I'm getting so tired of this waiting thing!!! I had to wait a year and a half to see the surgeon that I was referred to for knee surgery(that was in April)after seeing him he decided that I had to see another surgeon in his practice for the knee surgery, then i would be sent back to him for my ankle-foot surgery. They told me there wouldn't be much of a wait because it's a referral in the practice so I would be "fast-tracked". Well here it is 4 months later, I just called their office and was told my info has been sent over but the other office won't give her any info. So I'm no further ahead than when I started. The referring office receptionist apologized and again said it usually doesn't take much longer but I'll just have to wait for the new surgeon's office to call me!!! I'd like these guys to have to deal with what we're up against and see how long they could wait for some relief from constant pain. Why the long wait? Socialized healthcare?
Hi Mew, I have a friend in Canada who is on the waiting list for a new knee and it's already been 12 months and she's still waiting. Another friend came to the U.S. to have his arthoscopic knee surgery. He paid cash. I know the wait is long but it isn't like that in every provence is it? I've heard that the wait is shorter in some areas.
I know that some people will compare the U.S. and Canada's shortcomings when it comes to healthcare and treatment. There is a percentage of individuals in the U.S. without health insurance and who can't afford to pay for medical treatment but I also know that the wait in Canada is cruel and inhuman for individuals who are suffering in pain.
I don't have any answers for you except to keep bugging them. Remember the squeaky wheel saying. Keep reminding the office that you're being "fast tracked" Lindy
Yeah that's what I've been doing month after month. Re our health care system we have to pay into this stupid system that doesn't even deliver when we need it.Then we have politicians complaining when people are pushing for privatisation ,as they claim that the public system is more fair because then it's equal Tx for all. Yeah right!!! That's my big fear of socialized medicine here in the states. We all get screwed. Trust me its no picnic. You should see how hard it is to even find a GP now. Where I live there isn't enough Dr.s and people have to hit walk-in clinics or waist their time in an emergency room(up to 12 hours)and it's not getting any better.Oh Jasmine, that's one of my favorite quotes. I framed it and put it up when we retired.
Mew, if your doctor's office is close by where you live, just drop by every once in awhile to request in person what you need. Offices don't usually like to have you standing in the waiting room saying things like "I waited on hold for so long that I thought it would be easier for you if I stopped by"
They don't want you complaining in the waiting room and believe me I have that one down to a fine art. You don't have to look or act like your complaining but you can get the point across.
Face to face is always better. Takes more time but sometimes it's a lot more efficient. That's an approach that I've not attempted yet.Hmmmmmmmmmmm...
The benefit of a 'public/private' system is that it takes the pressure off the public system and shortens waiting lists, because the people who can afford a bit extra get private cover and use private hospitals. For a couple hundred dollars a month you get fast tracked into the private system and rarely have to wait for surgery. Meanwhile the public system has X number of fewer patients to deal with. Doctors usually work in both systems so most doctors that you see will see you as either a public or private patient and the surgery will take place whereever you choose.I could probably go out of state to get my surgeries done but the budget is already tight enough with the cost of meds, heck even with our public medical system there are alot of services that aren't covered that we have to pay out of pocket for such as orthotics for example. So if you don't have private insurance on top of the public you have to wait, that also includes MRI's too.
Copyright ArthritisInsight.com