Strained health care systems in many countries are simply unable to provide treatments. As we have heard, justice delayed is justice denied – time to affirm – treatments delayed are treatments denied.
For a patient who is suffering everyday, a 15 day wait itself can be painful. In this case the wait has been 5 long years. Thats right 5 years to get an implant. That is 1825 days of suffering. In today’s age of just in time everything and same day delivery of your material needs – how can it be ok to accept this level of pain and suffering.
Breakdown of the wait – 2 years – just to get a diagnosis done. That is 730 days of suffering not knowing what is wrong with you. Every day lives disrupted and risk of more damages – to health and to finances (lost incomes are to be calculated as well).
Fortunately with a globally connected world and the adaption of technology by hospitals globally, getting on a flight to get treated – today, not five years of suffering – is a real possibility. No for all maybe, but definitely for most it is.
To good health all around !
#worldtreatments #healthcare #Canada
She waited two years for an assessment at St. Paul’s Hospital’s Adult Cochlear Implant Program, which confirmed her as a candidate.
But it came with “disheartening” news: she was a low priority for the surgery and her estimated wait time was five additional years.
Barr said the alternative proposed by Providence Health Care’s Patient Care Quality Office was no help either.
“They suggested a possible solution for myself would be to seek care out-of-pocket and pay to have this surgery done privately in the U.S. to the tune of approximately $100,000 Canadian.”
She added private insurance does not cover the surgery abroad.
The medical complexities
Dr. Paul Mick, a neurotologist and cochlear implant surgeon at St. Paul’s, said the delays come with real harms.
“The main impact is on a person’s ability to communicate, but there are also impacts and effects on health, physical, mental, cognitive and emotional health,” Mick said.
Mick said research shows connections between hearing loss and rapid cognitive decline in aging, higher incidences of dementia, depression, falls and injuries.
“If people have to wait for these types of services, we could be losing the critical window for optimal outcomes before these things start to have an effect,” he said
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/cochlear-implant-waitlist-b-c-9.7278521