UPFRONT | Roundup HEALTH CARE Take 5 More Canadians seeking medical treatment abroad Large numbers of Canadi-ans continue to venture abroad to seek medical care, according to a new study released by Vancou -ver-based Fraser Institute, an independent, non-parti-san Canadian public policy think-tank. The study, Leaving Can-ada for Medical Care 2015, estimates 52,513 Canadians left the country to receive non-emergency medical treatment in 2014, an in-crease of 26 per cent com-pared to the previous year. “These figures are not insubstantial. They point to an increasing number of Canadians who feel their medical needs aren’t being met in Canada,” said Bac-chus Barua, Fraser Institute senior economist and the study’s co-author. The study draws upon data from the Fraser Insti-tute’s annual Waiting Your Turn study – a national survey of physicians across Canada in 12 major medical specialties. In the 2014 sur-vey, physicians specializing in internal medicine proce-dures – such as colonosco-pies, gastroscopies and an-giographies – reported the highest number of patients leaving Canada for treat-ment (6,559). Meanwhile, neurosurgeons reported the highest propor tion of patients (2.6 per cent) who travelled abroad for medical care. While there is no definite data on why Canadians go elsewhere for medical atten-tion, there are several possi-ble reasons. Some patients may have been sent abroad because of a lack of availa-ble medical resources; some may have chosen to leave Canada in response to con-cerns about medical quality; while others might have left because of lengthy wait times. “In 2014, the average patient in Canada could expect to wait almost 10 weeks for medically neces-sary treatment after seeing specialist. This wait time is more than three weeks longer than what physicians consider to be clinically reasonable,” Barua said. “Faced with long waits for treatment, it should come as little surprise that so many Canadians ulti-mately choose to be medical tourists.” Estimated number of patients by province receiv-ing treatment outside of Canada, 2014: 1. British Columbia: 9,799 2. Alberta: 5,988 3. Saskatchewan: 1,050 4. Manitoba: 1,048 5. Ontario: 26,252 6. Quebec: 6,284 7. New Brunswick: 742 8. Nova Scotia: 975 9. Newfoundland and Labrador: 327 10. Prince Edward Island: 48 For more stories on health care visit canadianchiropractor.ca 8 Canadian Chiropractor May 2015 NUMBER CRUNCHING Social networks More progressive chiropractors are taking to social media to promote their practice and build their profile in their community. That might not be a bad idea because if current data are any indication, social media is dramatically changing the way people do business. percentage of Canadians earning over $80,000 who use Twitter Source: Forum Research 31 percentage of social media users who are on Facebook Source: Media Technology Monitor 93 1 in 3 age of Canadians most likely to make a purchase online Source: Statistics Canada Canadians check in to social media every day Source: Media Technology Monitor www.canadianchiropractor.ca Illustration: Brian Fray 25 to 34
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