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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

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca



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

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca



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

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca



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

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca



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

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca



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

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

 



September 29, 2023 – On September 29, Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) held an event to recognize the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation which takes place across Canada every September 30. This was the hospital’s third annual event during which staff, professional staff and volunteers were invited to learn about, reflect on and remember the tragic significance of the residential school system in Canada’s history. To incorporate elements of Indigenous culture, there was smudging, a prayer, honour song, and Every Child Matters flag-raising. The event culminated with the heartfelt account of a residential school survivor, who shared insights and experiences from her 10 years in a residential school.



Victoria Ansell, medical radiation technologist, in GBGH’s Diagnostic Imaging department provides service in French to a patient after determining through active offer that French is their preferred language. 

 

September 25, 2023 – Each year on September 25, Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) recognizes Franco-Ontarian Day – a time to celebrate the unique francophone community the hospital is so proud to serve. As part of GBGH’s commitment to providing French language services in several designated departments, the hospital provides patients with an opportunity – called Active Offer – to identify if they would like to receive services in their preferred language of French. GBGH first received its partial French Language Services designation in September 2017.

 

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Director, Communications & Community Relations

Georgian Bay General Hospital

705-526-1300 ext. 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca



Dr. Christiaan Stevens, RVH radiation oncologist (left) and Dr. Muoi Tran, RVH medical physicist (right), regularly conduct research to improve the precision and efficiency of radiation therapy for patients with cancer. Here, they perform calibration tests on one of RVH’s linear accelerators, a machine used to destroy or damage cancer cells.

 

September 19, 2023 – Continuing a long history of collaboration, Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) and Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) have announced a new partnership that will expand research activities focused on improving patient care and clinical outcomes.

“As our region’s population rapidly grows over the next decade, RVH and GBGH want to be at the forefront of health system innovation,” says Gail Hunt, RVH President and CEO. “Sharing knowledge and expanding the depth and breadth of our research programs will help our hospitals find better ways to solve many of the challenges we face today, particularly those that need to be solved at a community level.”

While the partnership will initially focus on developing a joint framework for streamlining procedures, training, and ideas, GBGH can immediately leverage existing resources provided by the RVH Research Institute, a well-established, research facility within RVH, comprised of research teams and a world-class research ethics board.

“Given RVH’s size and regional scope, a partnership of this nature means GBGH can further expand our research and education resources to support our clinicians in delivering excellent care for the residents of North Simcoe,” says Matthew Lawson, GBGH president and CEO. “By investing in strong relationships that maximize our collective expertise, we hope more of our patients will be able to access new drugs, devices, or other treatment approaches which will improve their quality of care and outcomes.”

With the region experiencing rapid population growth and aging, issues that are common to RVH and GBGH today, such as chronic illness, wait times, and staffing shortages, are expected to increase as the need for specialized medical care rises.

Simply focusing on the clinical aspects of care may not be enough to address these challenges.

We’re at a pivotal time in healthcare,” says Dr. Paige Churchill, GBGH Chief of Surgery. “A broad set of social and economic factors are having a big impact on both equitable access to care and community health outcomes. There’s an urgent need for communities across the region to not only work closely together to tackle urgent health issues, but to apply research and innovative thinking to drive and communicate scientifically credible evidence that the changes we’re making are indeed benefiting patients, their families, and our staff.”

As hospitals face increasingly more complex pressures, both RVH and GBGH hope this venture will evolve to include other hospitals and community partners, particularly as new digital technologies emerge for testing and validation, including artificial intelligence, precision medicine, wearables, robotics, 3D printing, and immersive reality.

“A strong applied health research network would become a catalyst for investment and discovery,” says Dr. Giulio DiDiodato, RVH critical care physician and Chief Research Scientist. “When more hospitals collaborate, they create diverse environments that make it easier for academic and industry partners, as well as local innovators, entrepreneurs, and growing businesses, to turn their ideas into practical solutions, ultimately contributing to a healthy, prosperous, and sustainable region.”

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

705-526-1300 ext. 5177

Director of Communications and Community Relations, GBGH

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

 



September 6, 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 August 15, included 15 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