From an Emergency Nurse in Canada
From: Mo
Date: Wednesday, July 11, 2007 1:09 AM
To: mmflint@aol.com
Subject: From an emerg nurse in BC Canada
I just watched you on CNN with Larry King and Gupta. Having not seen Sicko yet I can't comment on the movie and its contents.
Our emergency cardiac care is great. We live about 35 minutes away by lights and sirens to the closest Cath Lab. We send many patients in to the cath lab in record time. Many patients receive care from our door to the cath lab door within 1-1 1/2 hours. It is not unheard of for us to send in 3 pts on our 12 hour shift and receive them back post angios and stent. I am not sure where Gupta got his 6 days for emergent to 60 days for elective????? Possibly from disgruntled Dr.s or Pharmaceutical companies( bringing to light the studies that are Pharmaceutical driven.They would like you to believe that those with angios do no better than those who receive Thrombolitics during their STEMI...time and more studies will tell!)
Our Health care is simple......each province has its own govt. plan. If you make under a certain amt of $ per year (BC is $20,000) You fill out a form and state your income and your health care is the same as anyone elses but its FREE. You don't get a different coloured card or anything...no one knows your riding FREE. You get the same care for the same problem.
If your a young person who doesn't seem to understand the importance of health care insurance and you get hurt.......we worry about the insurance later....much later!!!! They get you to fill in the forms and submit it to the govt. If you've resided in the province for 3 months or more they will retroactive the insurance plan for you so your covered. It literally happens everyday. Street people who are ill are not denied health care.
No mother or child is ever turned away....we never dwell on insurance talk....it just doesn't happen and just doesn't occur.
Our Maternity Leave is one year paid. Unreal isn't it!!!???? That is for every working woman. We can stay home and nurture and bond with our babes without the fear of early 1st year day care....I believe you have 6 weeks in California....If you go off early that limits your after birth time at home.
I could go on and on. I don't profess we have the best...we certainly have our problems which get more each week month and year.
We still count our lucky stars that we don't have the health care of Americans. It comes up frequently in our conversations...its our greatest fear!
I have a daughter who went to Long Beach Cali to do her studies. She is finished her education and is waiting for her paperwork to start work. She has seen Sicko and enjoyed it very much. She said it was "almost" enough to make her come back home. Could you try a little harder to scare her so she does come home.....we miss her!!!
Thank you for getting people thinking and talking.....it should concern each and every person who has a PULSE!!!!!!
Much Happiness and Health to you and your family
(Mo) Maureen, RN
Abbotsford B.C. Canada
