5 Ways to Support Your Local Healthcare System
If you’re struggling to find a family doctor in this province, keep trying. It may be frustrating but having a primary care physician can greatly benefit your health in the long run. By seeing a family doctor on a regular basis, you can proactively manage any potential health issues before they become emergencies.
It’s important to remember that if you’re feeling sick, it’s best to stay home and limit your contact with others. If you absolutely must leave your house, make sure to wear a mask to protect others from potentially catching your illness. If you know someone who is sick, try to help them out, so they don’t have to go out and potentially spread their illness to others.
When it comes to seeking medical attention, it’s important to remember that the emergency room should only be used for true emergencies. For example, if you’re experiencing chest pain or difficulty breathing, you should go to the ER. However, it’s best to make an appointment with your family doctor or visit a walk-in clinic for other issues. While the lines at these facilities may be long and the hours may not be convenient, it’s important to remember that this is the healthcare system we currently have in place.
In the long term, you can take steps to improve this province’s healthcare system. One of the most impactful things you can do is to vote and lobby your local politicians to prioritize healthcare. This province’s challenges in retaining doctors, nurses and paramedics are often tied to funding issues. If healthcare professionals can make significantly more money in other provinces, they may choose to work elsewhere. It’s important to remember that the people working in healthcare are just that – people. They have families to support, goals outside of medicine, and dreams of retirement. By advocating for better compensation and working conditions, we can help to ensure that our healthcare system attracts and retains the best talent.
Another way you can support the healthcare system is by making healthy choices for yourself and encouraging those around you to do the same. This may seem like an obvious suggestion, but it’s not always easy to follow through on. By exercising and eating well, you can improve your own health and reduce the burden on the healthcare system. If you have children, it’s important to teach them the importance of taking care of their own health as well.
If you have a chronic illness and have been under the care of a physician, it’s important to be compliant with your treatment plan. Take your medication as prescribed, do any physiotherapy or exercises recommended, and make and keep your follow-up appointments. By following your treatment plan and getting regular check-ins with your doctor, you can help to manage your condition and prevent it from worsening.
In conclusion, there are both short-term and long-term actions you can take to support the healthcare system and improve your own health. By finding a family doctor, staying home when you’re sick, and using the emergency room only for true emergencies, you can help to reduce the burden on the healthcare system. In the long term, you can advocate for better funding and working conditions for healthcare professionals, make healthy choices, and be compliant with your treatment plan if you have a chronic illness. By working together, we can all play a role in supporting a strong and effective healthcare system.