| Doctor or Clinic
Posted: 1/26/2009 8:14:43 PM | Do you have a GP or do you go to a clinic and line-up with the masses? I have heard that in some municipalities it is extremely hard to find a GP who is taking patients.
More and more, people say they are going to clinics. I have what I call a Thursday night Doctor. My GP works one night a week - Thursdays - at a clinic, where you can book appointments with him. (I hate the clinic where he works. The receptionists are rude and a lot of people have screaming babies.) | |
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| Doctor or Clinic
Posted: 1/26/2009 10:09:36 PM | LOL, OP, if the babies are screaming and they are at a clinic my guess would be they don't feel well and that's the only way they know how to express themselves.
I have a GP but rarely see him thank goodness but in December i had the worse sinus infection ever and couldn't wait days to get in to see my GP so i went to a clinic. I only had to wait an hour considering there was only one doctor and a waiting room full of people waiting. Actually the receptionist had said after we checked in we could go and come back in an hour and we wouldn't lose our place in line. That was a much better way to deal with the wait than sit there listening to hacking and coughing, sneezing and whining ( adults not kids)  Personally i am not a clinic lover and i am greatful for having a GP for my family.  | |
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| Doctor or Clinic
Posted: 1/26/2009 10:12:24 PM | I have a GP but she's located up in Kamloops. She also has 3,000 patients (according to the government, she's only supposed to have 1,000 but she keeps getting dumped with more due to the shortage of physicians) and there's a good 10 day waiting period to get in to see her. Therefore, I only go in for things that aren't serious.
For anything that needs to be checked out 'now', I go to the walk-in clinic across the street from the hospital because it's never that busy. I try not to go to the hospital ER unless I think I'm critically ill like with appendicities or the like. | |
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| Doctor or Clinic
Posted: 1/27/2009 10:05:53 AM | | My GP works in two clinics, and when I need to make appointment or drop in, I know the times he works in both locations. Both clinics are busy, usually with other doctors working the same time, and the wait can vary, depending what has happened in the day. | |
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| Doctor or Clinic
Posted: 1/27/2009 12:37:51 PM | I have a GP. I rarely have to wait more than a day or two to see him, and can often get in the same day I phone for an appointment. I'll go to a clinic if it's something fairly routine and I don't mind waiting, but for actual medical care I prefer seeing my doctor.
My parents live in the Cariboo, and when their doctor retired, it took them a couple of years to find another one. | |
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| Doctor or Clinic
Posted: 1/27/2009 1:06:14 PM | pokes his head in.... OOPS Chick thread... my bad
backs out
ot
I go to the clinic when things get drippy | |
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| Doctor or Clinic
Posted: 1/27/2009 1:26:07 PM | ^^^^ just make sure you read the sign on the door so you don't back into or end up on the feed lot and gawd forbid on someones plate
to find a good family physician seems to have become near impossible... | |
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| Doctor or Clinic
Posted: 1/27/2009 1:40:08 PM | | Because more and more people are using walk-in clinics and not always the same ones, your medical history is "all over the place", it is a good idea to request any and all copies of any lab work done and keep your own medical file at home and that if need be you can take with you. You can ask for a copy to be sent to your home as well as a regular GP if you have one. | |
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XHTML
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Joined: 6/5/2008
Msg: 9 | |
| Doctor or Clinic
Posted: 1/27/2009 2:24:30 PM | ^^^
I have a great doctor and he took the time to show me the new British Columbia computer system in place that I believe all doctors are, or will be, linked into.
From what I understand of it patient records will be accessible to all your doctors. When I've seen my doctor (or his locum during his absence) often the computer system was prompting the doctor to obtain data not yet in my profile, or reminding him it was time for some test, based age or time elapsed since the last one. "Did you smoke? When did you quit?" and "Time for a tri-glyceride test".
I believe ultimately patients will have access to view their own records and can also add information, such as blood pressure or blood glucose readings.
Not included in this database is your records of immunization and booster shots, which you have to keep track of yourself (there is a forum thread). | |
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| Doctor or Clinic
Posted: 1/27/2009 4:05:31 PM | I had a real bad tummy ache for days, so I went to the clinic to see what can be done. I got this real condescending woman doctor, she comes in and starts looking at me over the top of her glasses "what seems to be the problem Allen" she says. When I told her she instantly rolled her eyes, looked at me and said "Ever heard of antacids? Rolaids, tums, zantac, Pepto Bismol, is any of this registering with you Allen?". This is the same woman who called my Friend Leanne a hypochondriac because she visited the clinic twice in the same week.
I laugh about it now, but boy was I pissed when she was talking down to me, then I could not even bring myself to crack a smile. | |
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Xavery
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Joined: 4/22/2007
Msg: 12 | |
| Doctor or Clinic
Posted: 1/27/2009 5:56:52 PM | | You can get anything from a file a Doctor has written on you. All you need to do is ask and they will have their secretary photocopy it for you. They may charge you for photocopying. You have a legal right to whatever is in a file any Doctor keeps on you. None of it is that exciting. I have bits and pieces of my files. It is boring stuff. | |
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| Doctor or Clinic
Posted: 1/27/2009 5:58:12 PM | I prefer to see my own GP when the need arises. However, getting in to see her can be anywhere between a couple of days (for something important) to ten days. I don't gripe about waiting to get into see her; could be one of the less lucky people that don't have a GP at all.
I did have to go to a walk in clinic in Vancouver a couple of months ago, while on vacation. Doctor showed no mercy.....walk in clinic was disgustingly dirty........GLAD to be home!!!!!! | |
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| Doctor or Clinic
Posted: 1/29/2009 12:22:22 AM | My 1st GP here in Canada died falling off a cornice, my 2nd GP is retiring and told me to find a new one. I found a new one, a backcountry skiing buddy, but he left with his GP wife to serve in the north of Canada, and the English GP, left here after a year. All my GP buddies left me ...
The easiest and quickest solution, I found, was to take a trip to South America, either Peru or Costa Rica...and see one there....that way you get a holiday, and by the time you get there, your issues and concerns have disappeared. So I don't have a GP and I don't visit a clinic. In SA I did visit a dentist to remove a piece of meat from between my teeth...they mistook my request to fill a cavity....but I finally clarified that, and paid the dentist about $5 to remove the strand of meat which was driving me crazy...you see his office was next to the restaurant and I could not find a toothpick, en espagnol, there was a bit of collusion there I suspect why they had a restaurant so close to an 'officina de dentista'...whateve
I only need a Doc to refill a 20 year subscription of Apo-naproxin (anti-inflammatory) which i rely on about once every year, one pill or possibly two pills. However my drywaller friends donated a bottle to me about 2 years ago, and still have one left, for emergency | |
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| Doctor or Clinic
Posted: 1/29/2009 12:33:19 AM | Okay..can you clarify just for my curiousity.... what type of cornice did this guy fall off?...and have you considered that they might all be around..an alive and kicking but perhaps just avoiding you?
no matter...
I have a GP...use to be able to walk in and see her anytime...lovely office in WVan..with a large group of specialist and great in house lab equipment... her overhead was too much and now she is in NVan...smaller place... 2 week wait to see her now...by that time I could be dead. Shame because she was my Ob/Gyn for my children.
My kids Pediatrician retired and move to Gaza to do real doctor work.... no more dripping nose rich kids to tend to here. His replacement finally packed up with his Dr wife and headed back to the UK.
near impossible to find a pediatrician anymore.
If I am on my last breath or have to drag my body about... I head to Emerg....otherwise I suffer in silence and come here to vent. I do agree though going to a walk in clinic is swifter...and they don't hesitate to over medicate you and write you any prescription you want. Bonus! | |
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| Doctor or Clinic
Posted: 1/29/2009 4:06:35 AM | | I am a very lucky person, my gp not only has walk in hours during the first hour each day, but also if I really need to I can just walk in and he will fit me in between patients if needed. He doesn't trust the walk-in clinics so he prefers that his patients come to him regardless. I've also seen him give his personal cell number to patients with severe illness/injuries just in case they have questions or concerns outside of office hours!!! Don't see that kind of Doctor anymore!! | |
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| Doctor or Clinic
Posted: 1/29/2009 8:43:23 AM | I live in a town which used ot have 5 docs. One of them was skiing in the backcountry, stood on a cornice and it broke, causing him to fall to his death. Yes they are all now avoiding me. The husband and wife team moved up north, one went back to unversity to upgrade. And one is about to retire but cannot or the towns' hospital will close, so that leaves only one left working full time. I used to backcountry ski with 3 of the GPs....we did some ascents up to 10,000 feet above sea level in the winter.
The issue is not important for me, but very important for the community. People now have to drive a round trip of 3 hours to see a doctor or specialist. In the city here there is a shortage of 20 doctors... | |
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Xavery
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Joined: 4/22/2007
Msg: 19 | |
| Doctor or Clinic
Posted: 1/29/2009 5:59:59 PM |
I am a very lucky person, my gp not only has walk in hours during the first hour each day, but also if I really need to I can just walk in and he will fit me in between patients if needed. He doesn't trust the walk-in clinics so he prefers that his patients come to him regardless.
In defense of clinics, there are a lot of really good GPs working at them. In many cases, it makes more sense financially for a GP to work at a clinic than to start a private practice. Many are opting to take this route. I am not 100 per cent sure why it makes more financial sense for GPs to work at clinics, but the Vancouver Sun did an article on this about a year or two ago.
My Thursday night Doctor works at a clinic and specializes in sports medicine. He is outstanding. The reason there are always frigging babies around crying and spitting is that the clinic also offers maternity services. A lot of people are pregnant or have recently given birth and have their healthy little noise makers with them. | |
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| Doctor or Clinic
Posted: 1/29/2009 6:16:20 PM | | My doctor is great, he's available in two walk in clinics, and has been exceptional doctor. I don't care if my dr has a private practice or works in a clinic, if your doctor is great, patient will follow. | |
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| Doctor or Clinic
Posted: 1/29/2009 7:39:26 PM |
In defense of clinics, there are a lot of really good GPs working at them. In many cases, it makes more sense financially for a GP to work at a clinic than to start a private practice. Many are opting to take this route. I am not 100 per cent sure why it makes more financial sense for GPs to work at clinics, but the Vancouver Sun did an article on this about a year or two ago.
Ummmm...my doctor isn't in it for the money........I wouldn't want one who is. Don't get me wrong I'm sure he thinks the money is nice but he would still be doing this if the $$$ wasn't what it is. | |
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Xavery
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Joined: 4/22/2007
Msg: 22 | |
| Doctor or Clinic
Posted: 1/29/2009 7:58:57 PM | Ummm... but he could be for something else - joke, but you should understand that once someone has gone through medical school they have huge student loans and it takes a while to get back on their feet. Not establishing a private practice allows Doctors to do other things like work for Doctors without Borders more easily.
The bottom line is when you are on the operating table you don't care if your Doctor is in it for the money or not, you care that he/she is good at his job. Skill and expertise is why we see these professionals not find out what motivates them. | |
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| Doctor or Clinic
Posted: 1/29/2009 8:51:35 PM | Wow, Chevy Girl......your story about your GP is great. He sounds very commendable and yes, indeed a RARE find.
I really feel for the doctors though......their case loads are astronomical (sp?) . YES i believe that most doctors genuinely care and would like to help as many people as they can BUT bottom line is, they have their own health and mental well being as well as their families to look after as well.
My doctor is bombarded by patients in his practice plus he goes twice a week to the local nursing homes. I have seen a gradual change in him (ie/ how he appears energy wise and most days he's not as chipper as he was just a few years ago) and rightfully so........
Hopefully, circumstances will change with the whole medical care system. Time will tell i suppose!!! (sigh) | |
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| Doctor or Clinic
Posted: 1/30/2009 4:54:34 AM | Xavery^^^^^
The cost of school is a given when you get an education and should not decide how you are going to use the education you received. Unfortunately for some it does as they have not prepared for their life beyond school.
As for not being "free" enough to do other things like Doctors without Borders, is there not the downtown east side that needs help? What about all of the children living in poverty in Canada? There are more than enough "volunteer" issues in our own Country and Province that doctors can be spending their volunteer time with before they go help another country.
I agree that expertise is important, but if you have the most skilled doctor operating on you, if he is not dedicated to what he is doing, the chances are that he doesn't care about you. Part of being a doctor is compassion for the sick, a dedication to making the sick better. | |
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Xavery
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Joined: 4/22/2007
Msg: 25 | |
| Doctor or Clinic
Posted: 1/30/2009 4:19:38 PM | ^I agree . . . that charity begins at home, so I will not argue this point. I think if a person is going to give something extra they should have a choice of where and when though.
Lots of people have compassion for the sick, but they should not operate on them. Also, just because people are motivated by money does not make them not compassionate or not dedicated.
I guess why I entered this dialogue was that I was surprised when a poster said her Doctor said he didn't trust clinics. It seems to me that many of us use them and rely on them.
At first, I didn't like them either. They also seemed second-rate to me, but then I found a really good clinic Doctor and got rid of my GP after 20 years. It wasn't hard to do.
By the way, one of the frustrations I had with my GP was that I suspected that he was double booking. When Doctors start slipping patients in between patients, you have to wonder if this happening. And double booking means double payments. Any Doctor who does this probably likes his/her money. | |
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