The doctors at the Lachine hospital join together to offer an annual bonus of $ 15,000 for two years to the first three respiratory therapists who will come to work in their health establishment. An exceptional measure aimed at reopening the emergency rooms of the hospital, which are closed evenings and nights.
Since November 7 and for an indefinite period, patients who wish to seek treatment in the emergency department of the Lachine hospital are redirected to neighboring hospitals, between 7:30 p.m. and 7 a.m.
The McGill University Health Center (MUHC), which includes the Lachine hospital, announced this measure at the end of October, due to a “critical” shortage of nurses and respiratory therapists. This decision had aroused indignation and led to the holding of two rallies to oppose it.
“Our executive made this decision urgently. We calculated the money we have, how much we will have, and how we are [le] spend ”, explains Dr Paul Saba, President of the Council of Physicians of the Lachine Hospital. The decision was adopted unanimously, after much discussion.
PHOTO PASCAL RATTHÉ, ARCHIVES SPECIAL COLLABORATION
The Dr Paul Saba, President of the Council of Physicians of the Lachine Hospital
The doctor says he discovered that respiratory therapists could not benefit from the premiums offered by the Quebec government if they worked at the Lachine hospital, unlike the hospitals located in the city center of the metropolis.
“We decided to do fundraising and to contribute on the part of each doctor to keep the hospital afloat, because it is important to us”, declares for his part the Dr Georges Zaarour.
The Dr Saba hopes this incentive will attract respiratory therapists who work in other MUHC hospitals or who are retired or pre-retired.
The MUHC estimated that two or three respiratory therapists were necessary to avoid the closure of the Lachine hospital.
Decrease in traffic
Since the partial closure of its emergency rooms, the Lachine hospital has seen its traffic decrease. The Dr Zaarour estimates that the hospital’s attendance volume has fallen by 50%.
“Even during the day, it had an impact: the patients did not show up. I have the impression that some have understood that the emergency was completely closed ”, underlines Dr Zaarour.
The doctor believes some patients have made their way to walk-in clinics and other hospitals, but others simply won’t seek treatment.
« [Est-ce que] in a few weeks we will have a small increase in the mortality rate in the borough of Lachine? We don’t know, it’s premature, ”he said.
“Our patients are extremely vulnerable. They are in a [endroit] really landlocked. They cannot afford a $ 150 ambulance to go to a hospital center, ”continues Dr Zaarour.
During his three years of practice at Lachine Hospital, Dr Zaarour says he has seen patients walk to the hospital on numerous occasions for treatment following a heart attack.