PEMBROKE – With a start date now in sight, preparations are underway at the Pembroke Regional Hospital to establish and operate a full service orthopaedic program.
Last month, the hospital received final approval for the new surgical program from the Champlain Local Health Integration Network (LHIN).
“The new program at Pembroke Regional Hospital will greatly improve access to quality orthopedic services in Renfrew County by providing services closer to home,” said Chantale LeClerc, Champlain LHIN CEO. “The initiative is part of a larger LHIN strategy to build a coordinated, integrated and accountable health system for people across the region, where and when they need it.”
With a January 2017 start date now in place, Pembroke Regional Hospital is in the process of recruiting three orthopaedic surgeons, securing specialized orthopaedic equipment and initiating staff education.
“As you can imagine, this is a very exciting development for our hospital and for those in our region who require orthopaedic care,” said Hospital President and CEO Pierre Noel.
Orthopaedics involves the inpatient and outpatient treatment of injuries and conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system. Repairing broken bones and replacing hip and knee joints, for example, are part of orthopedic services.
In terms of physician recruitment, Mr. Noel said the hospital had an “overwhelming level of interest” from almost 20 applicants for the three positions — all of whom were highly qualified.
“We anticipate that the three selected surgeons will soon relocate here to establish their practices with us and that they will begin to see new consults this fall, with the actual surgeries starting at the beginning of the new year,” Mr. Noel said.
On a related note, work is also progressing on the hospital’s $12 million Ministry approved capital project to modernize the inpatient surgical unit and day surgery space. Once complete, these upgrades will provide additional comfort and improved space for all surgical patients.
In support of this project, the Pembroke Regional Hospital Foundation will soon be launching a $2.5 million fundraising campaign to raise the “local share” of this surgical upgrades project.
As with other capital projects funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, 90% of the cost is provincially funded, while 10% of the cost, plus 100% of the costs to equip the space must be paid for locally.
“Recognizing the tremendous job our Foundation and our Auxiliary have done in fundraising for all of our past projects, and the true generosity of the people in our community, I have no doubt that everyone will rally around this important project as well,” Mr. Noel said.
