Thanks to a new, state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment machine at Windsor Regional Hospital patients are now able to stay closer to home for treatment.
In February, staff unveiled an Endoscopic Ultrasound Machine for local patients, which combines a high-frequency, ultrasound probe with an endoscope to examine the wall of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, rectum, pancreas, and beyond.
Dr. Siraj Ben Musa, Gastroenterologist at WRH, says more than 100 Windsor/Essex residents underwent EUS procedures outside the Erie St. Clair health region in 2020 because these procedures weren't offered locally.
Prior to having an EUS machine, many local residents were referred to London Health Services for procedures that generally take about 30 minutes.
Dr. Musa says since the pandemic they've had a very long waitlist, and this machine will cut down on wait times while also keeping people closer to home.
"We triage the cases based on priority and urgency. So we have a list that goes from A to D for the people that need it within a week or two, to the people that could wait for months. We base that on the urgency and the outcome of the procedure," he said.
Hospital staff say the machine is an integral part of the management of a variety of gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, and patients do not need to have major surgery for tissue biopsy.
Dr. Sabeena Misra, another Gastroenterologist at WRH, says this will help reduce stress and anxiety for patients having to wait for a long time or travel, help improve diagnosis and improve patient outcomes.
"We can communicate directly and express whether we feel it's urgent, or the patient's urgency, and way less time than London," she continued. "Probably that wait time has been cut by at least eight months for sure."
Hospital staff estimate that two to three EUS cases per week, or 140 cases annually from the Erie St. Clair health region, can now be performed at Windsor Regional Hospital.
Rosemary Petrakos, Vice President of Peri-Operative Surgery for Women and Children, says these types of issues can typically require multiple visits.
She says there are multiple benefits for patients now that they're able to stay closer to home.
"So three visits, going to London, taking the time and having someone drive you. The financial and emotional burden of doing that, and then the wait times, is all changed now that we have this piece of equipment at WRH," she said.
The EUS machine cost $430,000, which was supported by the Windsor Regional Hospital Foundation, by raising funds through their annual "Sail Into Summer" event at the Windsor Yacht Club.