THEME OF SYMPOSIUM

” TOGETHER REDUCING SURGERY WAITING TIMES TO LIMIT THE CONSEQUENCES AND IMPACT ON PATIENTS “

Event location

Hôtel Sandman

Salle: Jacques-Cartier ABC

999, rue de Sérigny

Longueuil (Québec J4K 2T1

(Métro Longueuil)

Host: Louise Belzile, Ph. D

This conference will be in person and virtually

(simultaneous translation)

The symposium will feature testimonials from patients who have experienced significant delays before obtaining essential oncology surgery. The impacts are multiple, both on the prognosis, the treatment plan, their quality of life and their loved ones. We cannot ignore the increase in costs to the health system caused by delays and the worsening of patients’ conditions. Delays in obtaining surgery are often part of a care pathway strewn with obstacles: access to a specialist, access to imaging tests, pathological or genetic analyses. The journey is often complicated after surgery: chemotherapy, radiation oncology, etc.

A collaborative reflection in which patients will seek together possible solutions to a glaring situation.

The FMSQ (Fédération des médecins spécialistes du Québec) has already decided to join its expertise, as well as patients who will testify about their experience, during the event. Other experts as well as the Ministry of Health and Santé Québec are also invited to participate in this common and unique reflection between all parties involved.

Indeed, the health network and patients have never been so overwhelmed and waiting for surgery.

Everyone will be able to present their observations, the harm caused to patients, as well as short-term solutions to relieve the thousands of patients waiting.

I invite you to participate and sponsor the event which will not fail to interest all those who want to finally resolve the problem of waiting, which has been going on for too long already.

Program of the day

soon

Cost of registration

Registration by Canada Post

• Adress : 3565 Rue Berri office 230, Montreal Qc H2L 4G3

• Check payable to : Fondation Claude-Brunet

• Download the registration form

For further information, please contact Mr. Benoit Turcotte

• bturcotte@cpm.qc.ca
• 514-861-5922  poste 225

NB : LES INTERVENANTS SONT PRÉSENTÉS EN ORDRE ALPHABÉTIQUE

Louise Belzile Ph.D. Louise Belzile holds a doctorate in gerontology. She was a lecturer in the 2nd cycle of gerontology at the Université de Sherbrooke. She has coordinated several research projects on service coordination, multidisciplinary collaboration, access and continuity of care. She is co-author, with Yves Couturier, of Histoires orales du travail social (2021), Le Choix du travail social : histoires orales du futur (2023), Stupidité, erreur et apprentissage : vers des organisations apprenantes en santé et services sociaux (2023) and has collaborated on several reports and scientific articles over the years.

Louise has been waiting for a family doctor, registered at the kiosk, for nearly 7 years, despite a diagnosis of over 20 years as a person with type 2 diabetes. Until last winter, an endocrinologist provided her annual follow-up. In February 2024, he announced his retirement. After several attempts to update her medical data last spring, she was assigned a GMF). She will know how effective the GAP can be when she renews a prescription for her laboratory tests and medication. Louise’s personal experience as a patient on waiting lists, her scientific research and her in-depth knowledge of the healthcare network will enable symposium participants to reflect on the dimensions of waiting for healthcare services and its impact on patients.

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With 24 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Dominique has an in-depth knowledge of the different healthcare systems across the country. Dominique holds a bachelor’s degree in microbiology from Université Laval in Quebec City, an MBA specializing in pharmaceutical management, and a master’s degree in healthcare systems management.

In February 2024, a radiologist suspected the presence of three tumours in her right breast. However, several delays in obtaining a biopsy, genetic testing and new radiology markers postponed surgery until May of that year. Unfortunately, the tumour grew in size between the initial diagnosis and surgery.

By participating in the CPM symposium, she wishes to demonstrate the importance of optimizing the entire patient trajectory, from imaging to pathology to surgery, to guarantee timely diagnosis and treatment and a better prognosis.

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At 35, Marie-Claude Houle-Beausoleil, mother of two young children and educator at the Saint-Hyacinthe School Board, was struck by persistent pain in August 2023. Her family doctor mentioned simple muscle pain. Faced with persistent symptoms, Marie-Claude had to fight to get an appointment, even going so far as to contact a hospital to move things forward. The consultation took place in December, but the diagnosis was not made until February 2024, after a battery of tests: multiple myeloma—seven months of uncertainty and anxiety for her and her loved ones.

“At times, I thought this wait was unreal, unbearable. I had to fight to get the necessary tests and then to access the best treatments. »

Trained as a family doctor, Ingrid lived and worked full-time in Waskaganish, QC (Cree community on the eastern shore of James Bay) from 1995-2000.   From 2000-2015, she continued to work there part-time (12-16 weeks per year). In 2015, she developed a rare neuromuscular disease that has impacted all organ systems. Because of metabolic crises causing respiratory and cardiac arrests and frequent ICU admissions (now > 30), she was unable to continue to travel to remote regions. She then became involved with Open Science initiatives at the Neuro and, since 2022, has been Chair of the MUHC Users’ Committee.

Since her diagnosis, Ingrid has had to undergo several surgeries and other procedures, often with delays. For example, she had to wait 5 months for spinal decompression surgery, then 8 months for a second surgery of the same type; she also had to wait a year and a half for catheter ablation to solve an arrhythmia problem; she had to wait three months for surgery to remove a thyroid tumour. She has been waiting 16 months for hip replacement surgery, which is scheduled for January 2025. All this has impacted her personal and family life, as she is the mother of four children. She’s always there to improve the quality of care, so she wants to share her story with us at the symposium.

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In active practice for 32 years, Dr. Legault has practiced in Sept-Îles, Pierre-Boucher and 28 years at Laval’s Cité-de-la-Santé, where he continues to work as a general surgeon. Dr. Legault has held a number of management positions during his career, including a member of the Board of Directors of the Association québécoise de chirurgie from 2004 to 2021 and President from 2018 to 2021; President of the CMDP at Hôpital de Sept-Îles and Chief of General Surgery; Clinical Lecturer at the Université de Montréal Faculty of Medicine; Member of the COVID-19 Clinical Steering Committee of the MSSS and President of the Operating Room Subcommittee.

Drawing on his experience in the field and as a member of the Fédération des médecins spécialistes’ senior management team, Dr. Legault embodies the Fédération’s commitment and desire to reduce surgical waiting lists, especially those of over a year, so that patients can receive the care they deserve, and care teams can have the equipment and technical platforms they need to do what they do best – provide care to the public.

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Vincent Oliva is a former clinical professor in the Department of Radiology, Radiation Oncology and Nuclear Medicine at the Université de Montréal. He has been a university interventional radiologist for over 30 years, initially at Hôpital Notre-Dame and then at the CHUM since its creation.  He was the Association des radiologistes du Québec president from 2016 to 2021.

Alongside his practice, Dr. Oliva has been involved in research to develop minimally invasive techniques. He is particularly interested in endovascular stents and was the first in Canada to implant a self-designed stent. He is the author of several research publications.

Dr. Oliva and his team have a crucial role in the post-pandemic recovery. Their priority, shared by all medical specialists in Quebec, is to make up for lost time and address waiting lists in all medical specialties.

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On October 6, 2018, I discovered a large mass in my right breast. Forty-six days later, I was diagnosed with a relatively rare form of breast cancer that had a bleak prognosis because it was very advanced and aggressive. The treatment plan I underwent was equally challenging. However, the most painful part of the process was the 46-day wait for my diagnosis.

My partner and I had registered with an agency to become foster parents, which meant we were ready to adopt! On April 4, 2007, a little boy entered my life, and on August 24, 2009, a judge officially made us a family. Those 16 months of being attached, while constantly fearing that my child might leave our family, were particularly difficult.

In both situations, the unknown was what terrified me the most. Peer support proved to be a powerful tool for navigating these challenges. Today, more than ever, individuals with experience in mental, physical, or psychosocial health conditions can contribute significantly to the healthcare system, helping to make better use of professionals’ time.