CISSS de la Montérégie-Ouest and CIUSSS du Centre-Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal are pleased to announce the creation of a Virtual Care Hospital Unit at Hôpital du Suroît in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, thanks to an innovative and historic partnership.

As the measures provided for in the Act limiting the use of personnel placement agencies and independent labour in the health and social services sector take effect, Hôpital du Suroît was faced with significant hospital pressure at the end of May. With the aim of optimizing the 20 closed beds in the modular complex, this facility was targeted to inaugurate the very first Virtual Care Hospital Unit.

Thanks to the close collaboration and partnership of the teams involved in both facilities, this Unit was created in just a few days, enabling patients who are being cared for remotely by Jewish General Hospital (JGH) nursing staff to be physically accommodated in the modular complex.

But how can the teams in Valleyfield and Montreal stay on the same wavelength? 

The answer lies in the use of cutting-edge tools and technologies that are already deeply embedded in CIUSSS du Centre-Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal's current approach. The Care Team at Hôpital du Suroît will monitor patients' vital signs using sophisticated sensors, while the Care Team at CIUSSS du Centre-Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal will monitor patients' vital signs using sophisticated sensors.These will also enable members of the Virtual Nursing Team to monitor this data remotely from the JGH. 

Tablets will be used to make video calls and share documents securely. In addition, auxiliary nurses and beneficiary attendants at the Modular Unit in Valleyfield will use Hololens headsets to connect in real time with CIUSSS nurses, who will be able to see remotely what these people are seeing.

"This innovative service offering is a concrete example of innovation and valuable collaboration between CISSS de la Montérégie-Ouest and CIUSSS du Centre-Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal," said Philippe Gribeauval, President and CEO of CISSS de la Montérégie-Ouest. "The strength of the network lies in the mutual support we are currently witnessing, and I would like, on behalf of our management group, to warmly thank the leaders of CIUSSS du Centre-Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal for raising their hands so quickly. Virtual care is a technological advance of which we can be proud".

"This is an important and impressive first in Canada," added Dr. Lawrence Rosenberg, President and CEO of CIUSSS du Centre-Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal. "This project not only highlights the strength of our network, but also reinforces our organization's commitment to delivering high-quality care through innovation - which is at the very heart of our 'Care Everywhere' initiative."

Fourteen patients have been treated at Hôpital du Suroît since the service was launched on June 10. The aim is to increase this number to twenty over the next few weeks.