Finding a Family Doctor in Canada is tough. I have never really had to try that hard to find one, until now that is. Growing up, my Dad always had some sort of business relationship with every doctor in the vicinity, so we never had problems finding one. But then I left the nest at 15, and it was challenging, but my school had a doctor (although, not the best) who I could see before school or in the evenings. Then I went to University, and I had the University Clinic, and then when I changed schools, and a clinic 300m from my house had just hired a new doctor. So far, things have worked out for me, which is really great because you know, the whole chronic pain thing tends to require doctoring.
But, now that I am going to school in a "northern" community, and in Canada north = nobody wants to live in places that are freezing cold. So naturally, well educated people who can practice anywhere in the country, don't generally choose northern or rural communities. (Hence the formation of my school...). But, in any event, I am having a lot of trouble finding a doctor, especially because I am an out of province student. Being out of province shouldn't matter, given the whole Canada Health Act thingy, but it seems to pose barriers to accessing health care for me in Ontario (another problem to add to problems with the health system/health practices notebook I have been keeping since the 11th grade).
So in conclusion, the doctor shortage is really affecting me. And to add to another problem, because the community I am studying in only has a population of 110,000, pretty much all of the doctors in the City will be my professors and instructors in the very immediate future.
It is very strange all of a sudden switching from just being the patient, to being the provider (a very green and IdontKnowAnythingAtAll provider), but still being the patient at the same time. I feel like I am stuck in the middle!!!!
I never thought about my situation as being both a patient and a physician at the same time, and it is stressing me out.
But, now that I am going to school in a "northern" community, and in Canada north = nobody wants to live in places that are freezing cold. So naturally, well educated people who can practice anywhere in the country, don't generally choose northern or rural communities. (Hence the formation of my school...). But, in any event, I am having a lot of trouble finding a doctor, especially because I am an out of province student. Being out of province shouldn't matter, given the whole Canada Health Act thingy, but it seems to pose barriers to accessing health care for me in Ontario (another problem to add to problems with the health system/health practices notebook I have been keeping since the 11th grade).
So in conclusion, the doctor shortage is really affecting me. And to add to another problem, because the community I am studying in only has a population of 110,000, pretty much all of the doctors in the City will be my professors and instructors in the very immediate future.
It is very strange all of a sudden switching from just being the patient, to being the provider (a very green and IdontKnowAnythingAtAll provider), but still being the patient at the same time. I feel like I am stuck in the middle!!!!
I never thought about my situation as being both a patient and a physician at the same time, and it is stressing me out.
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