By Cecilia Nasmith
Northumberland Hills Hospital has announced a new staffer whose specialty will mean increased access close to home for patients who need ear-, nose- and throat-related surgeries.
Dr. Gabriel Fuoco is a specialist in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. He has begun operating with the NHH Surgical Services department on a once-monthly basis to perform certain day surgeries.
The press release provided some professional details for Dr. Fuoco, who has been the ENT Division Head at Peterborough Regional Centre since completing his residency through the University of Toronto in 2004. He sees expanding his services to NHH as a way to strengthen the relationship between the two hospitals while reducing travelling time for patients.
The doctor has a special interest in the anatomy of the head and neck, and appreciates the large variety of patients with whom he is able to interact – and whom he is able to help – through his chosen specialty.
Perioperative and Ambulatory Care Services Patient-Care Manager Joanne Jury said in the press release that the Surgical Services team works hard to maximize the utilization of the NHH operating rooms and to increase the services they can offer to the community. She sees the addition of visiting specialists like Dr. Fuoco as one was of achieving both goals.
NHH has long offered ENT surgical services - most recently through 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.
ENT services provided 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.
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.
With the addition of Dr. Fuoco, NHH will now have a total of 16 surgeons operating within its Surgical Services department. The increase will mean a growth in ENT services available in Northumberland County moving forward.
