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MRI Wait times: Ontario, Canada.

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jw:
I just found some statistics on MRI WAIT TIMES for Ontario, Canada.  The full information is at:

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/transformation/wait_times/wt_data/wt_service/wt_service_mri.html#1

The report covers 2003-2004 period.  The median wait for an MRI in Ontario during this period was 22 weeks.
The best time was "South-East" covering Belleville to Ottawa and it was 3 weeks.   My area is 9 weeks.  Toronto has a
7 week wait.  The worst is North-West with 52 weeks.

The wait time should be less now, but that's still a LONG time!

I gather that waiting times in the US are generally much shorter than they are here in the GWN! (Great White North)

John

lthompson:
That wait time is "insane".  Why does it take so long to schedule an MRI in Canada?  My insurance company and I believe most insurance companies in the US now require an authorization number given by your insurance company to have an MRI.  My experience has been usually 3 to 5 business days from the time my doctor requests the MRI to actually receiving the authorization number from my insurance company to have the MRI.  It only takes that long because the insurance company requests new documentation from my doctor about why he is requesting this MRI even though it is told to them that is my yearly MRI to follow up on the status of my AN.  Honestly, I don't think it should even take that long.  Also the facility I always use allows you to make an appointment to have an MRI without having the number yet.  This is important because some facilities do not even allow to make the appointment until you actually give them the authorization number.  Thankfully mine does not.  I can usually get an appointment in a couple of days and if it was a real emergency I am positive I could actually go that day or the latest the next day.  The report is generated within 24 hours and is available to be picked up after that.  I couldn't even imagine having to wait that long.  It really is a shame.   

wanderer:
Welcome to socialized medicine.

Medicine may be expensive in the US but you can access the latest and greatest as long as you have money or insurance.     That is not the case in the rest of the world.

jw:

--- Quote from: wanderer on October 14, 2005, 06:28:27 pm ---Welcome to socialized medicine
--- End quote ---

Quite so.  There are positive aspects of each.  On your side, you have rapid access to medical treatment.  However, on my side, I don't have to deal with insurance companies.  If I were to need surgery, the entire cost of everthing is covered under the government medical plan.  Tests, treatment, hospital stay, etc.  You never see a bill so you never know what it costs.  And, the homeless person found on the street doesn't have to worry about medical coverage, either.  If you are unemployed, you don't have to worry about medical insurance, and no matter what hospital you go in to, you're covered.  We have a health card that's better than any credit card!

But, each side has positive aspects and negative aspects.  I like our health care system because I am familiar with it.  I realize the problems, though, and the long wait for treatment is a very real problem.  Funding for hospitals has been cut, services are reduced and there's not a lot you can do about that.  With your plan, you have more say into what goes on.  Neither one is perfect, each one is better and worse in different areas.

Perhaps it's also a "Canadian" thing.  We're more likely to say "Well, glad my MRI wait time is only 3 weeks.  It could have been 52!", rather than get that 3-week wait down to same-day testing.  We're wussy up here!  I think it's the snow.

calimama:
I had MRI about 2.5 weeks after I met with the ENT. Both in Toronto (TWH and PMH). i could have had sooner, but it would have been at 12:45am and we had guests in town that night (and i have 1 year old baby). I was told i had to book apt between 11Pm-7am. This is tough with a babe, but totally doable. Sorry to hear of others having to wait so long. Obviously my MRI results were bad! (2.5x2.9). Meeting with surgeon in early April (this seems like a long wait ...6weeks... following such a diagnosis). Will also check out GK at TWH. I am leaning towards the latter. I am 39.

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