Squamish General Hospital to Get New Orthopedic Surgeon

By Gagandeep Ghuman
Published: June 2, 2012

Squamish General Hospital will get a new orthopedic surgeon, and residents of the Sea to Sky region will get expanded surgical services, Vancouver Coastal Health has announced.

The announcement follows concerned raised by local residents and councillors over the survival of the orthopedic program, considering the pending retirement of Dr. Patrick McConkey from Squamish General Hospital.

VCH announced it will add additional surgical time to the hospital, increasing the number of patients who will be served.

Surgeons will also be expanding the range of surgeries they can perform beyond what is currently available to include minor orthopedic trauma, such as fractures of the collarbone, kneecap, ankle and forearm.

More serious trauma injuries will continue to be referred to a higher level of care in Vancouver Coastal.

Squamish General Hospital surgeons will be assisted in this expansion of services by orthopedic surgeons from Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver, who will provide on-call coverage for trauma cases at SGH several days a week.

The corridor will also be getting enhanced specialist care at the Whistler Care Clinic, which will now be staffed by orthopedic surgeons from both Squamish General and Lions Gate hospitals.

That would mean that Sea to Sky patients will no longer have to travel to North Vancouver to receive consultation or follow up care for their injuries from an orthopedic specialist.

In addition to these service improvements, VCH will also create a Division of Orthopedic Surgery that will bring together surgeons from Squamish and Lions Gate hospitals in an association that will result in more seamless care for patients.

“This program will allow surgeons from both hospitals to work with and support one another, providing better integration of surgical services,” said Laurie Leith, a director at VCH-Coastal.

VCH had estimated it would cost anywhere between $100,000 and $150,000 to hire an additional surgeon.

Coun. Patricia Heintzman, who chairs the Sea to Sky Regional Hospital District, had called the amount a “drop in the bucket” given the demands for orthopedic treatment in the region.

Reacting to the latest news, Heintzman said the VCH announcements sounds really positive for Squamish and the corridor.

“I’m looking forward to the new orthopedic surgeon being hired and established in the corridor to see this plan in action,” she said.

She said if the appointment and the enhanced services mean fewer corridor residents have to travel to Lower Mainland for surgery,  that would be an “excellent result”.