Established in 2011, the Surgical Hearing Implant Program (SHIP) was funded to expand treatment options for Manitobans with severe-to-profound hearing loss and eliminate the need for residents to travel out-of-province for implant surgery and (re)habilitation.  Prior to SHIP, patients were flown out of province to receive implant surgery, with post-operative care provided at Health Sciences Centre and audiological management at the Central Speech and Hearing Clinic

SHIP is comprised of dedicated otologists, audiologists, and auditory-verbal therapists who work collaboratively to ensure the most state-of-the-art technology and surgical techniques are offered to Manitobans of all ages.  To date, hundreds of Manitobans have received life-changing technology to restore their ability to hear and communicate, allowing them to (re)connect with family and friends and lead full, productive lives.   

As healthcare professionals, we work together on quality assurance, accountability to funders, and transparency to the public. We strive to improve current processes in order to streamline patient flow and reduce unnecessary appointments. We collaborate on advanced research in our field and contribute our work to peer-reviewed publications.  We constantly adjust program policies to better meet the needs of Manitobans with hearing loss as technology advances and criteria for implantation expands.   

As an implant team, we work with a variety of global implant manufacturers and Canadian implant centres to offer patients many options for their hearing restoration and aural rehabilitation, while ensuring the standard of care in Manitoba aligns closely with the rest of Canada. 

As patient-advocates, we work closely with Government to ensure appropriate funding is in place to increase access to hearing healthcare across the Province, develop strategies to manage risks, allocate resources appropriately, improve the quality of public health services, and ensure consistency of standards of services are provided throughout the Province. 

Surgical Hearing Program Team

Team members of the Surgical Hearing Implant Program celebrate the 250th cochlear implant recipient in Manitoba – 2018.