Calgary Walk In Clinics Are Often The Only Hope For The Under Privileged

By Jordan Schmidt


When accidents occur or when disease strikes everyone wants high quality medical care. There are many world class hospitals in every city, but the sad fact is that these facilities are restricted to those that can afford them. Only those with medical insurance or that have ample cash reserves have access to the latest treatment methods and the best doctors. Those that cannot afford such services must depend upon Calgary walk in clinics.

This type of medical facility is very broadly defined. In some cases there are small facilities inside super markets. These are normally staffed by nursing personnel. Other facilities focus on emergencies and trauma. Yet others are operated by charities. There are also a number of community health services. Prices differ wildly, often depending upon the type of staffing they enjoy. Some are free of charge, however.

Various facilities offer different types of services. Some specialize in urgent care and emergencies while others only provide very rudimentary services. Some institutions are staffed by nurses only. There are many of these medical facilities and families without medical insurance should take the trouble to ascertain themselves of just where the are and what services they offer. In this way no time will be wasted when medical attention becomes a priority.

Clearly, the main benefit of these medical facilities is the fact that their services are either free or at least at a minimal fee. Patients can simply attend. No appointments are necessary and the attending staff normally treat patients on a first arrived first helped basis, but emergencies always enjoy priority, of course. Patients are accepted without having to answer potentially awkward questions on citizenship, for example.

Unfortunately, many of these facilities have to tend to large numbers of patients. This result in long queues and sometimes very long waiting periods. In addition, due to limited staff and facilities, patients are rushed through. In many cases patients cannot be helped simply because the facility does not have the equipment, medication or skilled staff necessary to deal with the problem at hand.

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.

Private medical practitioners also often criticise these facilities. They argue that it is impossible to properly treat a patient without a full history of his health. Without such a history it is not possible to diagnose potentially serious diseases on the basis of new symptoms. They say that these clinics, at best, treat symptoms and not the underlying conditions that cause those symptoms.

Nobody will argue the fact that proper health care for all should be a national priority. At present, the poor and needy simply have to make do with what is on offer. Ideally, every citizen should be able to depend upon quality care when they need it. In the meantime, affordable and free medical facilities fulfil a very urgent need.




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