New program tackles wait-list, brings surgeries closer to home

A new initiative brings day surgery closer to eastern Ontario families, supported by the expertise of medical teams at CHEO and regional hospitals, while also targeting the longstanding surgical wait-list. 

Working through the Kids Come First health team, this new program sees surgeries like a tonsillectomy and umbilical hernia repair conducted at the Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital and the Brockville General Hospital approximately four times per month. 

Surgeries have begun at each hospital. The program aims to complete 300 surgeries by 2025, which brings much-needed surgical care closer to home for families. “Being able to perform surgeries locally helps in many ways. By leveraging the footprint of additional hospitals like Brockville and Carleton Place, we’re able to schedule more surgeries and finally address the long surgery wait-list,” said Dr. Jean-Philippe Vaccani, Chief of Surgery at CHEO.