March 11, 2008:
Waiting for Orthopedic Procedures
Waiting for Orthopedic Procedures
If you need a hip replaced, or a knee fixed in this region, it seems you have two choices; you can wait what everyone agrees is a ridiculously long time - or you can take matters into your own hands.
In Nova Scotia the waiting times for orthopedic surgery are as long as two years.
In Prince Edward Island you can wait up to eight months just for an MRI to tell you what's wrong.
But - for those who can pay - there are alternatives.
Pat Patterson of Wolfville, Nova Scotia recently recieved his brand new hip in Panama.
Mr Patterson is part of a growing trend, what's known as a "medical tourist."
Pauline spoke with him, and with a panel of people from across the region about the long waiting times for orthopedic procedures.
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