Dan Gabay

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

.A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place at the Lakeshore General Hospital’s (LGH) new family medicine unit last week. The unit will serve to respond to the shortage of family doctors in the West Island, while the average population lacking a family doctor across the province has reached near 30 per cent. It will also serve as a teaching unit with up to 26 residencies taking place over time and 12 expected by next July. 

The ceremony was attended by West Island Mayors Tim Thomas for Pointe-Claire, Michel Gibson for Kirkland, Jim Beis for Pierrefonds-Roxboro and Heidi Ekdvedt for Baie-D’Urfé. “This clinic is not only an important step for the hospital, but a testimony to its greatness,” LGH Director and Associate Chief of family medicine Dr. Shadi Abid told The Suburban. “The immense shortage of family doctors calls for an effort to address that need and that is what we have done here. With each new doctor, we will be able to care for more patients.”

According to the President and Director-General for the West Island Health Authority (CIUSSS-ODIM), Dan Gabay, there are now 6,600 patients already registered to the new clinic, with that number expected to grow significantly as the unit acquires staff in collaboration with McGill’s residency programming. “By acquiring the modular (to renovate the ER), the opportunity for a second floor to position the family medicine unit became possible. By having primary care for patients, it lessens the pressure on the hospital. It is embedded in the hospital intentionally because we want to develop academia within Lakeshore and family physicians are the first big push via McGill with the intention to bring physicians from all specialties (over time).”

“This is an important game-changer for the West Island community. Family medicine is often the first line of care and we have overcome many challenges in bringing this unit to life,” Managing Director at the LGH Foundation Nathalie Kamel said to The Suburban.

“This is an inspiring project. We need to see more responses (like this) to the needs in health care, in the West Island and throughout the province,” Pointe-Claire Mayor Tim Thomas told The Suburban.

“First line medical care and social responsibility are a priority for us,” Marion Dove, Chair of Family Medicine at McGill University, stated. “With the creation of the GMF-U (family medicine unit), we will prepare the next generation of doctors.” n