Improving Cardiovascular Services For Patients in Northwestern Ontario
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Improving Cardiovascular

Improving Cardiovascular Services For Patients in Northwestern Ontario


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Province Supporting Proposed Cardiovascular Program in Thunder Bay

Ontario is supporting a proposal to improve access to cardiovascular  services for patients in northwestern Ontario.

Under the proposal, the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre  (TBRHSC) will expand its advanced cardiovascular services program to  deliver on-site vascular surgery. It will also work with the  government to develop a plan to deliver cardiac surgery closer to 
home for patients in the northwest.

TBRHSC will work in partnership with the University Health Network  (UHN), which will take on cardiovascular patients from northwestern  Ontario who are currently being served in Hamilton until services are  fully implemented at TBRHSC.

Providing the residents of northwestern Ontario with better access to  cardiovascular services is part of the government’s plan to build a  better Ontario through its Patients First: Action Plan for Health  Care, which is providing patients with faster access to the right  care, better home and community care, the information they need to  live healthy and a health care system that’s sustainable for  generations to come.

QUOTES

“This announcement marks an exciting landmark in improving access to  cardiovascular surgery for the people of northwestern Ontario.  I  look forward to continuing to work together with all of our regional  health care partners to ensure the highest quality of care closer to 
home.”
— Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

“The establishment of angioplasty services at Thunder Bay Regional  Health Sciences Centre years ago remains one of my proudest moments  as an MPP.  Today’s announcement, which builds on that work, of our  support for vascular surgery services followed by the full 
introduction of cardiac surgery, represents the continuing evolution  of health care in Thunder Bay and northwestern Ontario.  I want to  thank everyone for their work and support of this spectacular 
announcement.”
— Bill Mauro, MPP, Thunder Bay-Atikokan

“The addition of cardiovascular surgery at the Thunder Bay Regional  Health Sciences Centre will be a very significant addition to the  health care system here in northwestern Ontario. These new services  will also be a great asset in our efforts to attract and retain  physicians in the North.”
— Michael Gravelle, MPP, Thunder Bay-Superior North

"This is a huge step forward for TBRHSC. Our partnership with UHN brings world-class cardiovascular care to northwestern Ontario and  will have a dramatic effect on the quality of care and quality of  life for thousands of cardiovascular patients in our region in the 
coming years."
— Dr. Bill McCready, Interim CEO, Thunder Bay Regional Health 
Sciences Centre

"The goal of this partnership is to give patients in Thunder Bay  local access to heart and blood vessel surgery. No one should have to  travel 1,000 km and be separated from their family to undergo  standard bypass surgery. The one program on two sites model that we  will implement will ensure that the quality of care delivered in  Thunder Bay and at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre at UHN is the same.  Quality, safety and local access to care will be the cornerstones of 
this partnership."
— Dr. Barry Rubin, Program Medical Director, Peter Munk Cardiac Centre.


QUICK FACTS

Approximately 350 patients a year are referred out of the  northwestern region for vascular surgery and vascular related  procedures.

Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

“ We anticipate a significant capital requirement for cardiac surgery  and are working with the local health network LIN on this. The  University Health Network felt the local families deserve this care  at home. This is an incredible Hospital here in Thunder Bay with  excellent clinicians.”
“We are working on the plan and timing of this cardiac plan and it  will take some time to  develop. We have pushed the go button today   on the vascular side and it will be rapid. The cardiac will follow  shortly as well. I’m a bold kind of person that likes to do things in 
a well thought out manner.This is an  natural extension of the other quality of services here. 
I grew up in a small town and I get it. It is about access and  fairness. There is no question  for me that providing these services  in Thunder Bay will help patient outcomes.”

Bill Mauro MPP, Thunder Bay-Atikokan

“The vascular surgery  program has started and our commitment today  was to an expansion of that program. The cardiac surgery is going to  happen. There is some capital work that needs to be done and that  work is already underway.We will be providing services in Thunder Bay 
that are currently being provided in other parts the province. You  will see a significant saving on the health travel grant program.”

Michael Gravelle, Michael Gravelle, MPP, Thunder Bay-Superior North

  “I am excited to have the Ministers commitment.  Today is one of  those days as a MPP where you are making a difference in better  health care for NW Ontario. The commitment for a cardiac surgery  program is real. It is rock solid  and there is some more work to be  done. Angioplasty has been very successful and this is an extension  of that. This is great day for us.”



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