What Creates Canadian Wait Lists?
What Creates Canadian Wait Lists? We are at the conclusion of our blogs this month for the 2017 wait times. But what actually creates these wait lists and wait times?
Reasons That Might Suggest Why
There is a plethora of reasons why they occur across the country but here are a few possibilities that might support reasons as to why.
- All physicians will see patients in the manner they see fit. It can be based on their patient case loads, comparison to their other patients or simply triaged. As much as we don’t want to believe it, some physicians will help fellow colleagues or friends/family out ahead of their actual patients.
- Lack of resources in a given province. When this happens, the patient may be referred to another province for treatment. If this happens, you become part of their wait list
- Rationing. By this, we mean that there may be a doctor available to do another surgery and OR time available, however, each province sets the amount of patients seen or surgeries done in a given day. If they have already met that quota, then they cannot treat any further patients until the next day. This can create a back log that just keeps compounding on each other.
- Lack of available General Practitioner (GP) and Specialists. [ctt template=”3″ link=”Siu77″ via=”yes” ]Per a 2014 CBC Health News article, 4.4MM Canadians do not have a GP.(1) [/ctt]When you don’t have access to a GP or Specialist, people tend to utilize the ER for minor things as opposed to true emergencies. This then creates long waits in the ER and takes valuable time away from those individuals who truly have an emergency.
- Lack of money. Each province has their own budget of how much they spend on heath care resources. Many of them have traditionally been fiscally conservative in how the money is spent.
- The aging Baby Boomer population. As the Baby Boomers age, the need for more services are required that come with that aging process. ‘The number of beds available for them may not be enough or may be blocked for budget reasons. Community care is also limited.’(1)
Conclusion
Some experts have argued that changes need to be made to model other single payor systems in going to a 2-Tiered system which allows for privatization, using a cost sharing model for certain treatments or having to pay a co-pay for utilizing your GP or visiting the ER. The Fraser Institute reported wait times the highest they’ve been in the 26 years they have been tracking it. Bacchus Barua(2) from the Frasier Institute has said [ctt template=”3″ link=”MDpxc” via=”yes” ]‘Canada is one of the highest spenders on health care in the developing world, but still has some of the longest wait times for treatment’.[/ctt] Although there are probably many other theories on where the medical wait lists began and most likely a combination of things there is no denying they exit.
We are experts at finding alternate, affordable, options if you are on a wait list. Contact Health Vantis to see how we can help you find them! 877-344-3544 or info@healthvantis.com
Resources:
- CBC News/Health: http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/medical-wait-times-up-to-3-times-longer-in-canada-1.2663013
- Bacchus Barua: https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/hospital-wait-times-costing-national-economy-more-than-1b-375463401.html
Health Vantis
www.healthvantis.ca
877-344-3544
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Keep in mind, these are averages across Canada. Many provinces have much lower wait times, however, there are some that have even higher wait times. Come back next week as we will break each down by province.
