Once again, the buzz regarding queue jumping has leaped into the forefront of medical news in this country.  While the controversy continues whether or not well-connected Canadians receive preferential treatment in the healthcare system, utilizing Medical Access Insurance allows all Canadians the option of receiving expedited care without queue jumping.

MAI removes policyholders from long medical wait lists and utilizes private health care in other provinces (whenever possible) and in the United States.  The benefits are clear, not only do our policyholders receive expedited service for MRI and CT Scans, they can also see a Specialist within 21 days or less and receive surgical procedures in weeks, not months or even years.  And the results?  As each policyholder is removed from the queue, it results in shorter wait times for others.  A win-win situation.

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Well-connected Albertans obtaining preferred medical treatment, leaked document shows
(Calgary Herald, June 9, 2011

Canada's health-care system is more expensive and less effective than the United Kingdom's, according to a U.S. health policy analyst — and one reason may be the public's reluctance to protest. Photograph by: Allen McInnis, Gazette File Photo

Canada’s health-care system is more expensive and less effective than the United Kingdom’s, according to a U.S. health policy analyst — and one reason may be the public’s reluctance to protest.

“Canadians are too nice,” said Robin Osborn, vice-president and director of The Commonwealth Fund’s international program.

In an email interview, Osborn commented on the introduction Wednesday by Britain’s coalition government of the most radical reforms in the history of the 62-year-old National Health Service.

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Read more by clicking here.

Excerpt from the New York Times, Giving Alzheimer’s Patients Their Way:

“With virtually no effective medical treatment for Alzheimer’s yet, most dementia therapy is the caregiving performed by families and nursing homes. Some 11 million people care for Alzheimer’s-afflicted relatives at home. In nursing homes, two-thirds of residents have some dementia:

Margaret Nance was, to put it mildly, a difficult case. Agitated, combative, often reluctant to eat, she would hit staff members and fellow residents at nursing homes, several of which kicked her out. But when Beatitudes nursing home agreed to an urgent plea to accept her, all that changed.

Disregarding typical nursing-home rules, Beatitudes allowed Ms. Nance, 96 and afflicted with Alzheimer’s, to sleep, be bathed and dine whenever she wanted, even at 2 a.m. She could eat anything, too, no matter how unhealthy, including unlimited chocolate. “

Click on the link below for the full story:
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The New York Times, Health:
Giving Alzheimer’s Patients Their Way, Even Chocolate

A few days ago, I woke up hearing the news that a Calgary man put his own life at risk in order to jump a medical queue. The gentleman, on a six-month wait list for gallbladder surgery, followed his doctor’s suggestion to induce a gallbladder attack by eating fatty foods – in this case potato skins – thereby receiving immediate emergency care to remove the gallbladder. Obviously, I’m not the only one raising their eyebrows at this story as it is all over the radio, Internet and TV. However, it does elicit a very angry response from me.

First and foremost, I was outraged the man’s doctor would suggest he put his life in danger to receive emergency medical care. What doctor would do this? Thinking about this I realized the doctor must have a great deal of faith in our emergency care to suggest it. Canadian emergency care is excellent, I will agree, having spent many hours with my children at a variety of different hospitals around town throughout the years.

Emergency care aside, I am appalled at the long wait lists for elective surgery in this country. Granted, there have been major problems with wait lists for many years, which is one of the reasons insurance, such as Medical Access Insurance, exist. Medical Access Insurance would take a client out of the public system to utilize the private system in a case like this one. If this man had this type of insurance (either as a company benefit or purchased individually), he would never have had to wait at all. As soon as his doctor had put him on a surgical wait list, all he need do is place a call to his insurance company; but this wasn’t the case. I can only assume that he wasn’t aware this type of insurance existed; which brings me to my final point, public awareness.

Our medical system is failing us, are we aware of this crisis? Most Canadians have become procrastinators, believing their beloved healthcare system can fix itself. Most turn a blind eye to cases as desperate as this one. Initially they are upset, but then after a few days they say things like, “Well he should have waited his turn just like everyone else, that’s how this system works.” Really? According to the news reports, the man, struggling to eat, had already lost 15 pounds in a month and had extremely painful cramping when he finally did manage to eat anything. Is it humane to make this man wait for six months, in pain and anguish, just to set an example of how our healthcare system works? Or is it time to take the bull by the horns and do something?

One of the suggested fixes for our system is for people to become proactive. We already watch what we eat, get fit and do the things that benefit our own health but we need to go further. Be proactive in looking at the current situation. Embrace programs which guarantee that when the time comes, we can get the health care we need when we need it most. No one need suffer, and no one should ever resort to desperate measures to jump a queue.

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Related Articles:

Calgary 660 AM Radio: Man induces gall bladder attack to jump medical queue; by Kevin Usselman
Calgary Sun: Surgery delays galling; by Michael Platt
CTV Calgary: Man induces gall bladder attack to get faster medical treatment

Recent polls asking Canadians what identifies them as ‘Canadians’ showed a significant number stated “the public healthcare system”—many describing it as uniquely Canadian and the best in the world.

These statements call to mind the fanatical fans of a perennially underachieving sports team which steadfastly refuses to emulate better performing franchises but whose fans continually chant “We’re number one” and believe against all evidence the team will win the championship.  Disappointed year after year, the fans gripe but support the same management who created the problem and their failing attempts to improve the team.

The fact is the Canadian system is neither unique nor anywhere close to being the best public system in the world.  There are dozens of public health care systems; all western democracies excluding the US and Mexico have a public healthcare system.  Canada’s is, for the most part, less comprehensive and more expensive than most others.  In fact, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) ranks Canada’s system as 30th in performance and access to services and technology while rating it the 4th most expensive system.  How does “We’re number 30!” sound as a chant?

The basis for all public healthcare systems is that everyone regardless of economic situation and social status is entitled to quality, timely medical care.  Within this context, every possible means should be employed to accomplish this goal.

So what has gone wrong?

The ‘system’ is not actually a single system at all.  Medical service delivery is a provincial responsibility with 13 different systems (10 provinces and 3 territories), all with different coverage plans, accounting systems, management processes, licensing requirements and purchasing protocol.   Little if anything is consistent from province to province or territory.  Adding to the confusion are several other systems functioning within Canada.  For example, the Worker’s Compensation Boards in most provinces utilize dedicated or private surgical facilities to expedite the return to work for workers injured on the job (and sometimes off the job as well). The military, RCMP, federal and provincial prisoners have their own systems or preferred access to the public system.  In effect, the Canadian system is made up of 20-25 different systems each with its own rules and requirements.

In only one area is the Canadian system unique—it is the only public system with a single payer format; that is, a system where only government revenue and control is utilized to deliver core services.  All the better functioning public systems employ a mixed system of payment including a component of private medical delivery, private health insurance and private payment for services.  The result is better access to services and technology, better retention of medical professionals, more efficient administration, little or no wait lists for services and most importantly, a better functioning system for everyone; all this while keeping the stated goal in mind.

But what about the Canada Heath Act (CHA); doesn’t it prohibit a mixed system?  Special interest groups have confused the public’s understanding of the CHA for their own purposes.  When confronted directly, they often state whatever is being discussed ‘breaks the spirit of the CHA’—a meaningless phrase intended to stifle debate.

In fact, the CHA was intended as a partial funding agreement with the Federal government based on five principles, public administration comprehensiveness, universality, portability and accessibility.  There were originally seven principles proposed including accountability and efficiency, which were unacceptable to the signatories as they recognized they could never live up to these two principles.  At the time of signature in 1984, the Federal government agreed to assume 50% of healthcare costs.

As far back as the late 1960’s, the then premier of Alberta, Ernest Manning, warned against a partnership with the Federal Government stating they would never live up to their obligations.

It appears he was correct, as Federal funding participation has fallen to around 20%.  However, that doesn’t stop federal politicians from meddling in healthcare delivery when it suits their purposes.

So what does the CHA say about a mixed system of delivery?   A report prepared by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service titled Private Health Care Funding and Delivery Under The Canada Health Act partially concludes “ In summary, the private sector is involved in both the funding and delivery of healthcare in Canada, and the Canada Health Act neither prohibits nor discourages either the private delivery of health services or private health care insurance.”2

Like the underachieving sports team, until the fans awaken to the truth about the management and vested interests controlling the team and demand they emulate the better franchises and implement real accountability and efficiency, the team is doomed to the bottom of the ranking.

Okay, everyone—begin chanting . . . “We’re number 30!  We’re number 30!”

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1The Fraser Institute – How Good is Canadian Healthcare: An International Comparison of Healthcare Systems 2008 Report

2 Library of Parliament Parliamentary Information and Research Service  PRB 05-52E Private Health Care Funding and Delivery Under The Canada Health Act 28 December 05

Thank you for visiting us during our inaugural launch of the brand new Acure Health Insurance Canada website. Take the time to explore all of our innovative pages, healthcare news items and become informed on the number one item we are offering here: premium, expedited healthcare services for Canadians. Acure Health Insurance Canada does not believe Canadians should be on waitlists to receive the healthcare services they need urgently: be that involving diagnostics, surgery or consultation with a leading specialist. That is why we are offering Medical Access Insurance(MAI). If you are put on a waitlist that is 45 days+, MAI will take you out of that line and put you into the service centre you need to be in promptly.

Take the time to explore this site and let us know what you think. Browse through our health and waitlist news pages, read our Canadian healthcare newsletter, search for a clinic or medical centre near you, or look up a definition in our medical terms glossary. Your feedback is very important to us, and much appreciated.

And, most importantly, please use this blog to discuss the items regarding Canadian healthcare that are on your mind. This blog is for you Canada; an opportunity for all Canadians to talk candidly about healthcare, and for Acure Health Insurance Canada to listen to your concerns and come through for your healthcare needs.