The MUHC thoracic surgery team has won a Prix de canc茅rologie 2022 in the category Organisation des Services for a project done in partnership with the Centre int茅gr茅 de sant茅 et de services sociaux de l鈥橭utaouais (CISSSO). The MUHC and the CISSSO worked together for nearly three years to establish a virtual platform that tracks every stage of a patient鈥檚 trajectory between the Outaouais region and the MUHC for the purpose of thoracic surgery.
鈥淭his is a complex patient trajectory, supported by a strong and secure virtual platform,鈥� describes Carole Lapierre, associate director of the MUHC Partnerships Office who oversaw the project. 鈥淲e鈥檙e quite proud of this award from the Programme Qu茅b茅cois de canc茅rologie (PQC) because it reiterates that what we have done is about more than just IT. It鈥檚 also about care improvement within a network of cancer care.鈥�
Indeed, every year, between 200 and 250 people from Outaouais make the journey to the MUHC in order to receive thoracic surgery, and in most cases, those surgeries are needed in relation to cancer care.
鈥淚t鈥檚 quite unusual for two institutions of this magnitude to collaborate in the way that we did,鈥� explains Carole. 鈥淲e had two completely different IT realities, with Outaouais being paper-based and the MUHC having electronic patient charts. We came together and could optimize a patient care trajectory by clarifying roles and responsibilities and integrating a platform that automates multiple processes and secures data.鈥�
Years in the making
The need for a web-based platform came up years ago when Lucy Tardif, clinico-administrative coordinator of the MUHC鈥檚 Cancer Care Mission at the time, saw the potential for miscommunication to occur between Outaouais and the MUHC. Back then, everything was done by paper, faxes and phone calls including updates to patient files. Many times, it was difficult for both institutions to stay on the same page regarding a patient鈥檚 trajectory. This needlessly complicated the planning process of surgery.
鈥淲e have seen the fruits of our labor,鈥� notes Elodie Cornier, the project manager for the MUHC. 鈥淭here鈥檚 been a significant improvement in the flow of information and now, no patient coming to us from Outaouais will fall through the cracks. Their information is accurate, updated, and it鈥檚 safe.鈥�
This virtual platform was made possible thanks to the clinical teams鈥� hard work, to the extensive support from the Centre de Coordination en T茅l茅sant茅 du R茅seau Universitaire int茅gr茅 de sant茅 et services sociaux (RUISSS) 平特五不中, the Universit茅 du Qu茅bec en Outaouais (UQO) and the firm Akinox. In addition, MUHC thoracic surgery division chief Dr. Lorenzo Ferri was an amazing support to both institutions over the course of this project.
鈥淭his has had an incredible impact on the care of thoracic surgery patients from the Outaouais region,鈥� says Dr. Ferri.
In addition to receiving an award from the PQC, project leaders were given the opportunity to present their project at this year鈥檚 PQC鈥檚 Congr猫s virtuel. As they shared the story of how this platform came to be, and all of the advancements that it has caused, they proudly represented our thoracic surgery teams at the provincial level. Bravo!