Guest in_the_sky Posted April 24, 2003 Share Posted April 24, 2003 Anyone care to guess what it costs Air Canada to operate medical deparments across the country? Here are some things to help you out. 1) Office space in YVR YYZ YUL YWG 2) At least 8 Doctors making alot of money. 3) Way too many office staff 4) all the other high cost expenses associated with running multiple medical offices. And for why do we need all of this?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest WA777 Posted April 24, 2003 Share Posted April 24, 2003 I don't know about you, but every time I've been to the AC clinic it has been very busy....I've also heard over the years that it is significantly cheaper for the company to have their own medical department...Can't verify that, but it makes sense to me..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest in_the_sky Posted April 24, 2003 Share Posted April 24, 2003 How can it be cheaper for Air Canada to have a medical department than to not have one at all? As far as I know pilots are the only people required to have medicals for thier job, Who by the way can have thier medicals completed by any Transport Canada approved doctor ( like every other pilot in Canada ) Does the cost of the nice to have out-weigh that of the millions of dollars in savings? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Stone Posted April 24, 2003 Share Posted April 24, 2003 I do know the medical department does outside work for a number of other businesses at the airport and vicinity. I don't know how much contract work is done and if it offsets the cost of having our own department. I do know that with a staff of 35,000 people some sort of on site medical facility is required by regulation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest in_the_sky Posted April 24, 2003 Share Posted April 24, 2003 " do know that with a staff of 35,000 people some sort of on site medical facility is required by regulation. " That could very well be the case but medical offices across the country? Can not the medical offices be operated seperate than Air Canada so AC does not have to fit the bill? Correct me I f I'm wrong but if I go to my family doctor the cost is covered by Ontario Health Care and the doctors office. If I go to an Air Canada doctor AC is covering some of the cost ie: office staff, supplies, office space, etc etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest acfaywg Posted April 24, 2003 Share Posted April 24, 2003 In regards to the medical thing. All Pilots, Flight Attendants and some Cargo/Ramp need to have there medicals done. It is cheaper, I would think to run it from your own company. This is for numerous reasons.In YVR the company clinic does all the tests and medicals for all the airlines out west. They dont do blood work on site so there is no cost for that, and when you go in for a non-work related matter than thiose are bilable hours. Also in regards to the size of the company it is mandatory to have that. If you think that if they closed that down to save money I would think it would cost more, they woudl now have to pay to have a "family doctor" to do all there pre screens ect.... Kepp the doc! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest in_the_sky Posted April 24, 2003 Share Posted April 24, 2003 With regards to Flight Attendants and some Cargo/Ramp that have thier medicals done by AC is that a transport or another AC policy? YVR medical office may do some but not all airline medicals out there. Air Canada pilots are the only people in Canada who must have it do through the company (company policy). All others may have it done elsewhere for about $100 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beth Posted April 24, 2003 Share Posted April 24, 2003 Actually, unless I have managed to completely fall between the cracks, it is my understanding that we, the stews are not required to have medicals. I have never had one beyond my initial 15 years ago. We are not licensed, and I suspect that is the reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest in_the_sky Posted April 24, 2003 Share Posted April 24, 2003 So lets assume that FA's are not required to have a medical. Approx 3600 pilots plus lets say another 5000 ppl who may require a medical thru th company (on the high side), at approx $100 a pop. $860,000 per year if most of medical work was done outside the company. I would bet that right now the cost of having a medical department to the extent we have right now is much much more that. just an idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beth Posted April 24, 2003 Share Posted April 24, 2003 I haven't heard any convincing arguments to the contrary, so would have to agree...why don't you send it as an idea to Mr. Milton? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Fleet80 Posted April 24, 2003 Share Posted April 24, 2003 Hang on a minute! There are a lot of good arguments for keeping the AC medical dept. The biggest one is that our medical people consistently, forcefully and successfully go to bat for our pilots when one has the horrible experience of losing one's license with a medical problem. Just think for one minute about the state of the country's medical system, and you'll see that if AC relied on GP's and specialists to get around to diagnosing and treating pilots with known or suspected medical problems we (co. and pilots) could wait months, if not years, for a return to the line. Our aviation doctors are specialists in aviation issues, and have had huge success is overturning bureaucratic, outdated or just plain stupid restrictions on medical issues and licensing. As for the other employees, they too receive good service, it's timely, no waiting, the doctors seem to have great access to specialists, and their services are billable to the various provincial health systems, so probably net effect is - they recover costs by direct billing of covered service, reduce expenses by keeping pilots healthy, and are often at the forefront of setting new standards for aviation licensing. (lots of examples, like monocular pilots, mild diabetes and high blood pressure etc. but I don't need to get into that for the sake of this arguement) Cut anywhere else, but please don't take away our medical department! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beth Posted April 24, 2003 Share Posted April 24, 2003 While (whilst??) I agree that there are many beneficial services afforded us from having an in-house medical department, I believe that in our present cost-cutting situation such expenditures warrant reexamination. On another point, I question your statement of timing re: outside doctors. Last year, I had a job-related health concern and chose to be referred to the aviation specialist MD at Mount Sinai in YYZ. I had no trouble resolving the matter, complete with appropriate tests over three visits, within 4 months. Mind you, this is only an account of my personal experience, perhaps others have horror stories to tell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 24, 2003 Share Posted April 24, 2003 I have had dealings with the medical department that were not smooth.A number of yeas back,I had Knee surgery, I wentthrough the rehab and my surgeon (montreal expos surgeon)cleared me to return to work so much so I resumed playing hockey.he AC doctor refused my return stating i was not yet strong enough to resume duties,I informed him I had resumed playing hockey with no pain or swelling and no diminished speed to which he then said that I was being difficult.I had my surgeon ontact this Quack and I was cleared the next day. My wife had a similar incident on her pre employment medical, she was recuperating from pneumonia, but the brilliant medical staff listed her as permanently disabled and would not be able o perform the functions of the position.(a clerical positions) I think that a private medical company should perform these duties. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ywg396 Posted April 24, 2003 Share Posted April 24, 2003 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest chiselcharter Posted April 24, 2003 Share Posted April 24, 2003 It's nice to know that over the years the medicals were all the same. As I age, the two year medical gets more of my attention. They are medicals, not exercises in humility. It's money well spent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest croupier Posted April 25, 2003 Share Posted April 25, 2003 "In regards to the medical thing. All Pilots, Flight Attendants and some Cargo/Ramp need to have there medicals done" Medicals for Flight Attendants? Cannot recall ever having one since being hired and that is more than 30 years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest flyersclub Posted April 25, 2003 Share Posted April 25, 2003 lots of people in transportation need annual medicals to keep their licenses, i.e. truck/bus drivers, but they just visit an approved doctor of their choice. problem is the airline wants control of the doctor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ACguy Posted April 25, 2003 Share Posted April 25, 2003 There is something invaluable about having staff doctors. As we all are aware the higher end of the paycscale for pilots is the older more senior guy. Accordingly, medical problems arise that may keep this pilot from work and therefore draw on group benefits uneccessarily. With doctors on staff our sick friend can see the doc right away and the doctor can clear him medically sooner by lobbying the TC docs. Not to mention these doctors can assist in reviewing "questionable" medical leaves. Keeping us honest saves money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre Garneau Posted April 25, 2003 Share Posted April 25, 2003 These doctors are well connected and know how to short-cut processes which ordinarely could take many months, accompanied with all sorts of stress and frustration. The only 'horror stories' for me were averted thanks to the devotion and experience of Dr. Peter Hopkins, who sadly, retires from the AC Occupational Health today. I will miss his 'blowhorn' voice echoing in the hallways, and his friendship which so many of us have enjoyed over the years. PG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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