Geez John, that sounds mucho like how our system up here works for GP referrals for specialists/diagnostic testing.  Some technicians say: Get your doc to label the referral as "Urgent."   Other technicians say that won't help as just about all referals are coming in marked "Urgent."

Our neighbour had an "Urgent" referral to a specialist re. breast cancer.... waited about 6 months before "investigating" and was told that there was a screw up in the initial referral and as her spacialist was now on extended leave, our neighbour was advised to go back to her GP and start the process anew.  So she did.... but this time it only took a couple of months.    I don't know what the fuss was about .... she got a clear bill. 

A few years back I asked to be referred to a specific orthopedic surgeon as I'd had him before and was impressed with his work.  About six months later I was informed that he was no longer practicing ........... he'd been dead for about 7 years.    

Hang in there .... sorry I can't be more optimistic.  [And remember....  the universe is unfolding as it should.   ]

Edit: On reflection, I'd have been better off had I stuck with the dead guy.  The one I did get did the surgery ... and then another to "correct" (?) stuff from the first surgery .... and it's still worse than before I started.

One of the doctors on another site I post on said the he recently treated a Canadian woman who had come down to his office in upstate New York and was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. She told him her wait in Canada would be about 6 months. He said if she had waited, she would have not survived.

There are all kinds of anecdotal stories like this. I’m not knocking the Canadian system, as I am sure there are as many positive stories.
.

Oh, I've had quite a few positive experiences myself.  Without going through my "list," I suspect the proportion of things with "room for improvement" has increased in the last couple of decades.   I don't know whether or not there's any cause-effect, but I also suspect that the Canadian system is management top-heavy.    

Further to the tid-bit about most of the referrals being "urgent," the technician that mentioned that to my wife also gave her a work-around .... said to ask the GP to include in the referral a specific date by which he/she wanted the results back.

I know there are some tragic stories, but I and family members have had very positive experiences with the Canadian health care system. In 2021 they detected cancer in my colon,, in 3 weeks I had surgery,, 4 weeks later I started chemo - this was during the Covid pandemic. I think in some areas of the country there are shortages of surgeons and doctors.

Far from VA and hearing aids, but looking at the big picture, I'm not aware of any areas of Canada that have sufficient surgeons/doctors/nurses.* 

I figure the availability of nurses is skewed by "agency" nurses ..... Apparently there are plusses [esp. short term] AND minuses [esp. long term] in that system.

* Edit: but I'd be mucho surprised if they don't have adequate numbers of managers, co-ordinators, supervisors, etc.  

You nailed it Owen!!! Having worked in the medical profession for 40 yrs the one thing I realized is……….you can never have too many managers, supervisors and coordinators!!! LMAO!!!
I remember years ago I almost lost my job for being a wise arse . When my supervisor asked me why patient exams were taking so long and getting behind in schedule, I told him “we’re just too short on managers”
He didn’t like my response!!!
Slammer!!!

quote:

---

Originally posted by slammer

You nailed it Owen!!! Having worked in the medical profession for 40 yrs the one thing I realized is……….you can never have too many managers, supervisors and coordinators!!! LMAO!!!
I remember years ago I almost lost my job for being a wise arse . When my supervisor asked me why patient exams were taking so long and getting behind in schedule, I told him “we’re just too short on managers”
He didn’t like my response!!!
Slammer!!!

---

Dale ..... regardless of what surveys and "lists of best" say, I contend we have the best medical care in the world ...... because of one thing (really several)   ...basically our doctors, nurses (and their support personnel, technicians, etc.) and medical facilities.  I am so grateful for the dedicated men and women in these professions whom I don't think are not paid nearly enough.  I would not trade places with any of them for twice the salary.  Our system, where the costs are outrageous, because of too many reasons to discuss here, is the problem ...... as you noted as one aspect of it.

Ya…unfortunately that’s the reason why I don’t use the VA health care that I am allowed. I stick with my railroad healthcare, even though it cost more.

I’d die of a cold waiting to get in and see a VA doc.

Sorry that they’re jerking you around Johnny! What do you really need to hear other than those notes bouncing off the front of that resonator anyways!?

Joke.

Good luck buddy….I’ll be there one day.

Slammer: "He didn't like my response!!!"

Ya, some guys in positions of "leadership" (?) have a sense of humor [cough, hack, cough] even their mothers can't appreciate.

After some sort of divisional teachers' Christmas get together, "we" retired to the pub.  The divisional superintendent put in an appearance and was circulating and exchanging pleasantries.  At our table he made some comment about being "... ready for the Christmas break."  I wise-cracked that I was ready by the end of September.   From that point on, as far as he was concerned, my name was mud .... though thankfully my principal, vice-principal,  and co-workers  apparently held my work ... and my sense of humor (?) .... in high enough regard.

[Fwiw, he was a significant factor in my decision to "move on" a couple of years later, but I ain't complaining ... at my next job I met the lady who became my lovely and talented assistant.  I guess it's, how you say??? ... all's well that ends well.    ]

.... and now back to regular programming... 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Texican65

Ya…unfortunately that’s the reason why I don’t use the VA health care that I am allowed. I stick with my railroad healthcare, even though it cost more.

I’d die of a cold waiting to get in and see a VA doc.

Sorry that they’re jerking you around Johnny! What do you really need to hear other than those notes bouncing off the front of that resonator anyways!?

Joke.

Good luck buddy….I’ll be there one day.

---

Dow .... I have been eligible for many many years, but have not used it because I always felt I was taking someone's spot that really needed it.  I could afford to not use it, but at some point I said to myself "since the military was largely responsible for my hearing loss, go ahead and let them ante up".  I'm not really upset, but more disappointed, as according to the lady from the hearing center it is a matter of the VA not providng the proper paper work to order the hearing aids ....... basically six months for clerical work.  That's bad!

Well…that’s the right attitude John. Guys like you and I, are aware that there are men way more disabled than us…and who need the real attention and priority. We are honest and legit vets that have worked hard and have put in for any and everything we’ve ever taken out.

Unfortunately today, there are so many scammers that take advantage big time of disability ratings and the VA programs. I’ve witnessed so many cases of it that it is repulsing. Young, able bodied men trying to get a handout for life, ahead of the guys with no arms or missing a leg….or real PTSD. It really bothers me. But….i can’t do anything about it.

I posed a couple of questions to my AI chatbot.

The first question was: How many doctors in the US are self-employed, and how many are employed by corporate health care systems?

The answer was: 18% are self-employed, and 82% are employed by corporate health systems.

The second question was: In 1965, how many doctors in the US were self-employed, and how many were employed by corporate health care systems?

The answer was: 80-85% were self-employed, and less than 10% were employed by corporate healthcare systems.

What do you suppose is responsible for this drastic change?

Well…the AI chatbot would know best…

But I suppose that we don’t need something without a brain or a soul to give us the answer.

Gotta be money.

Probably cost a lot financially go to school to become a doctor today….and a mom and pop private practice isn’t going to pay or earn as much as working for a large corporation will.

Probably cost big bucks to start a practice and get it established and up and going, and time to build up a clientele, and start bringing in $$$ to pay for med school. Very few people today have time or the means for that.

In 1965, folks could work hard, and although people were paid much less, the money was worth more, and went much further, and things were much more affordable. A guy could actually earn money and save up to buy things that were affordable then. That's not so today. Most people are working their soul away today just to barely scrape by to buy a house or an apartment, with no money going into savings. 

So…like everything else in the world….the answer would be “money”, I would imagine.

I've received great care from my VA including brain surgery at Brigham and Women's.
Every once in a while when involving 2 or more "outside" hospitals communications can get interrupted until the right doctor steps in and talks to the right people.

The main reason for more corporate physicians vs. private physicians is the cost of malpractice insurance and benefits!!!
Slammer!!!

There is one thing about HA's I have learned. Having a second pair is a great idea. Fortunately my original pair still work well. Within 2 months of getting my new units I had to drive back to Costco twice. The last time it was a broken sound tube and I was away on a short vacation. Fortunately I had brought the old units and they saved the day. They now sell unprescribed units at a fraction of the price. I don't know how good they are but they may be just enough to get you through the rest of your agonizing wait.

quote:

---

Originally posted by donc

There is one thing about HA's I have learned. Having a second pair is a great idea. Fortunately my original pair still work well. Within 2 months of getting my new units I had to drive back to Costco twice. The last time it was a broken sound tube and I was away on a short vacation. Fortunately I had brought the old units and they saved the day. They now sell unprescribed units at a fraction of the price. I don't know how good they are but they may be just enough to get you through the rest of your agonizing wait.

---

The Costco pair that I now use are doing fine and I plan on using them as my back-ups.  My new pair will be rechargable so I will be glad that I no long will have to change batteries.  I am really curious as to how much difference my old HAs and new ones are.  I may be wrong but guessing the HAs themselves may not be that much difference but that the person dialing them in may make a difference.  I had always heard, and think it is pretty much true, that the Costco experience just depends on how good your audiologist is.  I'm not sure how well trained they are, but the VA Community Care facility I am going to hall all audiologists who are doctors (Au.d.).   Maybe it well make a difference.

PS:  I got a call the other day and said my HAs had come in, so I will get them sooner than my last scheduled appointment!

Don: "They now sell unprescribed units at a fraction of the price."

Is "They" Costco or other retailers/outlets?   Merci.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Owen

Don: "They now sell unprescribed units at a fraction of the price."

Is "They" Costco or other retailers/outlets?   Merci.

---

Owen ...... Don will probably speak up, but I think "they" is not referring specifically to Costso, unless I have missed something in the last few weeks.  I go there a lot and have not noticed anything except the HAs that they have always offered ...... about four different makes or models.

I had an audiologist assessment today and the ENT doc pointed out that my hearing is worse than I'd thought  .... so .... ????

quote:

---

Originally posted by Owen

Don: "They now sell unprescribed units at a fraction of the price."

Is "They" Costco or other retailers/outlets?   Merci.

---

I don't believe Costco sells them. I've seen them on several sites but I can't remeber seeing them in any local stores, but then again I havn't made any real inquiries..     https://www.google.com/search?q=non+prescribed+hearing+aids&sca_esv=25a6268efdf1b99b&sxsrf=ANbL-n5Y5fooRePPh9E_Cwgq0EUkrbPKGg%3A1779486212466&source=hp&ei=BM4QaqqJGbbC0PEP7eDxoAk&iflsig=AFdpzrgAAAAAahDcFMBROIbhdKqwjSSpDZHVEfnHu4wz&oq=unprescribed+hearing+&gs_lp=Egdnd3Mtd2l6IhV1bnByZXNjcmliZWQgaGVhcmluZyAqAggAMgcQABiABBgNMgsQABiABBiKBRiGAzILEAAYgAQYigUYhgMyCxAAGIAEGIoFGIYDMgsQABiABBiKBRiGAzIIEAAYgAQYogQyBRAAGO8FMgUQABjvBTIFEAAY7wVIuWtQ8x9Yu1ZwAXgAkAEAmAGgAaAB9Q6qAQQxMy44uAEByAEA-AEBmAIWoALYD6gCCsICDRAuGMcBGK8BGOoCGCfCAgcQIxjqAhgnwgINECMYyQIY8AUY6gIYJ8ICFhAjGO0FGJ0GGPoFGIIGGIMGGOoCGCfCAgQQIxgnwgIKECMY8AUYyQIYJ8ICCxAAGIAEGLEDGIMBwgIQEAAYgAQYigUYQxixAxiDAcICCBAuGIAEGLEDwgIOEC4YgAQYigUYsQMYgwHCAhEQLhiABBixAxiDARjHARjRA8ICChAAGIAEGIoFGEPCAhMQLhiABBiKBRhDGLEDGMcBGNEDwgITEAAYgAQYigUYkQIYsQMY-QEYRsICDRAAGIAEGIoFGEMYsQPCAgoQLhiABBiKBRhDwgIFEAAYgATCAggQABiABBixA8ICBRAuGIAEwgIHEAAYgAQYCsICDBAAGIAEGAoYCxixA8ICCRAAGIAEGAoYC8ICCRAuGIAEGAoYC8ICBhAAGBYYHsICCBAAGBYYHhgKwgIFECEYoAGYAwXxBVcBg92_hzs8kgcEMTQuOKAHzKABsgcEMTMuOLgH0w_CBwYxLjguMTPIB0OACAE&sclient=gws-wizhttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com

quote:

---

Originally posted by donc

quote:

---

Originally posted by Owen

Don: "They now sell unprescribed units at a fraction of the price."

Is "They" Costco or other retailers/outlets?   Merci.

---

I don't believe Costco sells them. I've seen them on several sites but I can't remeber seeing them in any local stores, but then again I havn't made any real inquiries..     https://www.google.com/search?q=non+prescribed+hearing+aids&sca_esv=25a6268efdf1b99b&sxsrf=ANbL-n5Y5fooRePPh9E_Cwgq0EUkrbPKGg%3A1779486212466&source=hp&ei=BM4QaqqJGbbC0PEP7eDxoAk&iflsig=AFdpzrgAAAAAahDcFMBROIbhdKqwjSSpDZHVEfnHu4wz&oq=unprescribed+hearing+&gs_lp=Egdnd3Mtd2l6IhV1bnByZXNjcmliZWQgaGVhcmluZyAqAggAMgcQABiABBgNMgsQABiABBiKBRiGAzILEAAYgAQYigUYhgMyCxAAGIAEGIoFGIYDMgsQABiABBiKBRiGAzIIEAAYgAQYogQyBRAAGO8FMgUQABjvBTIFEAAY7wVIuWtQ8x9Yu1ZwAXgAkAEAmAGgAaAB9Q6qAQQxMy44uAEByAEA-AEBmAIWoALYD6gCCsICDRAuGMcBGK8BGOoCGCfCAgcQIxjqAhgnwgINECMYyQIY8AUY6gIYJ8ICFhAjGO0FGJ0GGPoFGIIGGIMGGOoCGCfCAgQQIxgnwgIKECMY8AUYyQIYJ8ICCxAAGIAEGLEDGIMBwgIQEAAYgAQYigUYQxixAxiDAcICCBAuGIAEGLEDwgIOEC4YgAQYigUYsQMYgwHCAhEQLhiABBixAxiDARjHARjRA8ICChAAGIAEGIoFGEPCAhMQLhiABBiKBRhDGLEDGMcBGNEDwgITEAAYgAQYigUYkQIYsQMY-QEYRsICDRAAGIAEGIoFGEMYsQPCAgoQLhiABBiKBRhDwgIFEAAYgATCAggQABiABBixA8ICBRAuGIAEwgIHEAAYgAQYCsICDBAAGIAEGAoYCxixA8ICCRAAGIAEGAoYC8ICCRAuGIAEGAoYC8ICBhAAGBYYHsICCBAAGBYYHhgKwgIFECEYoAGYAwXxBVcBg92_hzs8kgcEMTQuOKAHzKABsgcEMTMuOLgH0w_CBwYxLjguMTPIB0OACAE&sclient=gws-wizhttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com

---

Yeah ....... you wonder how well they really work.

Thanks Don.... that's kinds the stuff I was wondering about.   

A signficant part of their [collective] promotion seems to fall into the "if it's too good to be true.... " category, IMNSHumbleO.  It seems to me maybe I gotta spend more time in the coffee shops to get some "real world" (?) feedback. 

A quick summary of the  ENT doc's insights:

a) was fairly non-commital (?) about the ^^ online ones. 

b) was surprised that the bricks-and-mortar stores hadn't "offered" to sell me some [i.e. "They have no qualms about asking you for money."

c) seemed to lean toward Costco [figured I could get a pair that would do the trick for a couple of Gs] .... their 3-month trial period being a significant factor in his mind.

d)  but, he figured I could manage adequately so long as people got my attention before starting to talk and I was able to see their face/mouth.

Costco makes it clear that they only deal with light or medium loss of hearing. Most of the people with hearing problems are in this group. They won't deal with someone with only 1 functioning ear. The Costco people are not graduates of a medical school. If your hearing is complicated you need an otolaryngologist . My honest opinion is that Costco is good enough for most people. 12 years ago I went to a local clinic and paid $60 for a normal hearing test. After the test they told me I urgently needed one of their units [$ 4500 to $6500]. For the next week I was getting high pressure phone calls and similar emails. I finally got a Phonak [pair] from Costco for $2400. 11 years later their prices went down to $2100 for all 4 models they sell. When I have a technical problem I take it to the store and the kid behind the counter fixes it quick and easy for no charge. If I need parts like the rubber domes or wax filters they are free. Even after 8 years they did a hearing test and charged me nothing to increase the volume range by about 50%. Last year I choose the the Rexton Reach because I liked the app which allowed me to adjust volume, equalization,  plus a couple of other toys which don't seem to make a lot of difference.