The General Internal Medicine program is the heart and soul of University Health Network (UHN). This team of doctors, nurses and other medical professionals are the unsung heroes of our hospital, touching the lives of so many patients in every department, every day.
While many UHN patients are treated for a single-organ issue, like a heart attack or kidney disease, many more are dealing with multiple and complex problems. That’s where the General Internal Medicine department comes in.
The Swiss army knife of medicine
General Internal Medicine are a nimble team of problem solvers who diagnose and care for patients with multi-system diseases. They are masters of complex care. In fact, about 40 per cent of UHN’s patients are under the care of the General Internal Medicine team, which is responsible for more inpatient beds than any other department.
Dr. Jessica Liu, General Internal Medicine Division Head, is extremely proud of her colleagues. “There’s no other team like it. We excel at doing more with less and can be very creative when it comes to developing patient-based solutions to care,” she says.
GIM was instrumental throughout COVID-19
The pandemic demonstrated just how valuable the General Internal Medicine area of expertise is both on a local and national scale. The department cared for 70 per cent of all UHN patients with COVID-19 while also leading the country in innovative COVID-19 patient protocols and care models.
“We had to become experts in a disease that didn’t exist before,” Dr. Jessica Liu explains, “yet patients were coming through the door and needed care. This is where General Internal Medicine excels.”
Focus on patient-centred care
General Internal Medicine physicians are specialists who take care of some UHN’s most complex patients. At the heart of it all is a commitment to exceptional patient care.
Although the approach and treatment are tailored to each individual patient, the goal is always the same: do whatever it takes to help patients get better so they can go home faster, stay out of the hospital longer and go back to their lives as parents, grandparents, spouses, best friends, and colleagues.
This focus on patient-centred care is what makes General Internal Medicine the heart and soul of UHN. As Dr. Liu explains, “Nearly everyone, or someone they love, will be admitted to a general medicine ward at some point in their life. We make sure every single patient is cared for. No one falls through the cracks, and no one is left behind.”
GO BEHIND THE SCENES
Register today to join our virtual presentation and go behind the scenes of General Internal Medicine (GIM) at University Health Network (UHN). Learn more about the creative patient-based approach embraced by this department and the role this incredible team plays in serving our community at the local, national and international level.
Featuring: Dr. Jessica Liu, Division Head, General Internal Medicine
WHEN: Thursday, May 11, 2023
PRESENTATION: 4 – 5 p.m.
WHERE: Virtual via YouTube live stream
If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected] or 416-603-5300