The Current recently ran a segment with Dr. Danielle Martin, talking about ways to improve Canadian healthcare. In particular, she emphasizes the importance of family doctors with a broad overall knowledge of patients’ health histories, and the importance of avoiding costly and damaging unnecessary tests and procedures.
It sounds like her book, Better Now: Six Big Ideas to Improve Health Care for All Canadians, would be well worth reading.
Author: Milan
In the spring of 2005, I graduated from the University of British Columbia with a degree in International Relations and a general focus in the area of environmental politics. In the fall of 2005, I began reading for an M.Phil in IR at Wadham College, Oxford.
Outside school, I am very interested in photography, writing, and the outdoors. I am writing this blog to keep in touch with friends and family around the world, provide a more personal view of graduate student life in Oxford, and pass on some lessons I've learned here.
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I agree with her assessment. I think that the medical clinics play a large role in the extensive use of expensive tests. Patients feel better when they think that they will get a more accurate diagnosis. The doctor protects herself/himself and the costs run high. We are still so far away from practicing early prevention and natural healthcare.
We have a challenge ahead. It is not the lack of expenditure but how we spend that would need change. Also we can also do more to prevent illness. Simply walking regularly would do so much for improving mental and physical health.
More nurse practitioners would also be helpful.