Cardiologists and heart surgeons in Quebec are expressing concerns over a staffing shortage, specifically in the role of perfusionists, which is leading to delays and fatalities during heart surgeries. Dr. Bernard Cantin, the president of the Quebec Association of Cardiologists, revealed that around 80 individuals have passed away while awaiting their surgeries in the past year and a half due to this issue.
Perfusionists, often unrecognized but essential in cardiac surgeries nationwide, operate the heart-lung machine that sustains patients throughout lengthy procedures. With only approximately 375 perfusionists in Canada presently and an anticipated 40 job openings and over 60 retirements in the next five years, the shortage is becoming critical, as highlighted by the Quebec associations of cardiologists and cardiovascular and thoracic surgeons.
Despite efforts to alert the government to the growing surgical backlog since 2019, Quebec’s perfusionist positions continue to remain unfilled, with only 70 out of 92 roles occupied in the province. Consequently, the associations are planning to escalate the matter to the province’s ombudsman for action.
Recent data from Quebec indicates that over 1,300 patients were waiting for cardiac surgery as of Aug. 23, with nearly 65% facing longer-than-acceptable wait times. While Quebec’s Health Ministry downplays the impact of perfusionist shortages on surgical cancellations, the associations of cardiologists and surgeons argue otherwise, pointing out that the data fail to consider unscheduled surgeries due to staff deficiencies.
The shortage of perfusionists is not unique to Quebec, as other provinces are also grappling with similar staffing challenges. Naresh Tinani, a senior cardiovascular perfusionist and acting president of the Canadian Society of Clinical Perfusion, highlighted the profession’s low profile, demanding schedules, and competitive wages in the U.S. as contributing factors to the recruitment and retention struggles across Canada.
Yannick Pinard, president of the Quebec Perfusionists Association, echoed concerns about the difficulty in attracting and retaining perfusionists in Quebec due to better opportunities elsewhere. While efforts are being made to address the recruitment issue, such as increasing training programs, the urgency of the situation persists, raising fears of prolonged wait times and patient fatalities on surgical waitlists.
