Ear, Nose, and Throat Services Expanding at NHH

A new physician at Northumberland Hills Hospital (NHH) will mean an increase in access close to home for patients needing ear, nose, or throat (ENT) related surgeries. Dr. Gabriel Fuoco, a specialist in Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, began operating with the Surgical Services department at NHH to perform certain day surgeries one day a month as of February.

Dr. Fuoco has been the Division Head of ENT at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) since completing his residency through the University of Toronto in 2004 and sees expanding his services to NHH as a way to further strengthen the relationship between the two hospitals and also reduce travel time for patients. He is particularly interested in the anatomy of the head and neck and appreciates the large variety of patients he is able to interact with and help through his chosen specialty.

“The Surgical Services team works hard to maximize the utilization of our operating rooms and to increase the services we offer in our community,” says Joanne Jury, Patient Care Manager, Perioperative and Ambulatory Care Services. “The addition of visiting specialists, like Dr. Fuoco, is one way we can do this.”

ENT surgical services have long been available at NHH. Most recently, they have been available with Dr. Gavin Rukholm, also a specialist in Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery at PRHC. Dr. Rukholm completed his residency in this specialty through McMaster University in 2013 and continues to operate at NHH.

The ENT services at NHH include adenoidectomy, tonsillectomy, rhinoplasty, myringoplasty, tympanoplasty, and septoplasty surgeries, as well as ventilating tubes. Patients in need of ENT services can be referred directly by their general practitioner.

With the addition of Dr. Fuoco, NHH will now have a total of 16 surgeons operating within its Surgical Services department. This increase will mean a growth in ENT services available in Northumberland County moving forward.

As well as ENT day surgeries, patients are able to receive surgical procedures at NHH in general surgery, gynecology, dentistry, plastic surgery, orthopedic scopes, urology, and ophthalmology.

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