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Ontario Health Care System: A Case Study

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Ontario Health Care System: A Case Study
Ontario’s population is rapidly increasing and aging, while severe diseases and health issues are on the rise. This issue continues to increase as our population ages. There are several reasons why the Ontario health care system is short coming and needs such a large improvement: there is a limited amount of physicians available, waiting times for medical attention are immense, and Ontario’s budget for health care has experienced major cutbacks. This is part of a growing problem specifically in Ontario. Citizens are not receiving the value they deserve from the health care system, and it cannot continue down this path.
To begin, there is a constant struggle due to the limited number of doctors in Ontario. Furthermore, without enough physicians
…show more content…
Some are waiting years for transplants, and rare surgical procedures. Those in need are offered the option to go to United States of America (and pay), or choose to wait. As stated by C. Johnnston “The situation still rankles, how-ever. Lack of action to reduce waiting lists in Canada means those who can afford it will be able to go the US for surgery, while those who can 't will have to wait in pain until their name reaches the top of the waiting list” (1996). As shown by Johnston, this ongoing issue has been leaving people with an option they cannot afford, or a painful wait, and has been an ongoing issue for many years. There are as well intolerable wait times to be admitted into emergency clinics, and doctors’ offices that house urgent care clinics, treatment facilities, and family offices. In addition, wait times are anywhere from 1 to 4 weeks for appointments if you have a doctor, and 5 hours to 12 hours or more when in the emergency department. “There is increasing concern in Canada regarding growing pressures on emergency room care. Frequent media reports call attention to overcrowding, lengthy waiting times and the re-routing of ambulances due to the closure of emergency rooms during periods of overcrowding” (Katie Wellstood, Kathi Wilson, John Eyles , 2005). In other words, the issue of over populated wait rooms, and long wait times …show more content…
Wilson, Kathi (2008). I spent 9 years looking for a doctor”: Exploring access to health care among immigrants in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Volume 66, Issue 6. 1271-1283 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18194831

Campbell,Pat. (2013) Ontario Budget Avoids Key Actions Necessary To Sustain Ontario 's Health Care System. http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1157707/ontario-budget-avoids-key-actions-necessary-to-sustain-ontario-s-health-care-system

Johnston,C. (1996). US ad uses lure of prompt treatment to entice Canadians needing joint replacement. 1071–1072. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1487577/
Randall, E Crooks V. Goldsmith, L. (2012). In search of attachment: a qualitative study of chronically ill women transitioning between family physicians in rural Ontario, Canada. http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2296/13/125
Weir, Doug (2012). Physician shortage in the U.S threatens physician supply in Ontario. https://www.oma.org/Mediaroom/PressReleases/Pages/PhysicianShortageintheUS.aspx

Wellstood, Katie. Wilson, Kathi. Eyles, John (2005). Unless you went in with your head under your arm.

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