Will bad Canadian Healthcare Socialism slowly move toÿ
the US?ÿ
Maybe.
( Unless we can come up with more cash that is .
Yes but from where?
Well,
ÿÿÿ -raise taxes ( oh not AGAIN !!)
ÿÿÿ -raise premiums ( ouch )
ÿÿÿ -sell high PE stocks; ie those with the biggest paper profits ) ( OUCH! )
ÿ
does BRKA qualify?)
cheers
TA
=========================
nationalpost.com
Tuesday, January 18, 2000
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Health-care emergency
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ A consensus is finally emerging that
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ medicare is an anachronismÿÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ National Postÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ What a difference a crisis can make.ÿÿ Yesterday,
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Elizabeth Witmer, Ontario's Health Minister,
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ supported a decision by Toronto paramedics to
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ whisk critically ill patients to the nearest hospital
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ -- even if its emergency room was officially closed
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ to all incoming patients. ÿÿMs. Witmer was reacting
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ to news that ÿÿan 18-year-old asthmatic, Joshua
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Fleuelling, died following a cardiac arrest that
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ might have been averted had he been admitted to a
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ closer hospital.ÿÿÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ In other developments: Quebec premier Lucien
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Bouchard, in a moment of political lucidity, said
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ thatÿÿ health care had surpassed sovereignty "in the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ priority department"; Ralph Klein, the Alberta
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Premier, ÿÿpromised to enlist private health-care
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ companies to cut hospital waiting lists; and the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ government of Ontario has declared its intent to
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ implement primary care reform and "rostering" --
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ changes that would see patients sign up with a
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ single physician in return for 24-hour service.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ That is the good news. These developments reflect
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ an emerging consensus that medicare is an
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ anachronism. We are like recovering alcoholics;
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ we are beginning to see the ill effects of a
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ pathology that sees all forms of innovation and
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ private enterprise as anathema.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ No longer can medicare's dissenters be dismissed
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ as radical ideologues who are wont to argue by
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ means of anecdote and hyperbole. A spate of recent
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ news events has proven beyond all doubt that our
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ medical system is slowly rotting: ÿÿIn Ontario,
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ cancer patients may be asked by their hospital to
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ sign a waiver acknowledging the danger of being
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ forced to wait for treatment; in Manitoba, cancer
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ patients are being shuttled to the United States for
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ therapy; in British Columbia, the sickest patients in
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ need of intensive care beds have been turned away;
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ in Saskatchewan, a man died of heart disease in his
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ rural hospital because there was no bed available
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ for him in Regina; and so forth.ÿÿÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ In the years to come, there will be more sad
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ stories. Canada's population is getting older; so are
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ this country's nurses and doctors. In a decade or so,
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ we will face a demographic shortage of qualified
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ health professionals.ÿÿÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ What is most depressing about this state of affairs,
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ however, is that even the current crisis in medicare
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ seems incapable of convincing Allan Rock, the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ federal Health Minister, to change the Canada
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Health Act. The very modest proposals mentioned
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ above -- rostering and a private tier of health
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ service -- are arguably forbidden under the law.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ What, then, are Canadians to do? Michael Bliss,
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ the eminent historian, has suggested that Canadians
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ sue the minister of health. That desperate measure
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ might force Ottawa to take its current obligations
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ under medicare more seriously and commit to
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ increased funding to the provinces. But it would
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ still not solve the more fundamental flaw: that
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ patients are not allowed to pay directly for any of
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ the services provided under medicare. Until that
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ changes, waiting lists and overcrowding will
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ persist; more people will suffer; more will die.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ How terrible must things get before Mr. Rock
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ understands this?
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thestar.com
December 7, 1999ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Day of despair for emergency
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ roomsÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Hospitals close doors amid growing
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ patient crunchÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ By Rita Dalyÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Toronto Star Health Reporter
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Toronto ambulances were being turned away at nearly
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ every hospital in the city during yesterday's noon hour in
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ one of the worst emergency crunches so far this fall.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Ten hospital emergency wards were so busy they
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ refused to accept patients, no matter how serious their
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ condition - a severe status known as ``critical care
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ bypass.'ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Fifteen other hospitals were so backed up ambulances
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ were instructed to take all but the most critical patients
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ to another hospital - the second most serious situation,
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ``redirect consideration.'ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ The only hospital available at noon was the Hospital for
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Sick Children, said Rick Boustead, spokesperson for
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Toronto ambulance.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Three hours later, the situation wasn't much better. Nine
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ were on critical care bypass, and 14 were on redirect.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ By then, ambulance dispatchers were telling hospitals on
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ redirect they had to take patients, to avoid transporting
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ them too far out of town.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Emergency rooms quickly became clogged, with
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ patients waiting on stretchers in hallways and ambulance
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ crews waiting to drop off patients before taking another
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ call.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Frustrated hospital officials say the emergency crunch
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ has been a chronic problem during the past three years.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ In fact, the situation appears to be getting worse, and
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ they are worried about being able to handle the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Christmas period, when higher demand coincides with
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ staff holidays.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ``We still sit here day after day, week after week. It's
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ gone on all year. It just gets worse in the winter,' Pat
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Marten, nursing unit administrator for emergency at
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Mount Sinai Hospital, said yesterday. ``And it's a real
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ worry that the Christmas holidays are only a couple of
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ weeks away and we're sitting here looking like this now.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ The staff are terrified.'ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Marten said Premier Mike Harris tried several weeks
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ago to blame the continuing crunch on a flu outbreak.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ``Sorry, wrong, no flu. People are coming in with
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ serious medical conditions. They are sick medical
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ patients coming through the door,' she said. At Mount
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Sinai, which was on and off critical care bypass all day,
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ patients were admitted with chest pains, heart attack
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ symptoms, abdominal pains, elderly-patient falls and
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ out-of-control diabetes, Marten said.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Many of Toronto's hospitals were on either redirect or
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ critical care bypass off and on throughout the day,
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ starting at 7:30 a.m.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ In addition to Mount Sinai, hospitals on critical care
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ bypass included York Central Hospital in Richmond
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Hill, Ajax-Pickering Hospital, St. Michael's,
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Sunnybrook, St. Joseph's Health Centre, Centenary,
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ North York Branson, Toronto Western and Humber
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ River Regional.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ By afternoon, the only hospitals open to ambulances
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ were Sick Kids, Markham-Stouffville Hospital and
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ York County Hospital in Newmarket.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ``All week it's been getting worse and worse and worse
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ in terms of availability,' Boustead said. ``Today has just
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ pushed it to its limit.'ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ North York General was on redirect for most of the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ day. At 4 p.m., one more critically ill patient arrived, and
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ the hospital had switched to critical care bypass.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Despite an injection of $225 million last winter from the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ province to help with the emergency problem, hospitals
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ still face bed shortages and lack of flexibility in the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ system, Marten said.ÿ
------------------------------------
thestar.com
December 8, 1999ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Hospital crowdingÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ signals health crisis
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ When ambulances were turned away from emergency
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ wards at 23 of 25 hospitals on Monday, it was more
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ than an outbreak of seasonal overcrowding.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ We were watching a system moving from crisis to crisis,
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ each a little more serious than the last.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Tougher times still lie ahead: Christmas and New Year's
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ both fall on weekends, the worst time of the week.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ January is the mother of crowded months in emergency.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ But what could cause such a crunch on a regular
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ weekend in early December?ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ``Sorry, wrong, (it's not the) flu,' Pat Marten, nursing
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ unit administrator in Mount Sinai Hospital's emergency
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ room declared. ``They are sick medical patients coming
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ through the door.'ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ These patients - those who get in - are experiencing the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ accumulated results of promises not kept, actions not
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ carried through, spending not delivered. Hospitals are
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ both in debt and losing their capacity to do their main
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ job - deal with emergencies.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Behind the Toronto crisis lie massive shifts in health
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ spending since 1995, from hospital care to residential
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ care in long-term facilities, and from Toronto to the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ neighbouring suburbs.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ As a result, ambulance drivers in the Toronto area are
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ faced with this:ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ There are too few hospital beds. By last March,
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Toronto hospitals already were 400 beds below the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ 2003 target set by the now-toothless Health Services
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Restructuring Commission.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Too many beds are filled with the wrong patients.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Nearly half of the area's acute care beds - 47 per cent -
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ were occupied in the winter of 1997-'98 by people
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ waiting for long-term places, not people needing acute
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ care.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ The number of long-term care beds in greater Toronto
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ actually has fallen by 45 since 1995, so the so-called
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ``bed-blocker' problem likely is worse. No new
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ long-term beds will appear in Toronto at least until
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ 2001. With 77 beds per 100,000 seniors - 75 and over
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ - Toronto is 22 beds below what's needed. In 905 and
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ beyond, where the building is going on, they're within
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ four beds of what they need.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Some 1,700 so-called ``interim' long-term beds in
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ hospitals were promised two years ago, along with $55
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ million as a quick fix. By last March, $3.3 million had
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ been spent, on only 962 beds. It's now up to 1,200.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ As for emergency wards, Finance Minister Ernie Eves
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ said yesterday $97 million is being spent on 50 new
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ emergency wards. This was fewer than the ``56 new
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ up-to-date emergency rooms being built or planned'
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ that Health Minister Elizabeth Witmer described two
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ weeks ago.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ But only 38 such projects - 13 in the 905 area, 10 in
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Ottawa-Kingston, two in the north, 13 in southwest
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Ontario - can be tracked. There are none in the Toronto
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ area, where the problem is.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Notwithstanding all this, Witmer told the hospital
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ association that there's been ``remarkable progress.'
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ And Eves told the Legislature that ``the situation is
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ dramatically improved from when we took power.'ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Perhaps. But not where the crisis exists.ÿ
==================
Message #43456 from Benkea at Mar 17 2000 12:20PM
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ dmp:
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Don't look now, but that POS BRKA is up 38% on the week :) |
