Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Private Medicine, Calgary style

Where the Alberta Advantage includes paying extra for clean medical equipment.

No, really.
The body that regulates doctors in Alberta has ordered a Calgary clinic to stop charging patients for sterilized medical instruments.

In March, the Richmond Square Medical Centre implemented a fee of $5 for fewer than five sterile instruments and $10 for five or more that are used on patients during their visits. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta ordered the practice stopped after inquiries by CBC News.

"Having sterile instruments is such a fundamental need in health care that I'm surprised. What are they going to be doing, charging us for cleaning rooms?" patient Kathie Booth said Tuesday.

UPDATE: So they got rid of the sterilized instruments fee...by renaming it a 'tray fee'.

As my friend Matt put it, what the debate about healthcare in Alberta really needs is more torch wielding mobs.
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Posted by Cliff at 10:01 p.m.
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1 comment:

Alison said...

Would you like me to wash my hands first? Coz that'll be another $5.
Thanks.
Ok - the speculum. Barely used. Do you want it sterilized first or should I just wipe it on my pants first? Yeah - $5. Thanks.

Apr 29, 2009, 2:49:00 a.m.

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