Here I am in the @AHS_YYCZone Foothills Emergency Dept where I have experienced + witnessed great patient care. It's the same ER where my sister had 6 cardiac arrests from a pulmonary embolus and later died in the ICU in 2011. My family doc and the ER team just saved my life. 1/

I had knee surgery 9 weeks ago, had an anaesthetic complication which wore me down, and had a sluggish recovery since. My normal (and maybe even legendary) energy was gone. I just didn't seem to make much stamina progress. I've had to lay down for 1-2 hours many days. 2/

Yesterday, I was exhausted and even a bit out of breath taking meat off a roast chicken - I knew this just didn't make sense. Prior to my surgery, I worked out intensely almost every single day, including 20 min of hardcore heavy bag boxing. Today? 90 sec of shadow boxing. 3/

It was the fatigue which was my main symptom. I would have to lay down after Zoom calls. So today I went to my family doc @jeremydebruyn and he knows me. He knows I had put up with the pain of a giant parameniscal knee cyst for three years. He knows how I fought 4/

through my post meningitis headaches to get control of them through exercise instead of meds. He knows me, in the same way all great family docs know their patients and the way I try to as a family doc myself. How does he know me? Because he has never once rushed me ever. 5/

Not once. When he took over my care, he took the time to learn about my background and my health. And despite the reduction in fees paid by @GoAHealth for taking more time, he took extra time with me today. He is a superb family doc. He conducted a history and physical 6/

of the highest quality. And found almost nothing of note except seeing how less energetic I was than normal and that my heart rate was elevated. Knowing about my sister, he said "Dave, we've got to rule out a pulmonary embolus (blood clot in a lung). We've got to get you to 7/

the emergency department right away." My EM doc, Dr. Matthew Frey (whom I taught a bit, back in the day!) listened to how different I felt and how it almost didn't make sense that I was feeling still so sluggish 9 weeks after my surgery. The bloodwork was almost normal. 8/

My heart rate was entirely normal in the emerg. A slight elevation in my d-dimer (which could point to a blood clot) was the only abnormality. He said, "It's within the acceptable range but since I can't explain your symptoms otherwise, I have to use a lower threshold." 9/

And he ordered a CT (CatScan) with the Pulmonary Embolism protocol. And found blood clots in both of my lungs. Those clots are not actually life-threatening. What they mean is that in one of my legs I've likely got a big clot that just hasn't broken off yet, or was soon 10/

to form a huge clot, which would break off and travel to my lungs. Just like what happened to my sister. Just like what killed my sister. But what happened is my amazing family doc saved my life today by spending extra time today and by utilizing his deep knowledge of me as 11/

a patient. He got me to the right place - immediately. The emergency medicine team (nurses, docs, aides, radiologists, CT techs) took great and kind care of me, listened to my family doc and my story, DESPITE me having normal heart rate and oxygen levels. And saved my life. 12/

The big lesson learned? @shandro stop attacking family doctors now. The only reason I am not dead or severely ill in the ICU is because my family doc spent extra time with me despite your @jkenney government reducing his pay for spending extra time with me. He just saved ...13/

my life, my kids' dad, my wife's husband, and the family doc of the patients who entrust their care to me. Stop attacking us. Reinstate the CMGP codes because they save lives and save the health system money. I have tried through Twitter to give you the benefit of the doubt. 14/

You have been provided the evidence which shows the complex care codes save money and increase quality of care. I am literally living proof of this. It's time for a Minister of Health who will be guided by evidence and empathy. Start now. @shandro @CBCCalgary @Albertadoctors /15