Lachine Hospital: initiatives to improve healthcare for the community

The Lachine Hospital of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) is dedicated to fulfilling its community mission, as endorsed by the MSSS, and a number of current initiatives demonstrate this commitment:

• The Emergency Department is accessible 24/7 for walk-in patients and ambulances, ensuring continuous care provision.
• Care units have resumed admitting patients requiring acute care, with family doctors overseeing patient management and specialist doctors maintaining a consultative role.
• Accreditation Canada recognized the quality of care and services of the palliative care unit, during the latest accreditation visit in January 2023.
• In alignment with the regional health and social services network, and in recognition of the specialized service mandates of the various hospitals in the region, protocols and service corridors are in place to facilitate the transfer of patients requiring specialized care not provided at Lachine Hospital.
• The MUHC will not return to a system where specialists are responsible for managing the most critical patients. On the other hand, the MUHC is working with Lachine's family physicians, whose service offering continues to evolve. Furthermore, the Lachine Hospital is in close proximity to other MUHC facilities, which allows rapid access to state-of-the-art intensive care if a patient's condition requires it. Our staff are fully capable of providing the necessary care for a patient awaiting transfer.
• Access to operating rooms continues to increase. Ophthalmology procedures formerly performed at the MUHC's Montreal General Hospital have been transferred to the Lachine Hospital.
• Diagnostic services and the dialysis unit also continue to operate, and new ambulatory services like the hematology clinic have been developed.
• Trainees undertake their internships at Lachine Hospital, contributing to the preparation of future healthcare professionals.
• The Lachine Hospital modernization project is advancing as scheduled, with construction well underway. The new building is set to be inaugurated in 2026, marking a significant milestone in enhancing healthcare infrastructure in Lachine.

By steadfastly pursuing these initiatives, Lachine Hospital remains committed to delivering safe and high-quality healthcare services to the community it serves.