Thoracic surgery at the Montreal General Hospital
As 2015 approaches, the Montreal General Hospital (MGH) is undergoing a significant transformation to prepare for the reorganization of services at the New MUHC. With its supraregional mandate and as the only unit of its kind within the McGill RUIS, Thoracic Surgery will continue to be a key program committed to providing comprehensive care for thoracic oncology patients. Thoracic surgical services will be centralized at the MGH and renovations will be carried out in order to provide dedicated space for inpatients, ambulatory care and research. The creation of a specialized 20-bed ward and an outpatient clinic will ensure the efficacious management of thoracic oncology patients requiring surgical intervention.
“The MUHC Thoracic Surgery program is home to the largest esophageal cancer program in Canada, and will continue to grow and increase volumes as a centre of excellence at the MGH,” explains Dr. Lorenzo Ferri, MUHC director of the Division of Thoracic Surgery and the Upper Gastrointestinal (GI) Cancer Program. As such, Thoracic Surgery will maintain a full range of services including resection of lung and esophageal cancers, surgical management of benign lung and esophageal tumours, as well as trauma support. Moreover, as leaders for the entire RUIS, we are working closely with our regional partners to build common trajectories for lung and esophageal cancer patients and efficient lines of communications. “A patient entering the emergency ward in Val-d’Or with a lung mass will receive the same expeditious and high-quality care as one referred directly to the MGH clinic, ” says Dr. Ferri.
In view of the centralization of cancer programs at the Glen site, a workgroup is currently assessing patient flow for lung and esophageal cancer patients to ensure a continuity and effectiveness in care delivery. “Thoracic Surgery will keep on working closely with disciplines who share patient populations and interests, ” reports Dr. Kevin Schwartzman, director of the Respiratory Division at MUHC and McGill. “Patient access to investigation and management of suspected or known lung cancer will be further streamlined by bringing together at the Glen the lung cancer rapid investigation clinic, the interventional respirology platform, the Cancer Care Mission, and diagnostic services.”
“The MUHC Cancer Care Mission is committed to ensuring that the supraregional-designated lung cancer and thoracic oncology program function as a finely integrated, internationally recognized academic and clinical unit despite being on two sites,” says Dr. Armen Aprikian, MUHC Chief of Oncology. Thoracic surgeons will operate at the MGH but provide patient care and consultations on the two sites. Therefore, patients will benefit from an improved flow of information and enhanced sharing of expertise among the various disciplines and professions involved in the management of lung cancer. Needless to say, MUHC 2015 will be about working smarter together.