GBGH and Foundation
Paul Heinrich offered hs thanks for lunch, for the invitation to speak and for the Club's support over the years. Planning for renovations and additions is even harder with he LHIN because they have to be consulted as well, even though the hospital has already complied with Ministry and code requirements. He admits displaying a little impatience on occasion. They have 2.6 million from theCounty and 2.1 from the community which they hope to leverage into another 8 million from the Province.
The ED now is seeing over 40,000 patients a year which puts it in the top 40% in volume in the Province and the wait times lead in the Province in several metrics. The are projecting traffic of 60,000 by 2030. They plan to add 6,600 sq. ft. to the Department and are reaching out to the community for more partners. The grand scheme adds 160,000 sq. ft., doubling the size of the hospital in Midland but that is a 200 million project and too much to submit all at once so the are breaking it into succssive, smaller projects.
They will be taking on the accute mental health beds - 20- - and will lead efforts on complex continuing care, both of which are awesome new responsibilities which are challenging and thrilling.
Lois is a director of the Foundation and a ER dept volunteer who thinks developments are exciting. She said the Foundation is the fund raising arm for capital and staff training costs. She expressed the Foundation's gratitude for Rotary's support - over 300,000 over 10 years. She said the hospital had come close in the Pepsi Campaing - 8th ut of 90 - but they would have another chance in March to campaign for 20 more beds. She gave examples of some costs - $78,000 for a bed, $11,000 for a defib or a centrifuge, 16,000 for an ECG nd 5,300 for a stretcher and on and on. They are always trying to upgrade and replace equipment and have just finished a 1.5 million rebuild of a filing record system. Their next fund raising event will be Curl With the Pros soon.
She thinks the high rate of ED use is partly because there are no real alternatives like walk in clinics, partly because many people don't have doctors and partly because we have so many seasonal visitors. Good wait times even bring people from other areas.
The rebuild at Oak Ridge, at over a half billion, ils only for the forensic an criminal sections. It won't affect the other departments. Only Penetang still does short term addiction and accute mental health intake and they are trying to phase it out. As many, such as suicide attempts, need medical help as well, it is felt they will be better served in a hospital and as they want to keep it local, because the need is here, they are taking it on.
Bill Richardson thanked Paul for taking the time and informing us of progress and Maureen thanked Lois, saying it is fortunate that the community as advocates like her to serve us.