Buffalo, NY (WBEN) As the US is vaccinating and treating people for COVID, Canada continues to struggle as cases rise at almost the same rate.
A local health care consultant points to two very different health care systems for the wide variance in how the pandemic is being handled.
Health care consultant John Bartimole says Canada relies on the socialized medicine process. "We're a lot more nimble in the US, so we're able to react more quickly. When I was in Buffalo, I saw steady streams of Canadians coming to Buffalo coming to hospitals because it was quicker here to get them done," says Bartimole. "I have great respect for the Canadian health system, but sometimes you have to be nimble and quick, and that's where the US has its advantages."
Last week, new COVID cases were at the same rate for New York and Ontario, 33 per 100,000 residents. There is also a call in Ontario for field hospitals. "Unless you have the capacity and the will to do that, you won't be able to handle an influx of COVID patients," says Bartimole.
What can the US do to help Canada? "What we can do is do what we do best. We can show them how we do this in the US. Just as we can learn lessons from the Canadian health system, they can learn lessons from us. And we can help them with the mobile approach and show them how to set up places in unlikely places to be able to treat people," says Bartimole.
