Reflection On Medical Wait Time In Canada

The health care system in Ontario has been subjected to a lot of criticism and investigation since its introduction midway through the twentieth century. In the past decade, there has been a significant increase in the demand of healthcare, due to increase in the population from immigration and also, an increase in the chronic diseases among the residents of Ontario, which in turn has affected the overall quality of the provision of healthcare. Due to its availability to wide range of people it has become evident that the health care system has been restricted by incorporation of various strict time-consuming policies, which may cause the current healthcare system to be unsustainable in the future. Therefore, healthcare industry has added resources to accommodate increase in demands and the needs of the Ontarians, but this does not eliminate the problem that Ontario lacks a system-wide and sustained approach to improve quality of primary healthcare, which will be further discussed in the paper.

America has a very disorganized and fragmented healthcare system while Canada has a very structured and established system. Since there is no healthcare system in the world that is considered perfect all countries implement polices that they believe will be the most beneficial for their residents, The United States’ and Canada’s systems are both constantly being reformed to fit the current needs their residents however there are strengths and weaknesses for both of the systems.

Although the Canadian system might be more effective than the United States health care but it’s not perfect. One of the many issue that was brought up by many people living in Canada is the long wait time. Your wait time might depend of the province you live in since each territory administrate its own program (Goran Ridic, Suzanne Gleason, and Ognjen Ridic). Recent studies found Canadian deficits in several areas including angioplasty, cardiac catheterization and intensive care because of the lack of technological machine. Nationwide, the average wait for treatment is 13.3 weeks. The average waiting time in more than 80% of the procedures is one third longer than Canadian physicians consider clinically reasonable. This timing issue might not sound as problematic as not having insurance until it becomes a life or death situation.in the other hand the united states technology are far more advance, the spending of the united states is so high because its believe to be spent on the technology for better care. Thus, patient is expected to have a better chance of survival. It is not the case, the infant mortality rate in the United States 6per 1000 birth but Canada has a rate of 4.8per 1000 birth. In other word 5,400 fewer babies are save in Canada, and they save about $1.3 trillion dollars in healthcare spending (Olga Khazan). Life expectancy at birth in Canada is 81.7when life expectancy is the United States is at

The effectiveness of a health system varies upon populations and the differences in cultural, socioeconomic and behavioral factors. Canadians live two to three years longer than Americans, but because they live healthier. In the U.S. there is a relatively high incidence of obesity and this leads to poor health outcomes. There is greater success of survival rate in the U.S. due to the availability of innovative technology and better screenings and treatments (O'Neill & O'Neill, 2007). When care is free there are longer waiting times for medical services and needs are not being met on time. Over the years Canada has seen an issue with controlling health expenditures because of the services that are provided and are free of charge due to their universal plan. In the U.S costs are cited as a source of unmet needs (O'Neill & O'Neill, 2007). In the U.S. there lower wait times to see a specialists and get surgery. In the U.S. unmet needs were because of costs

The idea of what the Canadian Health Care system should be varies between the country's three political parties. According to the official website of the New Democratic Party of Canada, the NDP believes that every Canadian citizen should have quality, reliable health care. In fact, the NDP initially created Canada's public health care system. In addition to the current health care system, the NDP is trying to create legislation that would grant free dental and drug coverage for seniors over the age of 65. Lastly, recent debate in both Canada and the United States has been on the subject of whether or not health care should be privatized. It is the belief of the NDP that the privatization of health care would have a negative effect in

Canada’s health care system assures universality, portability, and accessibility; disappointingly, not all Canadians have access to specialists and facilities. Many patients face long wait times or do not have access to anesthetic and surgical care because the inadequate supply of anaesthesiologists for demand of Canada’s aging population. For instance, a woman experiencing severe pain in her right lower abdomen may endure excessive wait time to receive pain relief and life-saving care. However, surgical or other medical procedures can only be performed if patients have access to an anaesthesiologist. Despite government promises, and the billions of dollars funnelled into the Canadian healthcare system, the average wait time for surgeries in Ontario is approximately 14.3 weeks (Barua, Rovere & Skinner, 2011).

The waiting time for medical services is long in both countries. The waiting time is mostly determined by the number of medical doctors and facilities available in relation to the population. According to the report done by the American Medical Student Association (2011), it was discovered that the doctor-to-patient ratio in the U.S. is more than in Canada. As a result, the survey discovered that about 42% of patients in Canada had to wait for about two hours compared to the U.S. whereby 29% had to wait for two hours. Also, 43% of Canadians compared to 10% of Americans are forced to wait for about four weeks to see a specialist. In addition, the same study discovered that 37% of Canadians compared to 34% of Americans found it difficult to access medical services during weekends and holidays. As a result, 47% of Canadians compared to 50% of Americans felt that it would have been possible for them to be treated on a regular basis than on an emergency basis if medical personnel were available (American Medical Student Association, 2011).

Healthcare in the United States is extremely different from the rest of the world. Over the years government and political analysts have compared and contrasted the health care systems of the United States to that of Canada’s. Despite being located on the same continent both countries have different ways of delivering health care to its citizens. Canada has a single-payer system that is publicly funded, while the United States has a multi-payer system that relies heavily on privately owned healthcare. This could be due to the differences in how many patients are cared for compared to those in America or it could be just a matter of

In this paper, there will be a comparative analysis to the United States (U.S.) healthcare system and Canadians healthcare system highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of both.

The Canadian health care system has many flaws and issues because of the many systems within it. Canada has fifteen different health care systems, these fifteen include thirteen provincial/territorial systems, a system for Aboriginals, and a system for veterans. Coincidentally because there is so many systems doctors work hours, location, and fees are different across the country. Many doctors charge extra fees for services such as pill refills and Pick the hours they work. Not only are things different with doctors from province to province but so are the services covered. The coverage of services such as eye, dental, and abortion services are not the same everywhere (O'Grady, Kathleen and Noralou, Roos). Issues with coverage and doctors are

One of the most talked about subjects regarding health care in Canada is the time it takes to be seen by a physician. For acute illnesses, an

Several countries are unique in their own individual ways. One reason that makes Canada so unique is their healthcare system. Many have no knowledge of how the healthcare system works, especially in the United States. Each state has its own healthcare system and works by their own rules and laws. One thing which separates Canada with these other states is the cost, the structure and the ratios they have. When people think about healthcare, you get a little bit of both sides. You get the group of people who cannot afford healthcare, and the other group who not only have the income to pay for their healthcare but those who have their private doctors. Many people do not see this as an issue, however they do not even care at the fact that they do not even have any type of healthcare. From generation to generation, there have been several changes in the health industry. This industry is a trillion dollar a year industry which still needs more work. In my report I will explain and educate as to why I believe Canada’s healthcare system is not only such a great organized system but also how they manage to keep their infant mortality rate so low as well as the average life expectancy increase. I will also discuss how the population and health status have an impact in Canada. Following these topics I will discuss, the laws and regulations which Canada has to enforce these types of services as well as private and public health insurances that Canada

Wilson and Rosenberg explain that Canada’s health care system went through many changes when the “federal government reduced its financial support to the provinces and the provincial governments responded by restructuring health care delivery, sometimes in open defiance of the Canada Health Act” (2004). Since these changes have been made, many Canadians feel as though health care is now less accessible than it was before. For example “for Canadians in their everyday lives, there is a growing perception that health care delivery is becoming less accessible as waiting times to see a physician or receive hospital services grow longer, services disappear altogether, or become privatized in their communities” (Wilson & Rosenberg). For some residents, they do not seek health care when they need it because do not want to deal with these long waiting times, others cannot afford the travel cost or the cost of the service itself. Many Canadian residents are not confident that they would not receive the health care they need if they were to have a medical crisis (Wilson & Rosenberg). There is a question that must be answered, is the principle of accessibility from the Canada Health Act being defied? The answer to this question is unclear because the Canada Health Act does not give an exact definition in the meaning of “reasonable access” (Wilson & Rosenberg). Medical services are available and most of the costs are covered under insurance,

The comparison between health care in the United States and health care in Canada has been a continuing debate. America does not have a universal health coverage plan for it's population, while Canadians are privileged to have universal health coverage. Normally a patient will pay twice as much for health coverage in the United States compared to treatment in Canada. This puts the US in first position of having the most expensive health care system on earth. (http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/health-care-for-all/has-canada-got-the-cure) Most of the population in the United States have no health coverage at all. Compared to Canada, the wait time for elective procedures in the United States is somewhat longer. Many Americans feel the

On the contrary, the people of the United States do not come across the problem of long waiting lists. The average American cancer patient waits no more than ten days for radiation therapy while Canadians typically wait four times that long.5 An MRI scan in the United States can be had after an average wait of four days and in Canada one hundred and fifty.6 Health care promptness keeps declining in Canada, not only because of government cuts, but also because many health care professionals move south, where they can work in the most technologically advanced hospitals on the planet making higher wages.