Category Archives: Alberta Health Care

Leo Marks and the Indecipherables

Posted on April 10, 2011 by susanonthesoapbox

Sometimes I feel like Leo Marks, the 22 year old cryptographer who joined the Special Operations Executive in London to support Britain’s war effort.*   Marks was a gifted codemaker.  He became convinced that radio operators working in the Netherlands had … Continue reading →

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Politics and Government | Tagged | 4 Comments

Dr Y and the Art of Intimidation

Posted on April 3, 2011 by susanonthesoapbox

There are 6500 doctors practicing medicine in Alberta;  2000 of them refuse to participate in the Health Quality Council (HQC) review.  These are intelligent, dedicated professionals practicing in ER, internal medicine, paediatrics, anaesthesia, rural practice and addiction-rehabilitation medicine and they … Continue reading →

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Politics and Government | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Apples and Oranges

Posted on March 27, 2011 by susanonthesoapbox

The Premier was asked to investigate 330 cases of death or unnecessary suffering due to ER waits, 250 cancer deaths while on the surgical wait list and a culture of intimidation that prevents doctors from advocating on behalf of their … Continue reading →

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Does Your Doctor Drive A Ferarri?

Posted on March 19, 2011 by susanonthesoapbox

Last week the need for a public inquiry into the 322 ER cases and 250 deaths on the waiting list boiled over as doctors came forward with proof of the culture of intimidation that stifles patient advocacy.  But it’s not … Continue reading →

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Politics and Government | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

The King of the Moon

Posted on March 13, 2011 by susanonthesoapbox

Dr Raj Sherman is a passionate man.  He’s been an outspoken advocate for healthcare since 2006 when he told the Edmonton Sun that an 11 day wait in ER was unacceptable.  He came to the attention of the PCs who … Continue reading →

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Politics and Government | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

The Press Did It

Posted on March 6, 2011 by susanonthesoapbox

The MLAs were back in the House for two days and already the Premier was getting feisty.  What set him off?  Legitimate questions from the opposition. Dr Swann started the ball rolling by asking the Premier to explain why the … Continue reading →

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Politics and Government | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

FOIP

Posted on February 20, 2011 by susanonthesoapbox

On Valentine’s Day while others were buying chocolates for that special someone, I was brooding about the new Alberta Health Act.   I can’t shake the feeling that the underlying purpose of this legislation is to slide Albertans down the path … Continue reading →

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Politics and Government | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Darwin’s Finches

Posted on February 13, 2011 by susanonthesoapbox

Last year when the Health Minister was struggling to explain how the government was going to approach activity-based healthcare funding he said something truly brilliant.  He said the government was making improvements and “As for whose idea it was, it … Continue reading →

Posted in Alberta Health Care | 2 Comments

2+2+2 = 222

Posted on February 6, 2011 by susanonthesoapbox

Remember those silly math games we played as children—what’s 1 plus 1?  Two?  No silly it’s 11!  As children these games were quite amusing, but as adults they’ve become tiresome.  The PC’s should bear this in mind when they make … Continue reading →

Posted in Alberta Health Care | Tagged | 4 Comments

*Crunch*

Posted on January 30, 2011 by susanonthesoapbox

Hear that crunching grinding noise?  That’s the sound of the tectonic plates of the political parties moving in divergent, convergent and transformational directions.  On Tuesday Ed Stelmach announced he would not seek re-election.  On Wednesday Ted Morton said the provincial … Continue reading →

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Politics and Government | Tagged , | 2 Comments