Injured on duty

[EX-STRAT]

Has anybody been seriously injured or sick while on duty? Frustrated with medical staff, lack of communication and professionalism in the medical field? I like to know because I am going through an ordeal that has me frustrated 90% of the time.

 

[Slim]

I was in a track that flipped. They threw me in Range control for 6 months, thereby ending my opportunity to go on tour!

After the six months were up I was re evaluated fit for duty. The cut on my finger, which was the only injury I actually received during the accident, healed nicely in about a week!

 

[NMPeters]

Are you Class A, B, B(A), C or Regular Force because each different class of service has completely different rules for the provision of health care and treatment. Also bear in mind that the mindset is, if you are a Class A reservist, you are trying to rip off the CF health care and dental system. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard that from the med/dent professionals.

 

[Slim]

Originally posted by NMPeters:
[qb] Are you Class A, B, B(A), C or Regular Force because each different class of service has completely different rules for the provision of health care and treatment. Also bear in mind that the mindset is, if you are a Class A reservist, you are trying to rip off the CF health care and dental system. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard that from the med/dent professionals. [/qb]

Major Peters

Both of us have identified ourselves as members of the regular force.

I don‘t think I‘ll say any more. Except maybe that there is a system in place here to let other members of the forum see where you did your service.

In future a quick look in the profile section may save you some unwelcome comments and embarrassment.

Please write me at any time.

Slim
41A
Recce Squadron
Lord Strathcona‘s Horse ( Royal Canadians)

 

[EX-STRAT]

Thanks Slim I could not have said it better myself. I just want to know if people are getting the run around from the so called professionals? If you are there are ways to make people accountable for there actions as a person in the medical field i.e. case worker etc. You are the patient and you have to be treated as a person first not just another number. Don‘t leave frustrated, get all your questions answered and if you have mixed feelings demand a second opinion
but remember act professional yourself it gets better results.

 

[Enzo]

Maj Peters - No disrespect intended sir, but if I thought for a moment that the dr‘s considered me to be someone who was attempting to take advantage of the CF, and this is somehow connected to the ridiculous resistance I‘ve had to endure over the past 5 years as I continuously attempt to rejoin the CF. Honestly, I can‘t even entertain that scenario. I‘d snap. Actually, I‘m close to snapping as it is. My frustration levels are continuously high and I do my best to deal. I am beyond pissed off at this point. I‘ve never asked for a bloody dime from the CF! I do not have a disability pension even though they consider me to be medically unfit for duty after my injury (which they say the CF was not responsible for as a Report of Injury cannot be found, etc...) and I do not want one. I am fit, I have proven it, but not to the medics at CFRC Bordens satisfaction. It‘s crap! I added the link below, I won‘t go on about it, click the link if you‘re interested.

Strat - Go here:

http://army.ca/ubb/ultimatebb.php/topic/16/562/2

I went over my situation in detail awhile ago, its all basically there. What‘s your situation?

I gotta tell you, I‘ve no idea how to proceed next. All I want is to be back in green. A "paycheque" or "job security" doesn‘t factor into any of this. That‘s it. Anyone have any ideas? I‘m open.

 

[tmbluesbflat]

Your best bet is a civilian Doctor and a lawyer, the Army Doctors are not competant because they are stupid or because they are under orders to not diagnose somethings.(see private letter)

 

[Enzo]

I‘ve been to enough doctors and the next one CFRC want‘s me to go to is neither interested in seeing me (doesn‘t feel qualified to test me as he is an orthopaedic surgeon and this is an area that is outside of his realm, feels CFRC should do their own testing, etc...) and I couldn‘t afford to go to him if I wanted to anyway. $1200 min. Not bad for an hours work eh?

As for a lawyer, I‘m not like that. I doubt I could ever go to a lawyer, especially against the CF. Against my religion, so I guess I‘m just going to have to plug away until I realize that I‘m pooched.

 

[Slim]

ENZO
Brother if you want back in and that is the price you gotta pay then go get it! No one will help you but you!

Slim

 

[GhostRecce]

Originally posted by EX-STRAT:
[qb]I just want to know if people are getting the run around from the so called professionals? [/qb]

It‘s called the military, you always get the run around

 

[NMPeters]

Slim,

I‘m not in the least embarrassed. The question was rhetorical because the original poster asked if anyone else was frustrated with the system. Since you completely missed the point I will explain it to you.

The frustration with the CF health care system is felt at all levels and in all components because there is not one standardized system. There is not even agreement as to what is considered the definition of being "on duty", and yes, that goes for Regular Force too.

 

[leopard11]

this week, on parade night, we were given two pams:
"Long term disability, Insurance plan for regular and reserve force members"
"Accidental dismemberment policy regular and reserve force members"

It explains in some detail what to do in the event that you do fall into one of the two categories, how much compensation you can get, and how to go about getting it, if anybody wants to have a look, check at ure BOR, or let me know all scan them and post/email them.

 

[EX-STRAT]

GhostRecce I agree that it is almost a military standard "runaround" and we have all excepted this when it comes to say clearing in/out etc but when it involves the health of a member the "runaround" has to cease.

 

[Enzo]

Slim, it was on my list of things to save for, until I took the Ortho‘s response to the CFRC. They sent that information to Borden. The response from Borden was that I am to get a qualified "physiatrist" to examine me.

Physiatrist, see physical medicine:

"phys ·i ·cal med ·i ·cine n
the branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis of injuries or physical conditions and their treatment by external means, including heat, massage, or exercise, rather than by medication or surgery.
Also called physiatrics"

Encarta® World English Dictionary © 1999 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.

I have actually been to 3 doctors who fall under that category according to CFRC and they have all passed me with their blessings. This is in addition to my working WCB Commercial Diving medical, TC Commercial Pilots medical and a clean bill of health from my bloody dentist!!

CFRC then responded (all of this took a long time for the correspondence of course) like a broken record that I should go to an Orthopaedic Surgeon. I asked if that would settle this question once and for all and the dr. @ CFRC said that the information would be passed along for further review. Make up your minds, which is it??? I‘m going in bloody circles here.

Not bloody good enough. If I‘m going to "invest" in myself, then I at least need to know if the information will be relevant and right now it hardly matters as I am a student and cannot afford such a sum at this time. This is why I have gone to an MP - who has sent a second letter as the first was not responded to. All in addition to the fact that I was "Cat A" when I voluntarily released from the CF, which was then changed to "B" after I had been out, but upon my reapplication the next year it had become "C"; before I had actually submitted my medical!! WTF!?!

And then for fun, I watch things like "Truth, Duty, Valour" where 18 yr old Officer Cadets are unable to participate in the final physical challenge due to injuries sustained from running as she has her "career" to think about, according to her parents.

I will get back in even if it takes another 5 bloody years as I cannot stomach the thought that someone of my abilities is unable to be allowed the opportunity to do that which I do best. I swear, at times you‘d think I was living in the bloody Twilight Zone?!? I keep looking behind me to see if Rod Serling is having a smoke and a smile at my expense. If this is a Karma thing; honestly, I don‘t quite recall being Mussolini in a previous life, although there are rumours that I do have some Italian in me. Coincidence?

 

[Caz]

Ah, red tape. About as fun as getting hit with a frying pan...

I‘m surprised about the run-around given to the RegF people.

Maj Peters - How is a Class A reservist getting injured on duty ripping off they system? I hadn‘t heard that mindset yet.

 

[Bin-Rat]

If you are there are ways to make people accountable for there actions as a person in the medical field i.e. case worker etc. You are the patient and you have to be treated as a person first not just another number. Don't leave frustrated, get all your questions answered and if you have mixed feelings demand a second opinion
but remember act professional yourself it gets better results.  

Hmmm, I wish someone could have told me how to do that when I was in back 88 to 93... as having a G4 O3 medical Catagory, the 1 CDHSR doctor, at that time was a Captain... I was unfit field, and being at a field unit, my Section Officer called the MO and said to him He wanted me out in the field... Nice doctor Ablidge him, so here I was a G4 O3 Unfit field, Un , Isolated posting and what.... Now, sent back out to the field exercises with the Doctor's blessing... So question is, if the Doctor say's yes you can go to the field, even though you shouldn't by medical catagory, then whom or who can ya complain to....

My thoughts are the Doctor should have said NO, he is unfit field and CAN NOT go...
It's like that one post about Univertality of Service.. sorry Spelling... heck they say ya have to be fit to go in the field, heck NO, they just send ya anyhow... heh heh heh so what's the difference...

 

[Cansky]

I've read this thread and totally understand that most people are frustrated with the medical system.  Try to understand that the system is under some big changes these past few years and the bugs are still trying to be worked out.  On of my major complaints is that most Military medical clinics have surveys that we would like to have filled out.  Most patients refuse.  You can also complain through your chain of command if you truly feel that you are hard done by.  The system will never get better if those who claim they are hard done by or are not treated professionally by the system and its staff, don't come forward.  I have been the 2 ic of treatment room in Gagetown for the past 2 years and have not had a single complaint forward to me about my staff not being professional.    My other suggestion is find out how you would be dealt with on civi street.  We have it really good in comparison.  My young daughter is awaiting testing after a massive brain injury.  the testing is a 18 month to 2 year wait for Neurophysic testing.  A military person would wait about 6 months.  WE HAVE IT MUCH BETTER THAN THE CIVI's

 

[Bin-Rat]

Well when ya look at it, with it's own Doctors and specialist, the options are better in the service then on the civi street.. again as Kristen posted.. to get appoinments takes months... my next appoinment for a Physiatrist is 1 year away, I got the appoiment date, but now just have to wait for time to pass...

The other thing I noticed was I had better treatment from services on the base side of things then dealings with a UMO...
Well witht he UMO we had.. (UMO= Unit Medical Officer) as in 1 CHDSR has it's own Unit Doctor and he is the one we see for sick parades and things, But when I got posted to base side it was different, I guess working on a Base they felt better then people who got posted to a field unit..heh heh heh.. I didn't mind the field when I was 100%, , I don't think they would have liked the survey answer's I would have added, and would have probably gotten lost in the shuffle of Doc's and not gotten sent in.. heh heh heh..

 

[Gunner98]

The Patient Surveys actually go to Quality Assurance Personnel and not direct to the physician's in-box.   No comment would be ignored.  

Many CF Medical facilities are undergoing the civilian accreditation process, for more info see www.cchsa.ca.   Several of the clinics/Health Service Centres are now accredited after persevering thru the two-year civilian process.   One of the goals of Rx2000 is to have the entire CF Health Services System accredited.


Patient complaints can also be handled through the formal complaint management process see Medical Service Instruction 3000-003 found on the Internet at:   http://www.forces.gc.ca/health/policies/medServiceInstructions/engraph/msi_cf_3000-003_e.asp

The CF only has one uniformed Physiatrist, he is posted to Ottawa, otherwise you are in the civilian queue.

 

[Strike]

Pardon the ignorance, but what is a Physiatrist?