The Centre for Interventional Radiology and Oncology (CiRO)
Pictured Above: Dr. Sriharsha Athreya, Interventional Radiologist and Sandra Reis Welsh, Registered Medical Radiation Technologist performing an interventional radiology procedure at the Centre for Interventional Radiology and Oncology at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton’s Charlton Campus.
The new Centre for Interventional Radiology & Oncology (CiRO) at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton’s Charlton Campus provides minimally invasive treatments or procedures that offer less risk, less pain and less recovery time compared to open surgery. Approximately 50% of patients who come to CiRO are receiving cancer related tests or procedures.
CiRO is part of the Diagnostic Imaging Department and is one of the 12 projects prioritized for radical transformation as part of St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton’s five year strategic plan, Mapping Our Future. CiRO’s multidisciplinary team performs a vast range of procedures ranging from angioplasty to embolization to radiofrequency ablation of tumours.
Before the centralization of Ultrasound, CT and Angio-Interventional procedures, arriving patients would be received in Day Surgery, then a porter would guide the patient down to a procedure room in Bishop Dowling, followed by the patient being led back to Day Surgery for observation and recovery. Some procedures were even completed in the building across the street from Charlton Campus.
“What we used to have was a disjointed service. We knew it was confusing for patients, for clinicians, even for our porters,” says Dr. Sriharsha Athreya, Interventional Radiologist “We were determined to redesign and streamline the service to make it patient and family centred. Today, our patient comes into CiRO, is greeted by our reception, prepared for their procedure by our team, the procedure is completed and the patient recovers – all in the same space.”
In this new centralized model, there is now one number to call for interventional radiology services, one fax number for referral and one location for patients and families to locate when they arrive.
Location:
D154, Bishop Dowling, Level One, Charlton Campus
Website:
www.stjoes.ca/CIRO
Referrals:
Please fax referrals to 905-540-6576 or call 905-522-1155 ext. 35387 for more information.