Re: [OT] Canadian health care vs American health care

On Wed, 08 Jan 2025 10:16:55 -0800, Rhino wrote:

But if I just
have a quick question, it's very difficult to ask it. For example, we
once did a phone appointment to deal with sleep issues I have and she
suggested that I try magnesium glycinate first and only if that failed,
try melatonin. During that conversation, either she forgot to tell me
the dose of the magnesium glycinate or I forgot to write it down. When I
tried to determine that information via email, I got scolded for
misusing the email system and told to make an appointment. I ended up
making a half-hour phone appointment - all phone appointments are
automatically half an hour - which meant waiting a few days, then got
what I needed in less than 5 minutes. I assume she ended up billing the
government for a full half hour because the system is probably set up in
half hour chunks. The system is clearly set up for the doctor's
convenience much more than the patients. If I could have left her a
voice mail or sent an email or text that she could answer when she had a
minute, it would have been a lot more efficient.

That's not the USA, here doctors are kept busy and
email or telephone messages are encouraged rather than
appointments.

Do you feel like valued customer
when you see your doctor or more like a burden/expense they have to
endure? Are you confident that the treatments your doctor performs or
recommends are in your best interest or is he over-treating you (or even
doing bogus procedures) to pad your bill?

Both, it's many doctors, not one.