Anna L. McGuire MD, MSc, FRCSC
Advanced Minimally Invasive Thoracic and Foregut Surgeon
Fax referrals to 604-398-8587
Phone 604-875-5290
Welcome to the Chest Centre at Vancouver General Hospital
All the information below can be found in the VCH Booklet Welcome to the Chest Centre.
The Chest Centre comprises a 34 bed unit, the Respiratory Ambulatory Unit and the Chest Special Care Unit located on the 12th floor of Jim Pattison Pavilion. We are the major referral centre for the province of BC and the Yukon for thoracic surgery, lung transplantation and respiratory medicine. We provide a multidisciplinary approach using the knowledge and skills of registered nurses, physiotherapists, social worker, respiratory therapists, patient care aides, nurse practitioner, airways educator, care management leader, patient care coordinators, clinical educators, dietitians, pharmacists, occupational therapists, respiratory physicians and thoracic surgeons. The entire health care team’s goal is to provide you with the best possible care.
The phone number for Chest Centre is: 604-875-4111
for 12A the Local is 54094 and
for 12B the Local is 54174
Visitors’ Guidelines
The support that family and friends provide to thoracic patients after surgery is an important part of their recovery. Our patients also need rest and certain treatments to help speed their recovery.
To optimize thoracic patient recovery we have adopted the following guidelines for Chest Centre visitors:
Visiting hours are 12:00 noon to 8:00 pm.
We ask that you kindly please respect patient need for privacy, peace and quiet.
Overnight stays are not permitted.
Visiting in the Chest Special Care Unit is restricted to 2 visitors and 10 minutes at a time.
Exceptions to these visiting guidelines can be discussed with the Charge Nurse, Patient Care Coordinator, or Patient Services Manager.
Chest Centre Team Members
Thoracic Surgery Nurse Practitioner (NP)
Thoracic Surgery Nurse Practitioners are advanced practice nurses with Master’s level education and additional training in assessment, diagnosis and managing health care needs. NPs are able to prescribe medicines and order tests for thoracic patients.
Registered Nurses
Registered nurses are always present on the Chest Centre. These nurses are skilled at caring for your physical as well as your psychological, emotional, and social needs. They practice according to standards developed by the College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia. Our nurses will encourage you to remain as independent as possible during your stay, and welcome family members to be actively involved in your care under their direction (i.e. washing hair, collecting drinking water, walking with you, etc.).
Thoracic Clinical Associates (CAs)
Thoracic CAs are licensed doctors in a general specialty that work closely with your Thoracic Surgeon. They will visit you daily and are responsible for your day-to-day care. They will order tests and medicines, monitor your progress, and discuss your care with your thoracic surgeon and other members of our health care team.
Physiotherapist
Remaining as mobile as possible can reduce complications during your hospital visit. The physiotherapist will assess your needs and provide you with exercises that can be done in bed such as deep breathing, coughing and leg exercises. He/she will help and encourage you to get out of bed and go for walks.
Occupational Therapist
The role of the occupational therapist is to assist you in finding new ways of performing your daily activities if you are having difficulty. The goal is to make you as independent as possible. If necessary, an occupational therapist will arrange a visit to your home after you are discharged to recommend equipment to help you to safely meet your needs.
Pharmacist
A pharmacist reviews your medicine and works with your doctor on medicine-related issues. The pharmacist is a great source of medicine information. If you have questions about your medicine, the pharmacist is available Monday to Friday to provide you with the answers.
Dietitian
The dietitian will assist you with your nutritional needs while in hospital. The information that is provided to you will also be important to your well being once you are back at home. The hospital is able to accommodate most diet requests, whether it is for health or religious reasons. Requests should be discussed with your dietitian or nurse.
Spiritual Care
The hospital has a chaplain on call 24-hours a day. If you wish to speak with the chaplain, your nurse can page him or her and have them visit you at the Chest Centre. We are sensitive to the multifaith and multicultural diversities within the hospital.
Social Worker
During your hospital stay, a Social Worker is available as required to meet with you and your family to provide emotional support, to review community resources, and to assist with discharge planning. Patient and family members can request to speak with a Social Worker from Monday to Friday to discuss their concerns.