Why are there new cochlear implant services in the western part of the province (Montreal area)?
The opening of a new point of service in the western part of the province allows for cochlear implant services to be offered in close proximity to the population. This reduce the distance to care and services clients residing in the western part of the province.
How are services organized in the Montreal area?
For both children and adults, the medical component (evaluation, surgery and medical follow-ups), the initial intensive programming and the programming controls during the first twelve months will be provided by the cochlear implant team of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC). Specifically, children are cared for at the Montreal Children's Hospital, and adults are cared for at the Royal Victoria Hospital.
Early activation will not be part of the MUHC's clinical practice at the outset of service delivery. However, the intention is to integrate this practice as soon as possible. In this context, users will have a two-week recovery period before activation and the start of initial intensive programming.
After the first year, programming controls will be provided by the Lethbridge-Layton-Mackay Rehabilitation Centre of the CIUSSS Centre-Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal or by the Centre de réadaptation en déficience physique Raymond-Dewar of the CIUSSS Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal.
There is no change for intensive functional rehabilitation following surgery. It is provided by the rehabilitation center in the user's region or by one of the CIUSSS mentioned above, if the regional rehabilitation center does not offer this service.
How are services organized in the Quebec City area?
There are no changes.
The medical component (evaluation, surgery and medical follow-ups), early activation, initial intensive programming as well as programming controls are provided by the cochlear implant team of the CHU de Québec-Université Laval and the CIUSSS de la Capitale Nationale.
Intensive functional rehabilitation following surgery is provided by the rehabilitation center in the user's region or by the Centre de réadaptationendéficience physique de Québec of the CIUSSS de la CapitaleNationale.
How do you determine if the user resides in the west or east part of the province?
The territorial distribution established by the MSSS for the cochlear implant is as follows:
East
|
West
|
01- Bas-Saint-Laurent
|
06- Montréal
|
02- Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean
|
07- Outaouais
|
03- Capitale-Nationale
|
08- Abitibi-Témiscamingue
|
04- Mauricie-et-Centre-du-Québec
|
13- Laval
|
05- Estrie
|
14- Lanaudière
|
09- Côte-Nord
|
15- Laurentides
|
10- Nord-du-Québec
|
16- Montérégie
|
11- Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine
|
17- Nunavik
|
12- Chaudières-Appalaches
|
18- Terres-Cries-de-la-Baie-James
|
How do I apply for a cochlear implant in the West (Montreal area)?
All applications must be sent to the provincial registry of the Quebec Cochlear Implant Program which is located at the CHU de Québec-Université Laval. Depending on where the user resides, it will be determined if the appointments will be done at the point of service located in the east or west of the province. No action by the user is required.
Important: It is recommended to have a referral from a hearing specialist (e.g., audiologist, otolaryngologist, audioprosthesist) when applying for a cochlear implant.
What happens to patients who have started procedures with the CHU de Québec-Université Laval (eastern point of service), but who live in the area now served to the west?
If the user has not started the evaluation process, a file transfer is planned. The user will receive a letter informing them of the new service offer in the West as well as a consent form that they will have to sign to authorize the transfer.
If the user has begun the evaluation process, he/she is expected to continue the process at CHU de Québec-Université Laval. The following steps will be done in Quebec City: surgery, early activation, initial intensive programming. At the rehabilitation and programming control stage, the user may continue his follow-ups in Montreal if he wishes. In this case, he/she must contact the CHU de Québec-Université Laval:
Phone: 418-691-5420
E-mail: implant.cochleaire@chudequebec.ca
For patients who reside in the east part of the province (Quebec City region), are there any changes in obtaining a cochlear implant?
No, there is no change.
The user must send his or her application to the provincial registry located at the CHU de Québec-Université Laval where it will be evaluated.
CHU de Québec-Université Laval / Hôtel-Dieu de Québec
Service d’audiologie (Implant cochléaire)
11 Côte du Palais, Québec (Québec) G1R 2J6
Fax : 418-691-5377
E-mail : implant.cochleaire@chudequebec.ca
Important: It is recommended to have a referral from a hearing specialist (e.g., audiologist, otolaryngologist, audioprosthesist) when applying for a cochlear implant.
For users who reside in the east part of the province (Quebec City region) and who have already started the process with the CHU de Québec-Université Laval, are there any changes?
No, there is no change.
Can a user arrange for a cochlear implant in the east and west at the same time to get an appointment faster?
No. Once the user's application is received at the provincial registry of the Quebec cochlear implant program, it will be sorted according to their place of residence.
Are the PQIC selection criteria for obtaining a cochlear implant at the CHU de Québec-Université Laval and the McGill University Health Centre the same?
Yes, the selection criteria are the same since it is a single provincial program with two points of service (east and west).
Is early activation part of the clinical practice at the McGill University Health Centre?
Not at this time. It is planned that early activation of the cochlear implant will be implemented as soon as possible at the MUHC. For the moment, the user returns 2 weeks after surgery for activation and programming of the cochlear implant.
In the Eastern Point of Care (Quebec City area), the activation of the cochlear implant is performed the day after the surgery and the user usually returns 2 weeks later for the initial intensive programming.
For users whose files are transferred to the McGill University Health Centre (Montreal region), is there an impact on the position on the waiting list or on the delay in obtaining the surgery?
There is no impact on the position on the waiting list.
When will users be able to have their assessment in Montreal?
The order on the waiting list will be respected. It is expected that the first users will be seen during the month of October 2022.
When will users be able to have cochlear implant surgery in Montreal?
The order on the waiting list will be respected. The first surgery will be scheduled for early 2023.