the last outlaw Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 What a joke. How can they do this because their DENYING patients who don't have a family doctor healthcare. Time to get a lawyer. Our Health Care in Canada is pathetic and disgraceful. http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Patients+turned+away+from+Metro+Vancouver+walk+clinics/11235228/story.html New standards imposed on walk-in clinics by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC have been met with concerns and confusion from both patients and doctors. The new rules are meant to connect more patients to primary care doctors since an estimated 200,000 B.C. residents are actively looking for a family doctor. Theyre also meant to ensure walk-in clinics provide the same high standards of care as traditional medical practices where patients make appointments to see a doctor. Since the tougher rules came into effect three weeks ago, some walk-in clinics have turned patients away because of onerous rules ordering them to offer ongoing care to patients after their first drop-in visit. Doctors of BC, which represents more than 12,000 physicians, says it has also heard concerns about the revised guidelines and is seeking a meeting with College representatives. Doctors of BC believes in the importance of longitudinal care; patients have the best health outcomes when they have a long-term relationship with their family doctor. Doctors of BC was not consulted during the development of the revised guidelines, however we are hearing from doctors that they have a number of concerns, said Dr. Charles Webb in an emailed statement. Susan Prins, spokeswoman for the College, which licenses and regulates doctors, concedes it has received at least a dozen calls in the past few weeks and, as a result, the College has posted an addendum on its website to help clarify the new standards. The most controversial rule pertains to patients who visit a walk-in clinic the first time; the College says if they need and want the clinic to be their medical home of record, the clinic must take them in. Formerly, there was an expectation that clinics would be considered a patients primary care clinic of record after three visits. One walk-in clinic in Surrey, Hilltop Medical, has posted signs after a story about the changes appeared in The Vancouver Sun two weeks ago. One of them states: Due to new regulations with the College of Physicians and Surgeons we will no longer be able to see patients who are not registered with one of our family physicians. Our walk-in clinic will only see our own patients. No doctor working at the clinic would speak about the matter Wednesday. When Prins was asked whether the College rules may be having an unintended, opposite effect if clinics are turning patients away, she said compliance with new rules is mostly about creating and keeping better patient charts and there should be no need to turn patients away. But the College also states in one of its clarifications that if walk-in clinics are short-staffed, they should alert new patients that they dont have the capacity to absorb additional patients. Clinics must do exactly what Hillside did, in other words: ensure clear communications with patients by posting signs or sending letters. At the same time, patients must not fall through the cracks, so if possible, do your best to provide alternate ideas for how they can access care, the College advises doctors online. The new rules are meant to connect more patients to doctors, since an estimated 200,000 B.C. residents are actively looking for a family doctor. In response to questions from patients about whether they can insist that a certain doctor at a walk-in clinic become their dedicated primary care physician, Prins says: No, the obligation to provide comprehensive primary care is shared by all of the physicians who work in the clinic. Patients must receive appropriate care from any of the physicians they see ... they may not see the same physician each time they attend the clinic but they can be assured of longitudinal care through a single medical record, which all of the physicians working in the clinic will access. While doctors who work in traditional practices have long complained that walk-in clinics view patients as one-offs, the College has now dropped the gauntlet. Prins said clinics with the capacity to see patients also have the capacity to provide reasonable and appropriate care. Prins said the College has been reassuring doctors that its walk-in clinics that have to accommodate returning patients, not individual doctors. In other words, no individual physician working in the clinic is obliged to take a patient. The obligation is to insist that the clinic will take the patient on. That patient may not always see the same physician but he or she can be reassured of longitudinal care through one consistent medical record. As to complaints from part-time, older doctors working part-time in walk-in clinics that they dont want to re-accumulate a new batch of regular patients and medical records, Prins said: The standard requires the clinic to maintain the records, not the physician. All physicians, regardless of age or stage of career, are expected to refrain from agreeing to work in any setting that does not meet College standards. For example, they must not see patients if there is no medical director, if no one fields calls after hours, or if infection control standards are not met. Similarly, the clinic must provide longitudinal care to patients who want and medically require it. She concedes some patients visit different walk-in clinics to obtain multiple prescriptions but with electronic health records, doctors should have no trouble detecting multi-doctoring. The standard mandates office access to PharmaNet and currently all physicians should be using online access to laboratory and imaging reports. Physicians should very quickly become aware of patients accessing care from other providers. This wouldnt necessarily warrant immediate dismissal of the patient, but it should prompt a frank discussion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thejazz97 Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 Apparently I have nothing to say Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralph. Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 If you think that's bad, you should see Fort St. John now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 Hrm. My doctor's office runs a rapid fire clinic a couple mornings a week that's just for their own patients. I thought a lot of places did. I guess they aren't dedicated walk in clinics though. I know there's a clinic back home that essentially has one line for patients of that office and another for everyone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHL rocks Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 First off, *they're. Second off, just be happy Canada isn't stuck WITH Obamacare. If you're going to point out other ppl's errors..... yeah! You even edited your post and still left out "with". Jack ass. Why did you feel the need to comment? What does Obamacare have to do with the issue at hand? And what do you know about the Affordable care act? I bet you don't know the difference without going to Google. Anyways interesting topic OP. My family doctor retired a couple of years ago and I don't have one now. I've tried to get a permanent family doctor but haven't been successful. I don't go to a doctor very often so I've been getting by but most doctors aren't taking new patients. This news is somewhat concerning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonMexico Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 First off, *they're. Second off, just be happy Canada isn't stuck Obamacare. Healthcare is broken here in Canada too. Ever have to go an emergency room when the clinics are closed? Enjoy the 3-6 hour wait time unless you have a jammer or a possible mortal wound. The above ruling seems like a bad idea but I find the walk in clinics to be a joke too. The one that I use when needed opens at 9am. If you aren't lineup outside by 8:45, you might not see a doctor until 11. Once 9:30am rolls around, the list is full for the day and they don't accept any more patients. Now comes the fun part of finding a clinic who doesn't have a waiting list ten miles long and hopefully is nearby. Finding a family doctor who is taking on new patients is equally as difficult; especially if you want one relatively close to where you live. Not to mention, even if you can find one, who says you will like them? Maybe they have openings because no one likes them. Perhaps the province need to come up with a website that compiles all the physicians in the province and if they are taking on new patients or not. At least that gives you somewhere to start. If this already exists, it certainly isn't well advertised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amish Rake Fighter Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 My family doctor retired years ago so I go to the local Walk In Clinic probably every 3 or 4 years. 10 minutes, no appointment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thejazz97 Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 If you're going to point out other ppl's errors..... yeah! You even edited your post and still left out "with". Jack ass. Why did you feel the need to comment? No I was going to say "The States' healthcare" and edited it to put Obamacare for simplicity. Maybe that was the wrong choice. I was just trying to make the situation better, but I guess I didn't. Sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChuckNORRIS4Cup Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 I always thought that was the whole point of Walk In Clinics, people who don't have family Doctors go there.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the last outlaw Posted July 24, 2015 Author Share Posted July 24, 2015 Been looking for a doctor for awhile and did see one early in the year and he shocked me when he told me that I would have to pay a $200 fee to have all my medical history/files be transferred from my old doctor and for the new doctor to review my history and everything. Seems to be nothing more then a cash grab. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the last outlaw Posted July 24, 2015 Author Share Posted July 24, 2015 The only place that is left for patients to go (who don't have a doctor) will be ER and as mentioned already in here, you'll be waiting several hours. Hospitals get enough people coming in as it is with such minor things and with this new policy ER's are going to be even more lined up and busier then ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grapefruits Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 Been looking for a doctor for awhile and did see one early in the year and he shocked me when he told me that I would have to pay a $200 fee to have all my medical history/files be transferred from my old doctor and for the new doctor to review my history and everything. Seems to be nothing more then a cash grab. $200 seems like a small price to pay to have a new doctor doesn't it? $200 to have a doctor beats spending nothing to be left out in the cold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Standing_Tall#37 Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 That's the liberals for you. You can see their agenda as well...trying to push for privatized healthcare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancaster Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 If only more qualified foreign doctors are allowed to practice in BC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tre Mac Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 So i am confused. I actually need to see a doctor soon as i get this stinging pain in my chest whenever i twist a certain way. They say registered does that mean if you already been to a certain clinic they still accept you? Or do you have to see your family doctor? I hate mine, he is a blatant screw up. I rather visit a drop in.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kazin! Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 Classic news fear mongering eh? I work in this field. The College was stupid to roll it out as such, but the basis of this is they want people to become attached to a family physician. They will see patients that HAVE a family physician, but if you do not, it essentially encourages you to become attached. There's an initiative called "A GP for Me" that has been rolled out in nearly every community in the province. Check out your local Division of Family Practice (ie., Vancouver Division of Family Practice) - they should have information on how to get a family doctor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kazin! Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 Healthcare is broken here in Canada too. Ever have to go an emergency room when the clinics are closed? Enjoy the 3-6 hour wait time unless you have a jammer or a possible mortal wound. The above ruling seems like a bad idea but I find the walk in clinics to be a joke too. The one that I use when needed opens at 9am. If you aren't lineup outside by 8:45, you might not see a doctor until 11. Once 9:30am rolls around, the list is full for the day and they don't accept any more patients. Now comes the fun part of finding a clinic who doesn't have a waiting list ten miles long and hopefully is nearby. Finding a family doctor who is taking on new patients is equally as difficult; especially if you want one relatively close to where you live. Not to mention, even if you can find one, who says you will like them? Maybe they have openings because no one likes them. Perhaps the province need to come up with a website that compiles all the physicians in the province and if they are taking on new patients or not. At least that gives you somewhere to start. If this already exists, it certainly isn't well advertised. These exist internally. The reason they are not released to the public is because patients would then "shop for a doctor" en masse. As I said in my post above, contact your local Division for more information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Ambien Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 Healthcare is broken here in Canada too. Ever have to go an emergency room when the clinics are closed? Enjoy the 3-6 hour wait time unless you have a jammer or a possible mortal wound. The above ruling seems like a bad idea but I find the walk in clinics to be a joke too. The one that I use when needed opens at 9am. If you aren't lineup outside by 8:45, you might not see a doctor until 11. Once 9:30am rolls around, the list is full for the day and they don't accept any more patients. Now comes the fun part of finding a clinic who doesn't have a waiting list ten miles long and hopefully is nearby. Finding a family doctor who is taking on new patients is equally as difficult; especially if you want one relatively close to where you live. Not to mention, even if you can find one, who says you will like them? Maybe they have openings because no one likes them. Perhaps the province need to come up with a website that compiles all the physicians in the province and if they are taking on new patients or not. At least that gives you somewhere to start. If this already exists, it certainly isn't well advertised. I don't follow why this is an issue, if they don't want to spend hours waiting behind people who have an emergency, they should go to a clinic during hours. Also, when we moved to Calgary, it took us 1.5 years to find a decent family doctor in the NW area. We patiently went to clinics when we needed to see a doctor, or emerg if it was more emergent until we got our family doc. I don't see the difficulty here. If one wants things the way they want it, they need patience. That's not a reflection so much on the system as it is people expecting the world to shift to them rather than being able to adapt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riffraff Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 Can't remember the last time I went to either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Ambien Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 Been looking for a doctor for awhile and did see one early in the year and he shocked me when he told me that I would have to pay a $200 fee to have all my medical history/files be transferred from my old doctor and for the new doctor to review my history and everything. Seems to be nothing more then a cash grab. That's why you have your doctor request it rather than yourself. If you request it, it looks like you just want it for your own personal reasons. That being said, there were provincial health requests I've gotten myself that cost me nothing, but they're very brief. Generally the clinics/offices charge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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