Canada - Contribute to care

The main reason we have been subjected to this health-care crisis is a growing population and increased longevity. Baby boomers are entering their senior years with escalated health care requirements.

Advanced health-care technologies are contributing to an extended lifespan and an influx of multicultural refugees has burdened our once envied health-care system.

Geographical residency also affects your chances of obtaining a physician. Northwestern Ontario, as beautiful as we may find it, may not hold the excitement and social lifestyle that young physicians are attracted to. The inability to recruit and retain health care providers is a huge stumbling block.

Federal and provincial budgets cutbacks are leading to a negligent public health-care system. We are entering into the world of “medical tourism” and even a two-tiered health system.

What can we do? If we want a health-care system that lasts, we must contribute to it. Our first step must be to become proactive in maintaining a healthy lifestyle that does not contribute to chronic disease and illness. Healthy diet and exercise is a good start.

The next step is to avoid abusing your health-care privileges. If you need to see the doctor, do it during normal business hours as much as possible; avoid using the emergency service for things that can be seen in the office.

Gather a petition of names of those people who cannot obtain a physician and send it to your MP or even directly to the minister of health. Get other health-care agencies involved with your plight, such as the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, Northern Ontario School of Medicine or the Ontario Medical Association.

Another way to meet the health care needs of Canadians is to employ more nurse practitioners in areas that are having difficulty recruiting doctors. Nurse practitioners are highly educated health-care professionals who can not only assist the patient in a more timely manner, but also lighten the work load on physicians so they can tend to serious situations.

One thing we can’t do is to sit back and say “poor me” and resolve to be a victim of a lost cause. Take the first step, create teams to address this now and be proactive. No one ever won a war by sitting at home reading the news!

Elaine Stefanick

Ignace

The Chronicle Journal

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