Discussions

Please please don’t stop these even with restrictions being removed.  
 
These are the best thing that has happened in medical care etc.  
 
If you just need pres:cription renewals over the phone is super why have to drive to dr office sit in a crowded waiting room being exposed to who Knows what. Then go in and 3 mins later come out with renewals. And many other examples test results that say everything is normal good bye.  
 
Especially in winter it is hard to get to appointments and if you are me you make an appointment and that will be the day a Alberta clipper happens.  
 
Many of us live far from doctor and have to take a whole day off for a 5 minute appointment.  
 
Then there are things like banking , counseling etc that are in fact easier to handle on phone.  
 
I find you get down to the purpose faster without all that polite chatter.  
 
Please please leave the ability to have these virtual and phone appointments in place.  
 
 
And please keep in place the no need for a doctor note when some is sick for a day. If they are too sick for work then they shouldn’t be out spreading their germs going to walk in. I agree if someone abuses system dr notes needed.  
 
Some bigger employers have implemented a virtual dr site you go to answer questions and they will tell you if you can go to work or not. Plus tell you to go to dr as well if needed. Of course if someone abuses system termination is a possibility.

Did you know that during the pandemic it has been widely stated your employer shouldn't be forcing you to get a doctors note to reduce strain on the already swamped health care system?  
 
As quoted from a link I will also share:  
 
"5. Do I need to get a medical note to support my need for time off work because of COVID-19?  
• To reduce strain on our health care system, employers cannot request a note from a doctor, nurse or other health professional to verify an employee’s eligibility to take leave for reasons related to COVID-19. However, employers can request reasonable verification of the need for the leave. For more information, contact Manitoba Employment Standards at www.manitoba.ca/labour/standards."  
 
http://www.manitobahumanrights.ca/v1/education-resources/resources/pubs/fact-sheets/covid19factsheet.pdf  
 
Now even if you don't have COVID but are displaying symptoms and are following the public health orders, I think that would still apply to the above in my opinion.  
Know you rights. You don't have to give your employer anything.

Now to add to this. I do agree that virtual appointments can be good for some things, but not all things and sometimes it's getting harder and harder to see a doctor in person when you actually need to.  
 
People shouldn't have to beg and plead to see their family doctor in person to be properly diagnosed for illness if they can prove they are not sick with COVID.  
 
I'm failing to see how a doctor can safely diagnose someone over and phone and say "yup you have this so I'm going to prescribe you this, what pharmacy do you use?"  
 
I'm sorry, what? You want to give me drugs without actually taking any vitals, listening to my chest, seeing inside my mouth and I'm just supposed to trust that and and say ok?  
 
Pres:cription refills are one thing.... but doctors should not be able to use this pandemic as a reason to provide half-asses health care and expect their patient to just be ok or to not be back a few days later because they were prescribed something that didn't work and it made them worse.  
 
Just my two cents as someone who has has rarely been able to see a doctor in person through all this.

A majority of the time physicians do not need vital signs or a physical exam to make a diagnosis that is as accurate as an in-person visit. Certainly those things are required in some circumstances but seeing a person virtually is often more than enough...  
 
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7745926/  
 
There's a company doing this in Manitoba that you can try out anytime for free  
 
https://qdoc.ca/  
 
If they need an in-person assessment then they will arrange for one

For me, it has actually happened a few times where my doctor has tried to play the guessing game based on symptoms I have told him over the phone. I tell him my symptoms and he has said well I think it's one of these three things let's trying this. I have actually refused to accept him writing me any type of pres:cription unless he could be more certain. Not sure about anyone else but I don't like taking chances and playing guessing games with my health.  
 
Last time I trusted that process, it took 4 rounds of different types of meds to find one that didn't make me worse or give me atrocious side effects.  
 
So from my opinion I don't think doctors should be allowed to diagnose someone over a phone. Dealing with everything else makes things easier for sure.  
 
Again my opinion from my own personal experiences.  
 
Each to their own on this one I guess.

I had covid in early January. Bad sore throat for 3 days out of the five along with fever, then woke up on the 6th day and was fine. Sore throat gone and fever gone that morning. Was somewhat better for a couple days, then something started up again. Fever between 100 to 101, sometimes to 102, tired, couldn't sleep at night, no desire to eat, etc. I was losing a pound a day.  
After about 7 days of that I called my Dr's office and asked to see my, or any Doctor for that matter, something was wrong and I was over Covid. Nope, had to wait 14 days after my test date plus five more before I could go to walk-in. So I sat in my chair for another 7 days, and went in Monday morning to the walk-in. Standard questions like "do you have a fever"? Yes, say I, but I had covid which broke 15 days ago...this isn't covid. The receptionist said I had to be home quarantining. She had a nurse come out to see me. She offered a virtual appointment, my wife was having nothing of that as we had traveled a half hour and would have to do it all over again if there was a pres:cription. OK, she would let me see the doctor.  
 
Within 5 minutes the doctor figured out what it likely was, gave me a pres:cription of antibiotic, and sent me upstairs for tests. Next day I got a call confirming pneumonia in both lungs. 3 or 4 days later the fever broke and a week or so later I had the strength to drag my ass back into work. I am still exhausted easily.  
Would a virtual appointment have worked for me? Much better would be if they had informed me there was a temporary clinic at the hospital that takes those with covid or post covid by appointment. It seems to be the best kept secret in town.  
There is a time and place for virtual or phone appointments, and best done with your regular doctor who knows you. But there is also a time and place for in person appointments. Problem is, we aren't doctors so hard for us to make the best choice sometimes.  
 
Edited by cmp, 2022-02-17 20:08:22

I love having virtual appointments and hope they stay.  
 
At least 50% of the appointments I attend in-person before Covid could easily be taken care of by phone. Not everything can be done virtually, but to check in on meds? To talk to a specialist in Winnipeg to set up a treatment or diagnostic plan (that one is the best, saves me a whole day)? To discuss test results? Multiply that by myself x 5 kids, and it has saved me SO MUCH TIME!!

Yes during pandemic which Canada is moving to deal with as any illnesses.  
 
Requirements for sick notes may revert back.  
 
I am just saying let’s keep it flexible for sick notes. The occasional sick day someone takes is very different from someone abusing sick time and there are people who do. They are the reason for employers doubting employees when they phone in sick.

We’ve used virtual appointments through our local clinic and have found them to be great for certain kinds of appointments. Agree that I hope it stays as an option.  
 
Also just got a text promoting Telus’ virtual health care, so looks like they’re offering it in Manitoba now.