Hacking the system: Making health care work for you
Share your stories and tell us how you got the care you needed
Word-of-mouth
I don't have a GP, but I still make the health-care system work for me. Through word-of-mouth, I found a great specialist who I trust. When I see him for appointments, I tell him about other health problems I'm experiencing, even if they fall outside his field of expertise. Then he refers me to the appropriate specialist — all without needing a GP.
- Myles Charon
Devise a strategy
I did some basic networking, and calling all those doctors, but of course nobody was accepting patients. I'm actually invited every year to this party that a friend of my husband's throws at Christmas time, and usually there are doctors there... At this particular party that year, not having a GP, I told my husband before I went in, "I'm gonna find myself a doctor at this party." As the night wore on people were in better moods and cheery, and I sort of sidled up to this guy who was somewhat older and looked wealthy, and I said "Are you a doctor?" And he said, yes, he was. And he was a family doctor, which was quite amazing. He was in a good mood by the end of the evening which helped, and he agreed to take me on.
- Stacey Tenenbaum
Family connections
I did not have GP for many years until I met my husband. I was lucky enough that my now GP accepts to see spouses. He does not however accept new patient nor current patient family members. Only direct family members.
- Anna, Laval
Catch 22
I have a doctor because I am a university student. But I lose the doctor as soon as I stop taking courses (my doctor has no practice outside of the university's clinic). I went to the CLSC to get my name on a waiting list for a family doctor, but, since I already had a doctor registered for me with the government, I can't get on the list. What am I supposed to do? When I finish school, I have no doctor and then I have to wait for a year or more to get a doctor via the waiting list? This is ridiculous. The so-called waiting list is operated by a computer (or a person who acts like a computer). All university students are subject to the same ridiculous system. You should be able to go on a waiting list while you are a university student using a clinic's doctors so when you graduate you might have a doctor .Or do I have to go to university for the rest of my life to keep having a doctor?!
-Walter, Montreal
In a bind
Please tell me, who is going to take care of me? Who is willing to commit to being my Primary Physician (as is required by law in order for me to have the prescribed meds?)? Who?? I haven't found a GP that is willing to take me on as a patient, to give me the medical care that I need, and yet I have a 9 page detailed report, with one full page page detailing the meds and dosage to be (prescribed).
So tell me, since I have no GP, since walk in clinics refuse to treat me, what am I supposed to do???
- Kara, Montreal
Social media
A whole gang of us found our GP on Facebook. One person shared the news and about a dozen of us signed on.
- Peter Taylor, Montreal