GBGH’s first baby of 2024 has arrived! Baby girl, Fallon Violet Desjardins was born on Tuesday, January 2, 2024 at 6:42 p.m., weighing in at 6 pounds and 4 ounces. Proud parents Shawndelle and Jesse Desjardins reside in Victoria Harbour. Mom and baby are both resting comfortably.
January 3, 2024 – Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) has launched the Housing for Healthcare website to connect staff and prospective staff with potential housing opportunities in the community. Understanding the rental housing market can be a challenge locally and a deterrent to recruitment, GBGH’s Human Resources team created this online housing resource. The hospital is continually seeking new and innovative ways to encourage potential recruits to join its team of talented people.
In line with the hospital’s goal of having talented team members providing the highest quality of care, assisting with access to housing opportunities for potential and current employees has become increasingly crucial.
“This community is an incredible one in which to live for many reasons, including the recreational opportunities available,” says Angela Wiggins, vice president, People & Culture and chief human resources officer, GBGH. “We want GBGH team members to have work-life balance so they can enjoy all the area has to offer, but it’s hard to do that without a local home. If rental housing is a barrier to highly-skilled staff selecting our hospital for their career, then we want to do what we can to remove that obstacle. Our aim is not only to fulfil this essential need, but also to attract and retain top talent as part of our team providing excellent care.”
Through Housing for Healthcare GBGH has created an online housing marketplace, providing property owners with forum to post info and photos about their rental housing. GBGH Human Resources will direct potential hires to this resource if housing is identified as a deciding factor in recruitment. The available listings can also be viewed by any candidates considering GBGH online.
The hospital already has community members reaching out about the availability of their rental property for staff or physicians, so it was a logical step to build an official online marketplace.
“I have been working with GBGH for two years now, providing a fully furnished suite for locum physicians looking for short-term accommodation,” says Anne Croteau, property owner. “Our house is located within an easy 5-minute walk to the hospital, making it ideal for those on-call days. We have received so much positive feedback from physicians who are very grateful for a close and comfortable stay while providing so much support and care to our community. We are thankful for the opportunity to do our part in providing a warm and welcoming touchdown space.”
Community engagement and support in this initiative are pivotal to its success. To register a property with GBGH’s Housing for Healthcare site, please visit – https://gbgh.on.ca/housing-for-healthcare/
Contact:
Jennifer Moore
Director, Communications & Community Relations
Georgian Bay General Hospital
705-526-1300 ext. 5177
Photo: Georgian Bay General Hospital team members gathered to celebrate the completion of the x-ray room renovations in one of the hospital’s two rooms. From left: Linda Gravel, vice president, Clinical Services and Chief Nursing Executive; Allison Cramp, team lead, Diagnostic Imaging; Victoria Ansell, medical radiation technologist; Dr. Nick Lougheed, chief of Diagnostic Imaging; Erin Kominek, manager of Diagnostic Imaging; Karen Redpath, director of Clinical Services; Matthew Lawson, president and CEO; and Aly Wang, project manager.
December 19, 2023 – Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) has just completed a major renovation project within its Diagnostic Imaging department to update two x-ray rooms and install the latest technology. The renovation, which began in late September, was necessary to replace previous x-ray equipment which was near end-of-life and could not keep up with the current workload done by the GBGH’s imaging team. Last year, GBGH completed over 37,000 X-rays.
This renovation and the new equipment were possible due to funds provided to the hospital by the GBGH Foundation and the Simcoe County Hospital Alliance, which supports area hospitals and the care they provide close to home for the communities they serve.
“The complete replacement of both x-ray rooms at GBGH means we are able to better meet the increasing demand for x-rays based on population growth and a large proportion of seniors in our area,” says Erin Kominek, manager, Diagnostic Imaging, Cardiorespiratory and Laboratory, GBGH. “The new x-ray machines provide clearer images, and are more reliable to keep up with the high volume of x-rays we perform every day at GBGH on a walk-in basis, as well as in emergency scenarios.”
The renovations to the two x-ray rooms were completed one at a time over the fall, with one room always in operation to continue meeting patient needs.
“Investing in new technology to improve patient experiences and outcomes is a strategic priority for our hospital,” says Matthew Lawson, president and CEO, GBGH. “The new x-ray rooms are an essential part of providing the latest technology to support team members in performing their work and improving our services in alignment with current and anticipated needs of our community.”
Over the next several years, GBGH is further enhancing the Diagnostic Imaging program by adding Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) services. The hospital anticipates launching this service in early 2025, pending final approvals and construction of a 2,500 square foot addition to the existing Diagnostic Imaging department.
Contact:
Jennifer Moore
Director, Communications & Community Relations
Georgian Bay General Hospital
705-526-1300 ext. 5177
November 27, 2023 – Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH), in consultation with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, has officially declared the COVID-19 outbreak over on its 1 North inpatient unit.
The outbreak, originally declared November 15, included nine patients who contracted COVID-19 while receiving care at the hospital.
During the outbreak only essential visitors were permitted on the unit. Now, visitation will now return to the regular 24 hours/7 days a week visitation for all visitors to the unit
Contact:
Jennifer Moore
Director, Communications & Stakeholder Relations
Georgian Bay General Hospital
705-526-1300 ext. 5177
moorejen@gbgh.on.ca
November 21, 2023 – Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH), in consultation with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, has officially declared the COVID-19 outbreak over on its 2 East inpatient unit.
The outbreak, originally declared November 15, included six patients who contracted COVID-19 while receiving care at the hospital.
During the outbreak only essential visitors were permitted on the unit. Now, visitation will now return to the regular 24 hours/7 days a week for all visitors to the unit.
Contact:
Jennifer Moore
Director, Communications & Community Relations
Georgian Bay General Hospital
705-526-1300 ext. 5177
November 20, 2023 – Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH), in consultation with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, has officially declared the COVID-19 outbreak over on its 2 North inpatient unit.
The outbreak, originally declared October 31, included 10 patients who contracted COVID-19 while receiving care at the hospital.
During the outbreak only essential visitors were permitted on the unit. Now, visitation will now return to the regular 24 hours/7 days a week for all visitors to the unit.
Contact:
Jennifer Moore
Director, Communications & Community Relations
Georgian Bay General Hospital
705-526-1300 ext. 5177
November 13, 2023 – An outbreak of COVID-19 has been declared on the 1 North Complex Continuing Care and Rehabilitation unit at Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH), in collaboration with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit. The outbreak includes five patients who contracted COVID-19 while receiving care at the hospital.
Enhanced cleaning and other infection prevention and control measures – including increased testing of patients and staff – are in place. Visitation to the unit is limited to essential caregivers only and the unit is closed to admissions at this time. Universal masking and eye protection is required for anyone entering a unit experiencing an outbreak.
Contact:
Jennifer Moore
Director, Communications & Community Relations
Georgian Bay General Hospital
705-526-1300 ext 5177
Adding magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) services at Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) requires an addition to be built on the existing Diagnostic Imaging department. Renderings of the expansion demonstrate how the new portion will seamlessly coordinate with the front of the current building.
October 18, 2023 – Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) is several steps closer to bringing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) services to the hospital, expanding access to these important diagnostic procedures for the community. The hospital recently received approval for stages 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 of its MRI plan. Later this month, GBGH will submit stages 2.1 and 2.2 together to the Ministry of Health in an effort to expedite the approval process and begin construction sooner on an addition to the existing hospital which will house the future MRI.
The 2,500 square foot expansion has been designed to seamlessly fit within the front of the hospital’s existing façade, sharing architectural elements with the Emergency department which was redeveloped in 2018, and original main entrance. GBGH aims to begin construction on the expansion during the first half of 2024.
“GBGH’s building was constructed in 1976, long before it was determined an MRI would ever be available in Midland,” says Matthew Lawson, president and CEO, GBGH. “We don’t have the physical space to accommodate the MRI in our existing Diagnostic Imaging department so after careful consideration of what is the lowest cost option with the fastest construction timelines, the decision was made to build an expansion. We have been proactively working with architects and engineers so we are ready to begin construction as soon as possible. We know the process of adding a new service of this scale and scope takes time, but MRI services are much-needed in our community. We don’t want to delay access for our patients now that we’re well into the approval process.”
In addition to the hospital planning ahead for construction by conducting geo-technical drilling to determine the foundational supports needed for the building, and finalizing detailed architectural and mechanical plans, training for the new equipment has also begun. GBGH is already preparing staffing to be ready for MRI operations. The hospital has hired a medical radiation technologist qualified in MRI and has an existing staff member already undergoing comprehensive education to operate the MRI. Ideally, GBGH hopes to perform its first scan in the first quarter of 2025, which would make it approximately two years from approval to being operational.
GBGH initially applied for an MRI in 2022 as part of the hospital’s ongoing strategy to grow its services in alignment with community needs. In February 2023, representatives from the provincial government visited GBGH to announce the hospital will receive $800,000 in annual operating funding. This enables GBGH to run the MRI for 2,000 hours per year – or eight hours per day, five days a week – which will meet the needs of an estimated 2,000 local patients. Given the increasing demand for these services, GBGH estimates it could eventually double the number of hours it is running.
GBGH’s future MRI will not only serve the hospital’s immediate community, it will assist in adding capacity to the system which reduces wait times across the region. The addition of an MRI in the hospital’s Diagnostic Imaging department will reduce wait times as area residents can be seen in Midland, making more appointments available at local hospitals for patients located in neighbouring communities.
Since receiving initial approval for these services at GBGH, the hospital Foundation has been fundraising to purchase the equipment and help fund construction for the MRI. With a goal of raising $4 million, the Foundation has already been successful in nearly reaching the half-way point of $2 million. This has been possible through generous support from community contributions and the recent Power of Giving Gala which raised $654,000 for the MRI.
“The feedback from our community has been absolutely amazing,” says Katie Houston, chair, GBGH Foundation Board of Directors. “So many people have been impacted by MRI technology, and truly understand the value of bringing this service to GBGH. We have had such incredible support from individuals, businesses, community groups and organizations, and we are excited to see the construction get underway.”
Contact:
Jennifer Moore
Director, Communications & Community Relations, GBGH
705-526-1300 ext 5177
Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) kicked of its annual influenza immunization campaign this week for staff, professional staff and team members. Each year, hundreds of frontline team members, as well as support services, leaders and administrative staff receive their flu shot from GBGH’s Occupational Health and Safety department as part of their commitment to patient safety. From left – Erin Couper, safety and wellness officer, GBGH; Linda Gravel, vice president of Clinical Services and chief nursing executive, GBGH; Matthew Lawson, president and CEO, GBGH; and Judy Schell, manager, Occupational Health and Safety, GBGH.
October 13, 2023 – Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) launched its annual influenza immunization campaign this week in the hospital’s efforts to ensure patient, visitor and team safety during the upcoming flu season. During the campaign staff, professional staff (physicians, midwives, dentists) and volunteers are encouraged to receive their flu shot at the hospital to protect patients, themselves, their loved ones and their colleagues.
“When we run our influenza immunization campaign at GBGH every year, I’m always impressed by the high number of staff, professional staff and volunteers who embrace the opportunity to receive their flu shot,” says Judy Schell, manager, Occupational Health & Safety, GBGH. “The GBGH team is committed to patient safety and it shows in their enthusiasm to be vaccinated for the protection of patients and themselves. We want to be here and healthy to provide excellent, personalized care for patients, so immunization is an important part of ensuring that is possible.”
GBGH makes influenza vaccination a top priority every year based on two main considerations – ensuring its team of staff, professional staff and volunteers don’t pass along influenza to patients, as well as ensuring its team is healthy to provide care to patients when they need the hospital.
To make receiving the flu vaccine as convenient as possible, GBGH’s Occupational Health & Safety department is visiting all GBGH departments and also running additional clinics to ensure as many of its team members as possible receive a flu shot.
As part of the hospital’s ongoing COVID precautions, all patients and visitors are asked to self-screen upon entering the building for symptoms of COVID, which can be similar to influenza. All patients and visitors are asked to wear a hospital-provided mask and practice hand hygiene when entering GBGH at the main or Emergency department entrances. Mandatory masking was reinstated by GBGH on October 5 in most areas of the hospital in response to elevated rates of respiratory illness in the community.
Contact:
Jennifer Moore
Director of Communications & Community Relations, GBGH
705-526-1300 ext 5177
October 4, 2023 – Effective Thursday, October 5, Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) is reinstating mandatory masking in most areas of the hospital in response to elevated rates of respiratory illness in the community, including COVID-19. This change in masking protocol applies to anyone attending the hospital, including patients, visitors, hospital staff, professional staff, and volunteers.
“We have the health and safety of patients and team members at top of mind in making this decision to return to masking in most areas of the hospital,” says Matthew Lawson, president and CEO, GBGH. “As with all major decisions at GBGH, this renewed masking mandate was based on evidence and careful consideration as we’ve seen an increase in respiratory illness within the community. I can assure you that much like other changes we’ve made in our policies throughout the pandemic, this is being done in the interests of protecting patients, staff and our community.”
Masks will once again be required in all common areas of the hospital such as corridors and waiting rooms, as well as any patient care/clinical areas. These areas include the Emergency department, diagnostic imaging, inpatient units, the intensive care unit, surgical services and obstetrics.
Visitors and patients are required to wear a hospital-provided mask upon entry to the building with the expectation the mask will be worn for the duration of their visit. Visitors and patients must wash their hands upon entering/exiting the building, and are expected to self-screen for symptoms of illness.
The reinstatement of masking does not impact GBGH’s current visitation policy which allows 24/7 family presence. Visitors will now be expected to wear a mask throughout their entire visit, including while in a patient room.
Contact:
Jennifer Moore
Director, Communications & Community Relations
Georgian Bay General Hospital
705-526-1300 ext 5177
