately, as would someone with a profusely bleeding wound.

Wait times depend solely on the severity of the wound/ailment, and the traffic volume that day.

But we all eventually get taken care of,

and walk out not owing a dime

[ColbertWatcher]

8. Thank you. Yours is the first post about Canadian healthcare that mentions triage. n/t

[ConcernedCanuk]

10. You're welcome

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[sutz12]

9. Triage happens everywhere...

It's just that here in America, we have that one extra criteria.

"Can you pay for this?"