Care For Our Healthcare

Lately it is not uncommon to overhear people complaining, and rightfully so, about the decline in our healthcare.

There is no rejecting the fact that our “healthcare systems” are in trouble.

Notice I state “Healthcare Systems” and not “Healthcare”?

THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO ………..

“Healthcare” is the “treatment ” received from a Medical Professional.

“Healthcare Systems” are the “Logistical” pathways used to correlate and plan that “Healthcare”.

There are multi problematic reasons accountable for the current state of our healthcare affairs.

The primary and largest of the contributing factors is “STAFFING”.

Current staffing shortages and the logistical consequences that accompany them are responsible for the closure of “Emergency Rooms, Patient Wards, Clinics and Outpatient Care, etc”.

The main culprit is the massive shortage of “Family Physicians”.

“Family Physicians“ are the backbone of healthcare.

The first and highest priority step in obtaining an initial diagnosis and following treatment.

Care, like life itself, begins with a first step.

In healthcare, the “Family Doctor” is that step.

They are who ignite the logistical train’s engine.

Thereby beginning the primary assessment and diagnostic evaluation of the patient.

The current estimate of Family Physicians shortages in Canada is 28,000.

It is estimated that by the year 2031 that number will rise to 78,000.

There are multiple reasons why this is happening.

(1)

Doctors born during the “Baby Boomer” years are now at the retirement age.

(2)

The majority of Medical School Graduates are electing to choose careers in the “Specialist” fields and not the lower paying, labour intensive family care.

(3)

Medical School enrollments are at all time lows.

Numbers 2 and 3 result in upwards of 6 million Canadians who are currently without a family doctor.

(4)

Canada is growing. The larger our population becomes, the larger the family physician shortage.

We can say that this shortage is at the “Emergency” level of concern for our healthcare.

There are actions that should be taken to rectify this dangerous situation.

(1)

Fast track the processing and licensing of the many International Physicians here as refugees so as they can practice their talents in Canada.

(2)

Restructuring of the payment models for physicians.

“No tickee. No laundry”.

Increasing the salaries of health caregivers will be an incentive for them to not “jump ship” by seeking employment within the private sectors.

(3)

Develop incentives to encourage medical students to choose family medicine over “specialist practices”.

Again this falls back to economics.

Medical students graduate carrying the weight of massive student loans. This gives reason for them to gravitate toward a career in the specialist sector and not family medicine.

(4)

Develop more “Neighbourhood Walk-In Clinics”.

At any given time, seventy percent of patients seeking care from our hospital Emergency Rooms should be seeing a family doctor.

Due to the staffing shortages, these patients are tying up the valuable resources of our ER departments.

(5)

Educate “doctorless” patients on the positive aspect of using these “Neighbourhood Clinics” over using Emergency Department as a family doctor’s office.

“This will alleviate the overcrowding, delayed treatment and staff exhaustion that is taking place in ER’s nationwide.”

Everything that I have mentioned also applies to a second group of medical professionals.

A group that is equally, if not more, important.

I am referring to the Nurse Practitioners, Nurses, Orderlies and RNAs.

These group of professionals “ARE” the actual “HEALERS “.

Their roles include the usual regular Nursing duties with the addition of being spiritual supporters, housekeepers and/or psychologist and most often “friend”.

Anyone who has spent time as an “in-patient” knows well that Doctors diagnose you and do a plan of care to suit your needs, but it is the nurses and their support staff that take care of you.

It is the “Nurses, RNA’s, PSW’s and Orderlies” that work very hard to make sure the patient is comfortable and properly treated and medicated.

Of all the staff members who keep our hospitals open, it is they who sacrifice their homelives and put in very long days to assure your hospital stay is as comfortable as possible.

HERE ARE THE STATISTICS FOR NURSES ….

The College of Nurses estimates that at the present time Canada has a shortage of 60,000 Registered Nurses.

NOW HOLD ON TO YOUR SEAT …

The estimated shortage of RN’s and RNA’s by the year 2030 is projected to be 118,000.

That is an incredulous shortage and serious cause for concern.

“Health care must not be permitted to degrade further.”

” We must demand that our government makes finding a solution it’s top primary objective.”

“Ontario has a slight advantage over the rest of Canada as we have some of the world’s highest rated facilities in the world.”

“For example we have the world renowned “Sick Kids” Children’s Hospital. One of the top three children’s treatment centers in the world.”

“Across the street we have the “Princess Margaret Cancer Center” which no other cancer treatment center comes even close to their quality of care.”

“Princess Margaret is part of Toronto’s “University Health Network”.

“The UHN encompasses Princess Margaret Cancer Center, Toronto Rehab Hospital, Toronto General Hospital, Mount Sinai and Toronto Western Hospital.“

“From personal experience I can say that beyond any doubt the quality of care from any of these institutions is “Gold standard”.”

“Seven years ago, on October 28th, 2018 I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Oropharyngeal Cancers. I was told that I would be lucky to survive until the end of January 2019.”

“Today’s date is December 14, 2025”

“I am living proof as to the quality of healthcare in Ontario.”

My healthcare is a strong statement showing that even though our healthcare systems are in need of overhaul they still provide world class quality of care.”

“WE CANNOT ALLOW OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS TO SUFFER FURTHER DEGRADATION.”

“LIVES DEPEND ON IT.”