What this program does...

The Esophageal Diagnostic Assessment Program (EDAP) at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton (SJHH) is an innovative program designed to shorten wait times for patients with suspected esophageal cancer and/or gastric cancer in the Hamilton, Niagara, Haldimand and Brant communities.

The goal of the esophageal DAP is to reduce the worry and the wait time from suspicion of esophageal or gastric cancer to diagnosis and treatment. The primary point of contact in the EDAP is a nurse navigator who will contact all patients referred within 48 hours.

The Esophageal DAP will coordinate and arrange for all diagnostic tests (which may include Gastroscopy, CT scans, Pet scans, Pulmonary Function tests and Echocardiogram, Endoscopic Ultrasound, Endoscopic Mucosal Resection) and provides physical and emotional support.

After a person is diagnosed with esophageal or gastric cancer, the care team collaborates with other healthcare specialists such as thoracic surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, gastroenterologists, palliative care, dieticians, pharmacists, occupational therapists, social workers and physiotherapists to determine the best course of treatment. The nurse navigator will continue to be the primary point of contact and provide ongoing support and guidance as patients receive treatment.

How this program helps...

• Reduce the worry and wait - patients will be called within 48 hours of referral by the nurse navigator
• Reduce the time from referral to consultation and diagnosis (patients will be seen within 7-10 days of referral)
• A diagnosis of cancer is made or ruled out in a timely fashion
• To provide a consistent contact person (nurse navigator) and on-going support from members of the healthcare team for the entire cancer journey
• Improved access to information, education and resources for patients, families and referring healthcare providers

Your Care Team

The Nurse Navigator is the patient’s primary point of contact and guides each person through the diagnostic and treatment phases, coordinates appointments, and provides information on what to expect each step of the way. Compassionate care is provided by a dedicated team of Thoracic Surgeons, Palliative Care, Nurse Navigator, and a dietician. In collaboration with the Juravinski Cancer Centre your care will continue with a Medical Oncologists and Radiation Oncologists.

Contact

St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
Charlton Campus, Firestone Ambulatory Clinic
50 Charlton Ave East
Hamilton, ON

Tel 905-521-6190 or 1-877-801-4822
Fax 905-540-6581 or 1-877-803-4422

Referral Process

To refer patients to this program, family doctors, healthcare providers, and specialists can complete a general referral and faxing to the contact information above. 

A referral can also be made by calling or sending a fax to the EDAP clinic (contact info provided above).

We are now accepting electronic external referrals through Ocean eReferral!

Electronic referrals (through Ocean eReferral) can be sent directly from most EMRs. We can be found on the Healthmap by searching ‘EDAP’, ‘Esophageal Diagnostic Assessment Program’, or ‘St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton’. Click HERE to view the healthmap.

New to Ocean eReferral? The team at the eHealth Centre of Excellent is here to help. Please visit their website and click the ‘get started’ button: eReferral - eHealth Centre of Excellence

Preparing for Your Visit

Please bring a copy of all imaging (i.e. CT scan) on a disc to your first appointment and a list of all medications, vitamins, any herbal remedies that you are currently taking.

Please contact the diagnostic imaging department where you had the CT scan done to obtain a copy before your first appointment.

We ask that you do not bring any valuables with you as the hospital cannot be responsible for lost or stolen personal items. 

Maps and Directions

Entering through the Charlton St. Main entrance the Firestone Clinic is located to the right on the main floor of the Juravinski Innovation Tower.

Please see the following map of the Hospital for further reference.

Registration Procedures

Please enter the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health (FIRH) level 1, take a number and please be seated until your number is called.  FIRH is located in the Juravinski Innovation Tower, level 1 close to the main lobby and Tim Horton’s.

After Your Visit

If you have any questions after your visit, please contact your nurse navigator at 905.522.1155 Ext. 35894.

If you are interested in learning more about peer support please go to the Canadian Cancer Society website for more information or speak to the nurse navigator.

The Canadian Cancer Society’s website can be accessed here.

We also encourage you to view this video regarding their peer support program (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAXPUinDXuI).

If you require assistance with driving to your appointments, please contact your local Canadian Cancer Society for more information at 1-888-939-3333 or visit their website http://www.cancer.ca/en/support-and-services/support-services/transportation-on/?region=on&acc=true.

To visit Cancer Care Ontario, please go to https://www.cancercare.on.ca/cms/one.aspx?objectId=8133&contextId=1377.