A Shortage Of Medical Oncologists At The Mcgill University Health Centre Prompts An Aggressive Recruitment Campaign

There is a shortage of medical oncologists at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) due to the departure of three physicians at the Royal Victoria Hospital site over the last year. The last departure takes effect June 1 leaving the RVH without a full-time medical oncologist.

"Our priority is to ensure all of our patients receive the care they require," said Ann Lynch, Associate Director of Nursing Medical Areas. "We are making sure everyone is referred to another physician."

The measures taken to make sure patients receive continuity of care:

• Medical oncologists from the Montreal General Hospital site will see patients at the RVH on a part-time basis and will help co-ordinate continuity of care within the MUHC.
• In some instances patients will be referred to medical oncologists at St. Mary's, the Jewish General and other Montreal hospitals.

The MUHC has begun an accelerated recruiting campaign within Quebec, the rest of Canada, North America and Europe.

"The shortage of medical oncologists is not unique to Quebec, it is a Canada wide problem," said Dr. Timothy Meagher, Associate Physician In-Chief of the MUHC ""But we are optimistic we will be able to hire several medical oncologists over the next few months."