Calgary Walk In Clinics Provide Affordable Basic Health Care

By Jordan Schmidt


Few things are as stressful as when medical attention is urgently needed but the money needed for the treatment simply is not available. This is the situation millions of people find themselves in. Medical insurance and cash will pay for treatment at the best facilities and by the very best doctors, but few can afford this. Calgary walk in clinics are often a godsend for such people. They can get treatment.

The broad definition of this type of medical institution includes a wide variety of facilities. Many facilities are conveniently situated inside shopping centres. Others are operated from the premises of sponsoring charities. Local health services also operate such facilities. Not all of these medical institutions have doctors on board. Prices range from free of charge to a minimal fee, mostly depending upon the type of service offered.

A lot of people think that all these facilities offer emergency treatment. This is definitely not the case. Many do, but many others offer limited services and are not equipped to deal with trauma and emergencies. The majority of facilities do not even employ a doctor. Those without health care benefits should familiarize themselves with the free and affordable facilities in their area.

The main advantage of these facilities is the fact that they are either free or very affordable. There are approximately eleven thousand such services country wide. Patients do not need an appointment. They can simply present themselves and services are very seldom refused. In most cases patients are seen on a first come first served basis. Of course, true emergencies will always receive preferential treatment.

One of the biggest drawbacks is the fact that patients often have to wait for very long periods before they are assisted. This is because many of these facilities have to cope with large numbers of patients. They have a limited number of staff and the assistance that they are able to offer is often also very limited. Because of the large number of patients, attending staff often have to rush in order to process as many patients in as short a time as possible.

There are many critics. One of their main complaints is the fact that the majority of these facilities are understaffed and that the staff they do have on board have limited training. They say that patients are compromised by the fact that modern diagnostic tools and the latest treatment methods are often not available. They decry the fact that medication is in short supply and that follow up is often a non existent dream.

Many doctors have also criticised these clinics. They say that it is not possible to provide adequate long term health care if there is not a relationship between the doctor and the patient. The result is that patients are often given very basic treatment for a seemingly small problem that may actually be indicative of a much more serious condition.

Public health care remains a controversial issue. Millions cannot afford the very best medical care and have to be satisfied with what they can best afford. The answer, reformers argue, is an overhaul of the health care system. They say that every citizen should have access to quality health care.




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