Regional Healthcare Provider Seeks Input to Create a World-Class Health Experience
Vaughan/Richmond Hill, ON – Mackenzie Health has made great strides in planning the Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital and future enhanced services at the Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital and is proud to share its progress with the community at its fall community consultation sessions.
These community consultation sessions, held in Vaughan and Richmond Hill, are an opportunity to provide an update as planning continues for our vision to create a world-class health experience for Southwest York Region. These open forums are the next step in Mackenzie Health’s community engagement strategy. To date, over 1200 people have participated in our many engagement opportunities, including open houses and online surveys. This includes presentations to ratepayers groups, seniors groups, service clubs, religious organizations and community based health partners.
As Mackenzie Health works to create a world-class health experience, it will rely on the following planning principles: quality, accessibility, affordability, flexibility and engagement. Using these principals as a foundation, the Stage 2 plan will further define the size and scope of services as part of our two-hospital model of care. It will also identify bed numbers, service volume projections and technical parameters to be used by architects to further develop and refine the architectural plan for the new Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital.
Mackenzie Health’s innovative model of care will be governed by one Board of Directors and managed by one administration in order to maximize use of resources towards front-line care. It focuses on high-quality and cost-efficient patient-centred care as well as integrated health services to be delivered as close to home as possible. The plan ensures there is maximum flexibility to allow for adapting to rapid growth in population, service needs and continuous advancements in technologies, medications and disease management.
The need for additional health services in Southwest York Region is great; we are anticipating a 35% growth in population over the next 20 years. This tremendous growth, combined with one of the larger aging populations in the province, means demand for services already outpaces the ability of the existing Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital to meet the community’s rapidly growing needs. No single site can accommodate this much combined growth and a broad range of health services will be required for a population of this size.
Mackenzie Health’s two hospital model of care will see substantial growth in patient care services, including: 66% more acute inpatient beds (comprised of beds in Obstetrics, Pediatrics, Medical, Surgical and Mental Health); 39% more surgical procedures; 50% more critical care; 55% more rehabilitation and complex care beds; 36% more diagnostics; and 31% more ambulatory/outpatient care.
Based on current plans, both Mackenzie Vaughan and Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospitals will have: Emergency Departments, Intensive Care Units, Operating Rooms, Acute Care Beds, Clinical and Support Services. Specialized regional services, such as: Seniors/Chronic Care, Chronic Kidney Disease, Complex Continuing Care, Rehabilitation, District Stroke Centre, Mental Health, Birthing (Obstetrics) and Pediatrics will be strengthened and expanded. Mackenzie Health will also utilize a network of community-based locations to provide additional services.
Mackenzie Health and its healthcare team are available to update the community on its planning progress. Community groups with 25 or more members are welcome to participate in our ongoing community consultations by contacting Mackenzie Health’s Communications and Public Affairs Department at publicaffairs@mackenziehealth.ca or calling 905-883-1212 ext. 7282.
Quotes
“As one of the fastest growing communities in Canada, Southwest York Region needs expanded health services. Mackenzie Health will be here to meet these needs today and tomorrow,” said Dina Palozzi, Chair, Board of Directors, Mackenzie Health. “Residents in our region will benefit from this much-needed investment into local healthcare services.”
“This innovative model of care with two hospitals and a network of community service locations further demonstrates our ability to bring the best of healthcare to our local communities,” stated Altaf Stationwala, President and CEO, Mackenzie Health. “Working together, we are committed to providing a world-class health experience for the resident of Southwest York Region.”