News from Consultation SIDA for Quebec Healthcare Professionals

The McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) is pleased to announce that effective April 1, 2001, a network of physicians specialized in HIV/AIDS will make it possible for Consultation SIDA, coordinated by the Montreal Chest Institute of the Royal Victoria Hospital, to offer its telephone consultation service on a 24/7 basis.

In fact, four Quebec hospital centres now have teams specialized in HIV/AIDS; they are known collectively as Unités hospitalières de recherche, d'enseignement et de soins sur le sida (UHRESS), (Centres for excellence in research, education and AIDS care). In addition to the MUHC, this project will incorporate the CHUM, the CHUL and Hôpital Sainte-Justine. Now, at night, on holidays and on weekends, physicians from these four hospital centres will share the responsibility of advising Quebec healthcare professionals who are faced with medical emergencies related to HIV/AIDS.

The on-duty physician will give advice on emergency interventions related to HIV/AIDS. For example, an AIDS specialist can be consulted on how to treat a nurse who has just been exposed to HIV through an accidental needle stick or to establish a treatment plan for an HIV+ patient with severe pulmonary disease.

Founded in 1993, Consultation SIDA is a free province-wide telephone consultation service through which healthcare professionals can contact a team of HIV/AIDS experts; this service was formerly available during business hours only.