In my experience travelling with the Calgary Flames and Canada’s Olympic Ice Hockey Team to countries like Russia, Finland, Sweden, Germany, Japan and across the United States, my top priorities were always:
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- to be prepared to jump on the ice to help a injured player and
- to ensure we had a plan for the player to be transported to a hospital and receive the best possible care.
Currently working in the emergency department in the Peter Lougheed Centre in Calgary, I’m very conscious that not everyone in Canada speaks English and can accurately communicate their symptoms to triage staff and emergency clinicians.
Why is this important?
If a translator isn’t readily available to help patients and staff, this can result in;
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- an inaccurate diagnosis,
- delayed treatment
- inappropriate treatment or,
- inadequate treatment before leaving the hospital.
My goal is to help Canadians living or travelling in countries where English is not the dominant language (i.e. see countries listed below).
If you’re Canadian trained surgeon living abroad and who would be willing to help Canadians then I invite you click on a country below.
Terry Kane, Reg. Physiotherapist / Owner, OrthopaedicsCanada.com
Countries where English is not the dominant language