New space prioritizes women’s pain management while easing pressure on operating rooms
London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is raising the standard of women’s health care with the opening of the Women’s Minor Procedure Room (MPR), a dedicated space designed to reduce pain and enhance the patient experience during common gynecologic procedures.
“For decades, pain during gynecological procedures has been underrecognized and undertreated,” says Dr. Erin Lovett, obstetrician/gynecologist at LHSC. “Our new MPR is changing that narrative.”
The MPR provides conscious sedation for procedures such as IUD insertions and removals, biopsies, pap smears and pelvic exams for patients with a history of trauma. This middle ground between clinic and operating room care allows patients to remain awake but relaxed, easing fears of pain and encouraging them to seek timely treatment.
“We know the fear of pain and discomfort can cause patients to avoid care,” says Dr. Lovett. “Now we’re able to tell them we have more choices to help keep them comfortable.”
The new space offers a quieter, more personal environment staffed by only a physician and a nurse, while still being equipped with the same monitoring tools as a standard operating room. Patients benefit from greater flexibility, shorter appointments, and faster recovery – with most visits completed within an hour.
Beyond improving patient experience, the MPR also reduces strain on LHSC’s operating rooms by shifting appropriate procedures out of surgical suites. This helps shorten wait times for both minor and complex gynecologic cases and free up space for other surgical procedures in the OR.
The initiative also addresses systemic inequities and gender bias in health care, challenging the longstanding minimization of women’s pain. “This space is our way of saying, ‘we see you, we hear you, and we’re committed to making this experience less painful for you,’” says Dr. Lovett.
Looking ahead, LHSC plans to expand procedures available in the MPR to include endometrial ablations and hysteroscopies, further enhancing access to timely, compassionate care.