In Innisfil’s Nov. 11 Council meeting – before the meeting was cut short by YouTube issues and hackers – Councillors heard a presentation by Stevenson Memorial Hospital CEO and President, Dr. Jody Levac.
The Alliston hospital, which was built in 1964, is in the midst of a campaign to redevelop and expand.
“I have two objectives this evening,” Dr. Levac told councillors – not only to bring council up-to-date on specific projects, but also the “journey to getting the hospital redeveloped.”
When it was built, the Emergency Room was expected to have a maximum capacity of 7,000 visits per year.
“We last year saw close to 40,000 people here,” said Dr. Levac – more than 10 per cent of whom were Innisfil residents.
The hospital has been looking not only at expanding its Emergency capacity, but also transforming its ICU, to provide Level 2 care. Currently, patients have to travel south to Newmarket or north to Barrie’s RVH, “because we are unable to take care of higher acuity patients,” he said.
The ICU has been upgraded in advance of other redevelopment plans, and is now set to open in January. Other updates – including the hiring of respiratory therapists, and improvements to the Trauma Room, have also gone ahead “because we can’t wait. We can’t wait for the update.”
Stevenson Memorial has stepped up to address the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Levac noted. “We ran a drive-through Covid-19 assessment centre in the parking lot during the summer months,” he said. Now, with winter approaching, “we are looking at a winterized facility,” in a drive-through heated structure.
“As you know, the numbers are going the wrong way, so we need to be vigilant,” he said.
As for the redevelopment plan, Stevenson Memorial received Stage 1 approval from the Ministry of Health and Capital branch – but that approval was for only 35 beds, three less than currently exist.
“This is certainly a battle, back and forth,” Dr. Levac acknowledged, suggesting that with the lack of beds, “We have no choice but hallway medicine.”
Fortunately, in pushing ahead with a Stage 2 draft, the hospital was able to persuade the ministry that a minimum of 47 beds were necessary.
The good news is that the capital for the redevelopment of Stevenson Memorial remains in the Provincial health budget.
The bad news is that the province covers only 90 percent of the total.
Stevenson Memorial is estimating that the “local” share of costs for redevelopment will come to $30 million, plus additional funds for equipment and new state-of-the-art technology.
Last year, the Stevenson Memorial Hospital Foundation launched a $43 million capital campaign, Because of you, we can.
Fortunately, the hospital has already raised about half of the dollar amount needed, thanks in large part to support from Honda, the County of Simcoe, and the Nottawasaga Foundation, Dr. Levac noted.
But looking to the future of hospitals, he suggested, “Many of us are having to approach municipalities” for funding.
The original plan was to rebuild Stevenson Memorial Hospital on a new greenfield site, but that was turned down. Instead, the current 11.8 acres on Fletcher St. in Alliston will be “maximized,” with a wrap-around building that will triple the hospital size, provide a new entrance for ambulance drop-offs, an improved heliport, and a new model that concentrates inpatient and nursing care.
As COVID-19 has shown, “everybody needs to have their own room,” so that wards will be a thing of the past, said Levac.
“Folks in Innisfil have been very kind,” the CEO told councillors, providing personal protective equipment and meals for frontline workers at the hospital.
It reflects the character of the facility, he said. “Stevenson is a community hospital. We’re not trying to be a regional health centre.”
Mayor Lynn Dollin asked what percentage of hospital beds were occupied by “alternative level of care” patients – largely seniors, waiting for available beds in long term care facilities.
Over 20 percent, was the response. “That’s a growing problem in Simcoe County. COVID certainly hasn’t helped,” Dr. Levac said. “Because of those outbreaks (in long term care centres) it’s hard to get people back where they are supposed to be.”
Council was initially set to just receive the presentation for information. Coun. Rob Nicol proposed an amendment, referring the information to staff to also look at funding options.
Nicol’s amendment passed unanimously.
“Thank you for supporting your community hospital,” said Dr. Levac. “We’ll be here when you need us most.”
After the meeting, Mayor Dollin noted, "Innisfil is pleased to see Stevenson Memorial moving forward with a much-needed redevelopment, as many of our residents count on the services of SMH."
Anyone wishing to donate to Stevenson Memorial’s capital campaign can visit the Foundation’s website by clicking here, and then clicking on “Donate Now.”
