About ShouldiceHernia Hospital
Discover The Shouldice Difference
Shouldice is the only hospital in the world exclusively designed and equipped to deliver ”The Shouldice Experience.“ From our estate-like setting to our dedicated staff and attentive patient care, everything at Shouldice has been carefully planned for your comfort and convenience. People travel to Shouldice from every corner of the globe because they know they can trust us with their hernia repair. We offer a complete and holistic recovery program that promotes healing and encourages a rapid return to normal activities.
Our Mission, Vision And Values
Our Mission
To deliver the world’s best surgical outcomes and patient experience in hernia treatment.
Our Vision
To continue to be the patient’s “provider of choice” in hernia treatment and be a global leader in hernia education and research.
Our Core Values
With an unwavering focus on our patients and commitment to our staff, the following values form the foundation of Shouldice Hospital’s operating culture.
Quality/Excellence
We will exceed the expectations of our patients by delivering the best surgical outcome and highest quality patient experience.
Integrity
We will adhere to the highest moral principles and standards of professionalism and ethics through our commitment to deal with patients and their families at all times with respect, honesty, confidentiality, transparency and trust.
Compassion
We will deliver world-class care to our patients by providing a supportive, sensitive and empathetic environment at all times.
Shouldice Hospital was established in 1945 by Dr. Edward Earle Shouldice (1890-1965), inventor of the Shouldice Repair.
Dr. Shouldice developed his innovative technique during World War II, to help young men who were unable to enlist in the military because of their hernias. His unique repair method improved surgical results and reduced recovery time, quickly restoring the young recruits to physical fitness for military training.
As news of Dr. Shouldice’s success spread, there was a growing demand for hernia surgery. But doctors and hospital space were scarce after the war and wait times for surgery were long. Dr. Shouldice responded to the problem by founding his own hospital.
Shouldice Hospital opened with a single operating room and a waiting list of 300 eager patients. Working with only a nurse, secretary and cook for support, Dr. Shouldice repaired two hernias a day. Requests for his remarkable surgery grew and the hospital soon expanded, adding more staff and more buildings. In 1953, Dr. Shouldice purchased a beautiful country estate in Thornhill, Ontario, just minutes from downtown Toronto, which eventually became the Shouldice Hospital’s new home.
Today, two generations later, Shouldice Hospital has grown far beyond its early beginnings to become the world’s leading centre of excellence for hernia repair. With the support and guidance of the founder’s son, Dr. Byrnes Shouldice and daughter, Mrs. W.H. Urquhart and their respective families, Shouldice has developed into a modern, 89-bed facility with five specialized operating suites, an expert team of hernia surgeons and nurses, and a dedicated staff of over 150 people.
Start your Journey to Recovery
Our Staff
Our Doctors
Shouldice Hospital has the most experienced team of hernia surgeons in the world. All our surgeons have undergone speciality training in our tension-free, natural tissue hernia repair technique and perform on average over 700 hernia repairs per year…more than a typical general surgeon does in a lifetime. At Shouldice, our current team has collectively performed over 100,000 abdominal wall hernia surgeries.
All staff surgeons, regardless of their prior experience, are required to complete an extensive introductory training period, during which time they learn our specialized repair technique that requires the use of mesh in less than 2% of all cases. First, they must assist a Shouldice surgical team for at least 50 operations before they are permitted to perform the Shouldice Repair. As this gold-standard technique can take even an experienced surgeon several months to master, each of our surgeons must further complete up to 100 supervised operations under the watchful eye of a senior staff surgeon before being approved as the leader of a surgical team. This commitment to surgical excellence through comprehensive training is just one of the many ways that Shouldice delivers the safest, and most reliable, hernia repair in the world. Some surgeons may say that they can perform the Shouldice Repair, but no one in the world can replicate our success in repairing abdominal wall hernias.
Our surgeons’ collective credentials include licensing and accreditation from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, Royal College of Surgeons of Canada (FRCSC) and the American College of Surgeons (FACS).
Our Nurses
Good nursing care helps to speed recovery and reduce complications. All of our nurses are trained in the specific care routines designed at Shouldice to meet the needs of hernia patients. Warm, caring and knowledgeable, Shouldice nurses bring compassion and confident guidance to the Shouldice experience.
Our Stupport Staff
Excellent medical and nursing care are important to a healthy recovery, however, it takes much more than that to create a positive, patient-centred healing environment. Shouldice employs a dedicated support team, and each staff member plays a vital role in the well-being of our patients. From the minute you walk through the door, our receptionists take care of your needs and help you feel comfortable and welcome. Every meal is prepared on-site by our kitchen staff and served with a cheerful smile.
An experienced staff of housekeepers and maintenance professionals keep the stately hospital buildings and manicured grounds in magnificent condition. And the diligent people in our accounting, records and administration departments efficiently manage the many details of admission, patient care, patient insurance forms, discharge and continuing follow-up care.
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