Calling all Canadians

[valdine]

yeah it's weird.. it's like the ontario/manitoba border is where milk switches from bags to jugs.

One day I'm lugging home 4 litre jugs then I moved to southern Ontario... and it took me a good 3 months to realize each bag had more than 1L of milk (that I wasnt buying four 1 L's... but 3 1.33 L's) I thought my roomie was stealing milk! the funny little things you learn.

[Min, The Great]

I'm originally from North Vancouver (Lynn Valley to be exact) and I miss the jugs. At lease we could recycle those...I remember using them as bird feeders as a kid...

[Rushy]

This is so strange. I belong to a Coronation Street guestbook as well and the discussion on there right now is about the difference in how milk is packaged from Ontario to the West. Too odd!

[Min, The Great]

The great Canadian debate.

*chuckle*

[puffinstar]

Hi everyone!
I haven't been to the board for awhile, but was really pleased to see a separate thread for Canadians.

I'm SPMS, living in Saskatoon, Sask.(moving soon to northern Saskatchewan).

Valdine, I lived in Thompson for most of my early life and had the same problem with northern doctors, everything was all in my head, should take a trip back there and drop in on a couple of them.

Alexa

[Mamabug]

Cool!

Saskatoon is my hometown, although I've now lived in Kansas for over 20 years. Spent some time in Saskatoon this summer, visiting Dad.

~ Faith

[Lauri]

Lauri from Ontario here. RRMS 3 years, was on Avonex, now on Rebif. On disability and applying for CPP disability. Look forward to meeting other Canuks!

[EliTy]

From Nova Scotia

I am currently in San Jose California (for a year), but my permanent residence is in Nova Scotia. I was here in California for a week and then drove up to Victoria to pick up a years supply of Rebif (a very interesting experience getting that across the border! ). I had never been to Victoria before...it's beautiful there! I just got back into San Jose yesterday.

Anyone else from Nova Scotia? I'll be back in a year!

[Mamabug]

I'm not working right now, will do daycare in the fall.
I have no medical coverage.
Hubby has a back injury so whatever meds he needs is paid through comp.

i know they have trillium for med coverage but you still have to pay a certain percentage.. not sure how much.
I think it's based on your earnings.

I'm sure that's the route i'll have to go if i ever do go on any type of meds.

Doesn't that vary by province? My sibilngs live in AB, and I think they pay for some of their medical care. My Dad lives in SK, and I don't think that he does.

Even if you pay, it's still a lot less than we do, here in the U.S., but I don't know if I'd trade that for trouble with finding doctors and accessing care in a timely manner.

Both systems have some plusses, but both need some fixing, IMO.

~ Faith

[RedRose2]

?Effective Prioritization

Hi MamaBug - I did start a thread on the "right care at the right time" regarding Canadian medical system...yes; it changes from Province to Province. In fact, some of the provinces are creating "Canadian centres of excellence" for certain things - and then there are interprovincial arrangements for certain procedures that can't be done in the home province, the province will support the patient to go to that centre. There are specialties in certain types of open heart surgeries, transplants, medical tests and research.
Even within provinces - some of the rural areas may be able to get ultrasounds done quicker, as there may be less demand....but they had enough population to warrant the equipment and trained staff. Even with "medicare" plans - some provinces are different - with taxation covering the premiums, others request the additional payment. Of course, many employers offer additional extended health care insurance - but that also can vary from plan to plan. We are not restricted by only using certain doctors as part of an HMO - but, we are limited as far as the number of specialists that may be available. My own personal experiences have been that what was emergency/urgent and testing and treatment would allow for immediate impact - we got it. But the waitlists are frustrating for non-life-threatening conditions. I think the other differences can be based on the working and professional relationships between the doctors and specialists.(sad but true) I was able to get a specialist appointment and test the next day; when the GP thought there was something significant going on - she just called the specialist directly - told him the symptoms - and he made time the next day for me. All depends on the test required; how many are in demand, and sometimes, who knows who. Definitly, politics can be a big part - is the money there? What about wages, the Health Authorities are given money from the Province - but have a lot of autonomy in how they use those funds - under the umbrella of provincial health care legislations....very confusing.
I do have Pharmacare - but my deductible is $4,000.00 for the year of the $22,000.00 year prescription (and whatever else I need) - So I pay the first 4 grand - if family income changes then the deductible will change to reflect that.
I also know that the Canadian drug system - is cheaper. In Manitoba, there are bus tours of American seniors coming up to get prescriptions filled. Again, big international issue with the mail-order pharmacies filling the prescriptions cheaper than the American rates. So there has been some political discussions, threats to ban trade, etc.

I agree with you MamaBug - if we could just combine the best of both the systems - it would be a fine thing.

We should all go see the Michael Moore documentary "Sicko" - which compares the U.S. and Canadian medical systems - and then have a discussion thread on it. (He's actually had Free tickets for nurses to see it).

[Mamabug]

Sounds like an interesting documentary. I've never seen Michael Moore's work, but I've heard of it. I might check out my local video store and see if they carry it.

~ Faith

[sw8689]

He is very thought provoking to say the least, the only problem I find is that I find that a lot of people forget to look at them with a critical eye, as he like everyone in the business...presents his work with his own bias in his filmaking.

His work in my mind is valuable, it makes us question and think about serious business and issues in our society from an often uncomfortable in our face perspective. oops - hijack... I'm looking forward to seeing "sicko" too.

[valdine]

Hi everyone!
I haven't been to the board for awhile, but was really pleased to see a separate thread for Canadians.

I'm SPMS, living in Saskatoon, Sask.(moving soon to northern Saskatchewan).

Valdine, I lived in Thompson for most of my early life and had the same problem with northern doctors, everything was all in my head, should take a trip back there and drop in on a couple of them.

Alexa

Hi Alexa! Do you mind asking me what you were doing up here? I grew up here but now I work for the city's economic development agency.

Actually, I dont think the 'all in your head' thing is only northern doctors. I lived in Vancouver for the first year of my diagnosis and my GP was convinced I was a crazy female just stressing myself sicker. I'm a lucky one now... my dad works on a reserve north of here so I have access to my own compassionate nurse practitioner.

unfortunatley I can guarentee you that unless you saw one particular Thompson-lifer doctor none of your old docs will still be around. We dont tend to stay around for long up here.

Are you going further north than Prince Albert?

[puffinstar]

hi Valdine,

I lived in Thompson from age 12 (very early days for the town) until I was 41. I worked at City Hall for many years, the majority of the time in accounting.

As for Doc's, I also, many many years ago worked for a few in the Professional Building. They were Fogarty, Mullin, Rich and O'Connor...do you know of any of them.

We're moving to Nipawin, lots of good fishing, but wonder if I'll miss the city amenities...doubt it.

Alexa

[valdine]

Hey Alexa

whoa... it's a shame you didnt come back last year for the 50th Anniversary weekend the city hosted! Lots of old faces were around to see how much it's changed (we have a walmart, mcdonalds, tims, BP, staples... and the road to nunavut is going to be built from Thompson).

My Dad worked in TGH for 15 years... so I recognize the names of the docs... but they've got such a high turnaround now. Dr. Rich was actually the one I was referring to. I dont think he'll ever leave town... so he's still around scaring the weakhearted.

I hope life in Nipawin is enjoyable. I'm not too outdoorsy but I'm a fan of northern hospitality/culture.

Val