tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1407024528817445986.post4341443186593050688..comments2023-12-08T04:59:49.932-08:00Comments on Awaiting Juno: A Doctor who Listens: Worth Their Weight in GoldMrs. W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00421131727849720502noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1407024528817445986.post-22977875769831966772014-01-13T19:41:17.312-08:002014-01-13T19:41:17.312-08:00If you haven't dealt with the issues with your...If you haven't dealt with the issues with your Mirena yet, I suggest you go to the Vancouver Island Women's Clinic. I'm pretty sure you don't need a referral, and Dr. Trouton is awesome.<br /><br />I'm not sure if he's taking patients at the moment, but I'm very happy with my GP - Mark Thiessen. His office is across the street from Uptown and they have a walk-in clinic there as well. When I can't get an appointment with Thiessen I go in to the walk-in clinic and they have access to my files - it's great! He definitely listens and is quick with referrals.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1407024528817445986.post-53681478822112034832013-12-31T18:30:02.003-08:002013-12-31T18:30:02.003-08:00When I think back to how things work in Switzerlan...When I think back to how things work in Switzerland, this burns me. Basically, you see a generalist or internist for the general stuff. Mine was able to provide me with intravenous iron treatments in the office (40 minutes long and only 1 treatment vs the iron product used in Canada, which takes 3 hours and 9 treatments).<br /><br />Then, she refers you to a specialist, or helps you find a specialist of your choice -- no referral necessary. I went to 3 OBs before I found one I liked, but none of them required her referral. <br /><br />It's the same in France -- no GP referral needed.<br /><br />We have this notion here in Canada -- or rather, the provincial health bodies -- have this notion -- that by allowing patients to self-refer we will be clogging up access to limited specialists and will waste health care resources.<br /><br />The problem of course, is that we have too few specialists -- the colleges need to give up on the control of numbers and we need to be honest about how much we are underfunding our health care systems, and the ultimate price we pay for underfunding health care (hint: it would be cheaper to provide adequate health care funding than this ridiculous system we are in now).<br /><br />And you would be surpassed about how OBs undertake their appointments in Switzerland. At the appointment, they use an ultrasound as part of the exam, saving time, money and stress for everyone. No separate bookings to an ultrasound clinic, and answers (and treatment) right away.<br /><br />Oh, and an added bonus -- none of those ridiculous examining tables. You sit in a chair, which can be moved around like a dentist's chair. As a patient, you don't feel like a naked specimen pinned down in front of a microscope, and feel much more empowered.<br /><br />Just some of the many, many reasons I want to move back!<br /><br />monikaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1407024528817445986.post-28148120644690068442013-12-04T19:50:02.999-08:002013-12-04T19:50:02.999-08:00Argh, what a frustrating experience! I hope you a...Argh, what a frustrating experience! I hope you are able to see an OB soon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com