People search online because they are scared and waiting. It is not ideal, but when the next appointment is weeks away, people try to understand what is happening.
Why does it feel easier to get healthcare advice online than an actual medical appointment in Canada?
#Canada healthcare#emergency room#family doctor#healthcare system#medical appointments#patient experience
Sometimes it feels like I can find more health advice online in 10 minutes than I can get from the healthcare system in weeks. I know online advice is not the same as medical care, but why has getting an appointment become so hard?
AI Summary
Replies agreed that online advice can be easier to access, but users warned that it cannot replace proper diagnosis. Many blamed family doctor shortages, walk-in clinic pressure, and long referral pathways for pushing people toward online information.
Answers & Discussion
The biggest issue is continuity. One walk-in doctor says one thing, another says something else, and nobody really follows the whole story.
I used virtual care for simple things and it helped, but it is not the same as having a doctor who knows your history. It feels like patchwork healthcare.
Online information can help you ask better questions, but it can also make anxiety worse. I try to use it to prepare, not to diagnose myself.
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