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Healthcare Systems


13 years ago 0 538 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Davit,
 Interesting. You have so many  health issues....I feel for you....you are very strong!! I don't think I could cope with half your problems.  How wonderful  though that you have access to all those great services for free . Good luck with everything. Thinking of you. (but not worrying).... ha
Cleo 
13 years ago 0 6252 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Rhea, the foot care nurse is an RN who has Arthritis. The foot care is mostly for Diabetics which I'm not but chronic disability also qualifies. Tracy is team leader and drug and alcohol councillor but deals with anxiety and panic and is very good at it. She does hospital visits and home visits when necessary but mostly office visits varying from twice a week to every couple months as needed. In my case all free. I have had a nurse come to my house to change dressings when I couldn't go to town. and right now because I have staph infection and I'm week I have trained home care workers come twice a week for two to three hours at a time. This one they whine about the cost. But it is still free. There are visiting psychiatrists also. Because I am doing my IV at home my supplies are free. My teeth are going to be pulled in the hospital because I have infection. Free. (otherwise $1500.00). Now this may all be because I am on a disability pension and considered low income. I don't know.

Davit, feeling very lucky.
13 years ago 0 538 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Davit,
I hear you....its always about the dollars...I didn't realize that in some parts of this province you have the opportunity to have free therapy..and they will come to your house? WOW! My mistake for assuming it was the whole province.....my doctor was the one who told me about how it works, and asked if I had  private insurance to see a psychologist .... I assumed it was a province-wide rule.
Foot-care for free too? That's even more amazing!  I know here they charge 45-50$ each visit, and that's at the LPN level...I can only imagine what the charge would be for a RN.. So I think you are right..that's not the norm...but lucky you!
Cleo
13 years ago 0 6252 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Cleo, 

In this day of specialization it is often forgot that things can overlap. Even if a nurse studies on her own for her own knowledge she can't use it without the paper work in place. Pain can cause anxiety and vice versa. You are right Nurses and Doctors need more training, but when do they have the time. And who pays for it?

In this part of BC, I don't pay for anything other than a percentage of my medication. My therapist is free and so is the foot care nurse. My medication and the use of the pump plus the batteries to run it are all free. It frees up a bed in the hospital and I'm more comfortable.

We actually have good access to mental health workers and facilities. The therapist makes home visits if necessary. And a psychiatrist comes to our hospital once a month. Hospital stays of from four days to three weeks are common.
I gather that this is not the norm for other areas.

Davit.
13 years ago 0 538 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Having had to move around alot I wish the Health Services were standardized between the provinces. For example In NS Therapy by a Psychologist  is covered if you get a Dr.s referal, in BC its not.
As a LPN I know what Davit is saying...If I remember correctly  when I took the course  Mental Heath  education was about a chapter long . Even the new LPN's don't seem to get much education on these issues.
I was talking with a Psych Nurse at work the other nght..she told me she wished she had more training in physical ailments, because in her position she should know both. So teaching the Professionals about the whole person ... mind, body and spirit...that's what I would like to see. 
Cleo
13 years ago 0 6252 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Samantha

My worst experiences have been on a medical ward full of doctors and nurses that have no clue about anxiety or panic.
On the other hand being on a psych ward where they have no clue about physical pain is just as bad.

Davit.
13 years ago 0 2606 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Members,

Many of you have struggled and battled with accessing mental health services. What has been your worst experience?

If it were up to you, what changes would you make to improve access to mental health services?

Samantha, Bilingual Health Educator

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