Access to care for patients in Windsor-Essex living with Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD) has recently increased thanks to the Ontario government’s recent provincial expansion funding.
This funding expansion supports the Ontario government’s publicly funded Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) program at 15 sites across the province, with 18 rTMS devices that are estimated to help up to 2,250 patients with TRD each year.
Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare (HDGH) is proud to be a recipient of this funding through St. Joseph’s Health Care London.
Depression and anxiety-related disorders are common. While many individuals improve with medication or psychotherapy, some do not. rTMS is a safe, effective, and non-invasive treatment for such patients. It uses magnetic pulses to stimulate targeted areas of the brain to support healing.
In early 2024, the HDGH Foundation, in collaboration with the hospital, funded a state-of-the-art BrainsWay rTMS machine to offer rTMS services to patients as part of its Neuromodulation Program at the hospital. Throughout the past two years, HDGH has self-funded rTMS services, providing care to 38 unique patients over 1,000 treatment appointments.
Through this expanded provincial funding, HDGH aims to provide treatment to even more adults living with RTD, while supporting a more integrated mental health system.
“Caring for patients with unique mental health concerns calls for unique and innovative treatment approaches,” said Bill Marra, HDGH’s President and CEO. “We are thankful to the Ontario government for funding rTMS services across the province, including here at HDGH. By working collaboratively with our community’s physicians and psychologists, we strive to ensure that the right patients receive this life-changing care.”
rTMS services are part of HDGH’s Neuromodulation Program, which offers a stepped treatment model for patients experiencing a range of serious mental illnesses and who do not necessarily respond to medication or psychotherapy. Two treatment pathways are offered through the Neuromodulation program: rTMS and Electroconvulsive Treatment (ECT). Both services are offered onsite at HDGH, located at 1453 Prince Road.
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tour video of an rTMS treatment appointment can be viewed on our HDGH YouTube channel.
Referrals to HDGH’s Neuromodulation Program for rTMS or ECT treatments must be made by a physician, nurse practitioner, or psychiatrist. One referral form is accepted for both treatment options and can be found on
our website.
This expanded provincial funding to accompany Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare’s established Neuromodulation program, will meet a significant need in our community by providing more seamless access to neuromodulation treatment for patients living with mental illness.