Published on Oct 22, 2014
Rick’s Rant for October 21, 2014.
Recently I attended a graduation at York University. You can not help but be moved watching a parade of young people who have worked so hard, march across the stage and pick up their Bachelor of this or their Masters of that—young graduates filled with such hope, such promise, and crushing personal debt….READ MORE
By: Zal Press
The word “stigma” makes my blood boil.
The session started out with questions about my hospital discharge experiences. For the first 6-8 years of my illness I was in and out of hospital like a revolving door. On discharge I would be visited by a dietician who would give me a standard “low residue” list of foods. Basically stuff to stay away from that would get stuck in my gut and give me an obstruction. The amusing part of this list is that it was the same one year after year and became increasingly blurry as a result of generations of copied copies. I saw this same sheet for almost 20 years.
At some point in the conversation we started on the subject of access and equity of treatment. My medication costs $33,000 a year and I constantly worry about continuing availability of coverage and access to treatment. What will happen to me when I turn 65 in 3.5 years and the Ontario Drug Benefit Plan takes over my medication coverage? Will a debt laden government refuse coverage? Will a bureaucrat decide that it would be cheaper for the system to do surgery than medicate? I worry about those suffering [...] continue the story
By: Annette McKinnon
I arrived for the final session and had no trouble finding the students. Because of bad weather and flu 2 were missing so the remaining three started with the questions.
This module was about Patient and Client Safety, so in a way, with no hospital stays and discharges I have had it easier than some. We got into a discussion of how the ordinary preventative medicine can be overlooked in a patient with chronic illness when the focus is always on the main problem. Referrals are not always made to associated disciplines either when all of the time is taken up with questions and concerns
In the past I have been one of the patients with a long list of prioritized immediate concerns that I knew there was no chance of getting through.
When we got to a discussion about pain my feeling was that many patients want to hear the health care professional acknowledge that their pain is real. Next they want to have it treated, often with an effective prescription. After that there are other ways to deal with pain that can include a pain clinic, a self management program and educating themselves about their disease. Of course the [...] continue the story
By: Annette McKinnon
Just as happened at the last session all 5 of the participants are here for today’s meeting. The major topic is Ethical and Professional issues this week, but as usual we go where the conversation takes us. Unlike Zal, I really like to sit at the head of the table because of the limitations in the movement of my neck. If I twist it one way for too long I get spasms and pain so it’s the best way for me to see everyone.
When it comes to the impact of the health care system on me I would say that it has improved greatly as I have become more knowledgeable. Almost like in raising children “it takes a village” in chronic disease. You need a captain for your team of health care providers. It used to go without saying that the leader would be the doctor – now the patient is taking on a much less passive role and calling in other health care providers as required.
The two biggest problems in not having enough information about healthcare issues is that decisions are often slowed down while you collect the info you need to make the decision, and (if [...] continue the story
