Patient Services

Shouldice patients have said again and again, how much they enjoy the Shouldice experience. When you come to our clinic for an examination, Shouldice staff will welcome you and arrange for a personal consultation with one of our experienced hernia surgeons.

If hernia repair is right for you, we‘ll set a hospital admission date that is convenient for your schedule. If you would like diet counselling to help prepare for your surgery, we have a registered dietitian on staff to offer the help and support you need.

Once you‘re admitted to the hospital, you‘ll meet other hernia patients. Some of the patients will already have been through the operation and will be happy to offer reassurance and support. We’ve found that this peer-to-peer mentoring is important. The buddy system helps to reduce stress and anxiety and prepares you for a confident recovery.

Studies show that half of all recurrent hernias develop many years after the original repair. The techniques used by the hernia specialists at Shouldice dramatically reduce the risk of recurrent hernias to approximately 1% over a lifetime. But sometimes recurrences do happen.

Care and service do not stop once you leave Shouldice Hospital. We provide a lifetime of support to all our patients through our annual follow-up program. We‘ll keep in touch every year and offer you an opportunity to have your hernia repair checked and monitored by our surgeons. Over 3,000 patients receive follow-up examinations at our hospital every year and we offer remote clinics for patients who live farther away from Shouldice.

At Shouldice, we have one of the largest databases on hernia repair in the world. Since 1945, we have been gathering data from our follow-up examinations. We use this information to refine our surgical techniques and document the success of our hernia repairs. We now have detailed records on more than 400,000 patients and maintain one of the most comprehensive database on hernia repair in the world.

We realize that the healing process can be challenging, and we strive to offer our patients the best environment and services possible to promote a smooth and healthy recovery.

As part of our Shouldice Experience, our patients have access to an on-site Registered Massage Therapist as they recover. Our therapist offers a gentle type of full-body massage that is ideal for relaxing and reducing muscle tension.

Massage therapy offers many benefits following hernia surgery. They include pain reduction, improved circulation, alleviation of anxiety, and decreased inflammation. During treatment, the main goal of massage therapy is to increase mobility, decrease pain, relax muscles, and speed up the healing process.

Our patients will have the opportunity to meet the massage therapist on the day of their admission to ask questions and learn more about the benefits of massage therapy.

Appointments are easily booked at any time following admission. This service includes a fee, which is often covered by insurance. An RMT receipt will be provided for your insurance carrier.