Surgical capacity for spinal patients is being increased and a new provincial spine program is being established to ensure Manitobans requiring acute spinal care are treated sooner.
Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara said Tuesday, “Manitobans should not have to suffer from debilitating spinal pain. It can completely disrupt every aspect of a person’s life. The creation of a new provincial spine program will reduce wait times for both patients awaiting consultation and those needing surgery, ensuring Manitobans receive treatment more quickly so they can resume their lives.”
The Manitoba government is investing more than $12 million toward the establishment of a new provincial spine program that will reduce long wait times for patient consultations with spinal surgeons, establish centralized wait lists and co-ordinate complex levels of care across a multitude of care providers, diagnostic imaging and operative resources throughout the province, the minister noted.
Operating slates devoted to spinal procedures will increase by more than 50 per cent starting May 1, the minister said, adding all sites, including Concordia Hospital, Brandon Regional Health Centre and Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg, will also benefit from new state-of-the-art, minimally invasive surgical equipment that improves patient outcomes.
Three spinal surgeons have been recruited to Manitoba over the past 10 months – two in Winnipeg and one in Brandon. The minister noted they have been trained on the new surgical equipment and will maximize the use of these new slates, building surgical capacity in Manitoba.
This important advancement in care is also supported by donors to the HSC Foundation’s Operation Excellence fundraising campaign.
“This expansion in spine surgery is another example of what is possible when the government, medical leaders, the HSC Foundation and its donors collaborate for the benefit of all Manitobans,” said Jonathon Lyon, president and CEO, Health Sciences Centre Foundation. “I am pleased this progress in spine care will mean better surgical outcomes for Manitobans. It’s notable that new surgeons have been attracted here by the steps we are taking through Operation Excellence and in partnership with all stakeholders. Surgeons and other health care professionals want to go where they can do their best work.”
The Provincial Spine Assessment Clinic, which is staffed by physiotherapists in partnership with surgeons, will be incorporated into the new provincial spine clinic. This clinic has succeeded in lowering wait times for patients requiring assessment and treatment and will now be fully integrated with the surgeons in the same clinic, the minister said. ACCESS centres will also provide additional imaging technology.
“The establishment of a comprehensive provincial spine program will make it easier for patients and referring primary care providers to access spinal care,” said Dr. Ed Buchel, Shared Health’s provincial surgical lead and HSC’s surgical site director. “The spine care team will now have the central intake and improved data analytics to manage wait lists and optimize the use of the increased and enhanced capacity. More surgeons, in co-ordinated clinics, will deliver more surgery with cutting edge technology.”
