Collaboration: The Key to the Seamless Transfer of Patients to Glen Site

On Sunday, April 26, 2015, the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) discharged 139 adult patients and 15 neonatal patients from the Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH) on Pine Avenue and re-admitted them at the state-of-the-art Glen site. The safe and efficient transfer of patients took 5 hours and 20 minutes, roughly 2.5 hours faster than expected. The MUHC attributes its success to exceptional collaboration, both internally and externally.  

“I’d like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation publicly to the teams at each of the MUHC’s hospitals and our trusted partners,” stated Normand Rinfret, the president and executive director of the MUHC. “A well thought-out plan, designed and executed collaboratively, made the day seamless and virtually stress-free for our patients. As that was our common goal, I am extremely proud of everyone who worked tirelessly towards achieving it.” 

Exhaustive planning and activation work was done over the course of many months leading up to the move to ensure that the new facilities would be functional in time for the patients’ arrival. In addition, on the RVH’s move day, some 2,500 clinicians covered patient care at both sites while 600 healthcare professionals and other volunteers coordinated the physical move. In addition, each MUHC hospital (Montreal General, Lachine Hospital, the Neuro, Montreal Chest Institute and Montreal Children’s) provided invaluable support.  

“The move was a shining moment for the Quebec health network as a whole,” added Normand Rinfret. “Hospitals helped manage the overflow of patients, including performing a renal transplant at the CHUM, and all partners showed that the spirit of collaboration is alive and well in Quebec.”  

External collaborators instrumental to the historic day’s success included, but were not limited to: 

Health Care Relocations; 

SNC-Lavalin and their partners; 

Urgences-Santé and Medicar;

The Ministry of Health and Social Services;

CIUSSS du Centre-Est-de-l’Île-de-Montréal;  

The MUHC’s sister hospitals: Jewish General Hospital, St. Mary’s Hospital Center, Lakeshore General Hospital and Verdun Hospital;

The CHUM;

CHU Mère-enfant Ste-Justine and the entire Quebec neonatology network;

Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont;

Montreal Heart Institute;

Hôpital Sacré-Coeur; 

Cité de la Santé; and

The Black Watch Association-Montreal.   

The MUHC’s next patient moves to the Glen take place on May 24 (Montreal Children’s Hospital) and June 14 (Montreal Chest Institute and Montreal General Hospital).