Alberta Heath Care - Doctors and Pharmacists issues

[rknight111]

So I am on some meds after having a stoke in November. I had my drugs which some are critical that I must take for life. I had 8 pills left but had an hospital appointment with a head nurse, so I thought she would renew. Get to hospital for review of swallowing and nurse is on holidays so she cant renew prescription or authorize removal of my chest feeding tube that I haven't used in over 24 days or get me a second prescription. So I go home and try to call the doctors clinic, main number has automated message, to busy to answer phone. When Im there the phone rings they don't even look at it anymore, typical of our new do nothing part of this generation. So it goes to leave a message for your doctor assistant, so through the menu, left a message, did this four times so far each day, Nothing. Phoned the pharmacy she was better and was going to give me one month of crucial meds less gabapentin as that is controlled. She sent a fax to there office where it was returned DO NOT prescribe any drugs to our patient he must come in for renewals. Probably someone sitting at a desk. So pharmacist says she cannot help me. Had to book on line and first appointment is on May 6 in afternoon. So for the meantime do I hold let all meds expire in my system and pray that I have no issues and nerve pain doesn't drive me to crazy. Nope, I called my mom who has some of one drug just 30 mg and mine is 10 so I can cut in half then my fried that has MS has the stomach drug ad gabapentin that he will lend me so im covered but what about other people what do they do. I learned a few things, get more drugs, get 2 month supply next time, well demand which I will. Also I know why I don't like going to hospital for outpatient services, well where do you park these days. Thank god for the shopping mall 3 blocks away. That's my rant for the week.

 

[snopro]

Ron we all know it’s hard to get into see a doctor in a reasonable time these days. If I leave my meds renewal to long and can’t get an appt with my Dr before I run out my pharmacist has no issues giving me enough to get me to that appt. Your meds appear to be far more important that what I take. Now that you have an appt will your pharmacist not reconsider? I don’t think you should leave it. Maybe call your clinic and see if you can go in early and wait to see an on call doctor? I did that with my wrist and waited an hour and was in.

 

[rknight111]

Ron we all know it’s hard to get into see a doctor in a reasonable time these days. If I leave my meds renewal to long and can’t get an appt with my Dr before I run out my pharmacist has no issues giving me enough to get me to that appt. Your meds appear to be far more important that what I take. Now that you have an appt will your pharmacist not reconsider? I don’t think you should leave it. Maybe call your clinic and see if you can go in early and wait to see an on call doctor? I did that with my wrist and waited an hour and was in.

You cant get ahold of the clinic, the three front office staff are too lazy to answer the phone as they know its too much work once they answer it. The clinic is appears to be a center for new immigrants, I think the medical system is overwhelmed with all this recent immigration and people coming to Alberta. Someone has to pay and its the locals I guess, I gather for as long as we are seen that way. Talked to pharmacist and she said no as the clinic said I can wait. I put a complaint in to AHS today as well but that goes nowhere. I am seeing a malpractice/medical injury lawyer next month as they wanted to wait to see how my heath was after AHS did not have TPA at 2 hospitals and in ambulance, but I cant discuss this., this gives me more drive to complete this. I don't want to make this thread into an immigration issue thread, but we do have big issues here.

 

[snopro]

I’d go down to the clinic and wait till they process you. Who answers the bell if you get really sick again without your meds?. A friend of mine that works in the AHS system told me you have to be your own health advocate with AHS or you will be lost in the system. The squeaky wheel gets the grease most times.

 

[rknight111]

I’d go down to the clinic and wait till they process you. Who answers the bell if you get really sick again without your meds?. A friend of mine that works in the AHS system told me you have to be your own health advocate with AHS or you will be lost in the system. The squeaky wheel gets the grease most times.

I got enough to cover me with friends and family and both the pharmacist and clinic are aware of this. From this point I can find a new pharmacy but not a doctor. So I will move to a smaller independent pharmacy as I'm kind of sick of Shoppers Drug Mart and there pharmacy. Any one been to ALI's Drug Mart in spruce grove?

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[snopro]

The local independents are great compared to the big box stores. Both myself and my mom deal at independents while my wife deals at a Shoppers. I phoned all of them to email me our complete meds list purchased for the 2023 year for income tax purposes and the independents both did it over the phone. The Shoppers said that they wouldn’t and the wife would have to drive the 2 hrs round trip to pick hers up. The difference being the independents knew us and at the box store you are a number.

 

[mclean]

Only clinic that I found that I could get in was the one by the tri leisure centre and you have to be waiting in line before they open.

Other than that, see if you are eligible for westview pcn. It's an online service based out of Spruce that they call you on the phone or do video calls.

I had a similar problem when we moved up from Calgary. Love seeing our tax dollars at work. Really makes me warm and fuzzy.

 

[ABMax24]

The issue is three-fold, an increase in the number of patients doctors need to see, a loss of doctors to other jurisdictions, and our population is aging, which in itself necessitates more healthcare visits and a higher level of care to be provided by the healthcare system.

We've had a few of our local doctors and specialists pack up and move elsewhere, mostly to BC, because they were tired of 10 years of promises from 3 successive provincial governments of "we're going to fix healthcare".

AB saw its largest drop in physician registrations last quarter

Between the fourth quarter of 2022 and the first quarter of 2023, Alberta lost 275 physician registration, the largest decline since at least 2016.

albertaworker.ca

 

[Chump]

Our politicians have destroyed our health care. This is no surprise after the forced experiment. I cant believe bc still has mandates in effect, this has probably pushed alot of drs to alberta and we still have these shortages. Combine that with the mass immigration being forced down our throat, this is a recipe for disaster. Hang on people, we aren't at the bottom yet

 

[The big greasy]

Our politicians have destroyed our health care. This is no surprise after the forced experiment. I cant believe bc still has mandates in effect, this has probably pushed alot of drs to alberta and we still have these shortages. Combine that with the mass immigration being forced down our throat, this is a recipe for disaster. Hang on people, we aren't at the bottom yet

So it's slowly coming out that firing doctors and nurses a couple years ago wasn't such a great choice?

 

[niner]

Our family is going to have family doctor issues here soon. Our family doctor (husband and wife) packed up and there practice and moved to Florida to practice. Florida just banned all MRNA vaccines. Needless to say it will be hard to find another family doctor that we are on the same page with. Only get worse in Alberta trying to get good healthcare. Only advice is you have advocate for yourself to not get lost in the system.

 

[lilduke]

Our family is going to have family doctor issues here soon. Our family doctor (husband and wife) packed up and there practice and moved to Florida to practice. Florida just banned all MRNA vaccines. Needless to say it will be hard to find another family doctor that we are on the same page with. Only get worse in Alberta trying to get good healthcare. Only advice is you have advocate for yourself to not get lost in the system.

Maybe farmers in florida could use a few new barns.

 

[Mike270412]

I got enough to cover me with friends and family and both the pharmacist and clinic are aware of this. From this point I can find a new pharmacy but not a doctor. So I will move to a smaller independent pharmacy as I'm kind of sick of Shoppers Drug Mart and there pharmacy. Any one been to ALI's Drug Mart in spruce grove?

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From what I've heard of Ali's he would give you your meds.

 

[rknight111]

Only advice is you have advocate for yourself to not get lost in the system.

Yes, thats why I need to be a bit of a MacGyver even with prescriptions, and wont let the above happen to me. Originally they wanted me to go to the Glenrose for rehabilitation, they were going to book me in, Still no call for that. I proactively booked my own at Leading Edge Physio in Spruce Grove which has been way better than sitting in a classroom with 10-20 other individuals. It costs about $90 on my end $45 on benefits but more personal and its specific to my needs not a classroom. Sooner spend the money I saved not snowmobiling so next year I can enjoy. .

 

[crashidy]

Generally if you find a prescribing pharmacist they can re fill your meds even gabapentin if they know you and you have an ongoing history of being on it until your next appointment. Not all pharmacist are prescribers though. And it is their choice of they will do it.

Many nurse and doctor have left to BC. A 3rd year nurse in bc makes what a 10 year and up nurse in Alberta makes.

Ron make sure your friend and mother have a plan for their refills.
Having a good contact at your local pharmacy is key.

 

[snopro]

The new Capital Gains bill in the new budget will affect Doctors as well. They are extremely unhappy with this proposed legislation and are getting quite vocal about it.

 

[rknight111]

Generally if you find a prescribing pharmacist they can re fill your meds even gabapentin if they know you and you have an ongoing history of being on it until your next appointment. Not all pharmacist are prescribers though. And it is their choice of they will do it.

Many nurse and doctor have left to BC. A 3rd year nurse in bc makes what a 10 year and up nurse in Alberta makes.

Ron make sure your friend and mother have a plan for their refills.
Having a good contact at your local pharmacy is key.

The pharmacist originally indicated that she can give me everything but the Gabapentin because that is a controlled drug, but she will fax the doctors office as they usually reply quite fast and if they authorize it all they will give me the Gabapentin as well. The clinic kyboshed the entire prescription. Easier to get enough from my friend and family and replenish there supply and ill let the doctor know maybe they will look at there procedures a bit.

 

[crashidy]

Well as you indicated i would definitely put in a complaint. Pretty irresponsible to squash someones entire prescription with out a reassessment if that wasn't there plan. Gaba withdrawal and nerve pain wouldn't be great
It's things like this why ou ER fills up as well. Stop taking meds, develop problems, go to ER where a doc re prescribes. Completely inefficient.
Keep pushing.

 

[X-it]

To bad Mexico was not closer. Try BC, we never hired back our fired workers. The only ones getting their drugs on time here, is the addicts. Build back better ..ya right.

 

[rknight111]

To bad Mexico was not closer. Try BC, we never hired back our fired workers. The only ones getting their drugs on time here, is the addicts. Build back better ..ya right.

BC government is changing there ways a bit with there drug frenzy,
https://bc.ctvnews.ca/b-c-seeks-ban-on-public-drug-use-dialing-back-decriminalization-1.6863576