Community Hospitals and Health Care in Northeastern Ontario Transforming the Patient Experience
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Community Hospitals and Health Care in Northeastern Ontario Transforming the Patient Experience October 2014 Community Hospitals and Health Care in Northeastern Ontario|1 Cover photos: Top Row (from left to right): A physician performs a procedure in an operating theatre, circa 1950; Victoria Memorial Hospital, 1905 (North Bay); Emergency Department, Manitoulin Health Centre, 1982 (Little Current) Bottom Row (from left to right): Early hospital in Parry Sound, circa 1900s; Nursing staff in the 1950s; St. Mary’s Hospital, circa 1960 (Timmins) North East Local Health Integration Network 555 Oak St. East 264 McNabb St. Rainbow Centre 681 Algonquin Blvd. East 3rd Floor 2nd Floor 40 Elm St., Suite 247 Suite 3 North Bay Sault Ste. Marie Sudbury Timmins P1B 8E3 P6B 1Y6 P3C 1S8 P4N 7E5 Telephone: (705) 840-2872 Toll free: 1-866-906-5446 Fax: (705) 840-0142 E-mail: [email protected] www.nelhin.on.ca ISBN 978-1-4606-4294-8 Community Hospitals and Health Care in Northeastern Ontario: Transforming the Patient Experience, North East Local Health Integration Network. Community Hospitals and Health Care in Northeastern Ontario|2 Table of Contents Contributors to the Report ............................................................................................................. 4 Foreword by Louise Paquette, CEO, NE LHIN ................................................................................. 5 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 6 A Brief Look at Northeastern Ontario and the Role of the NE LHIN ............................................. 11 Unique Characteristics of the NE LHIN ...................................................................................... 11 Demographics ........................................................................................................................... 12 Economic Prospects .................................................................................................................. 16 Early Hospital Development 1878-1945 ....................................................................................... 18 The 1920s versus the Great Depression and WWII ...................................................................... 24 Transitioning ................................................................................................................................. 25 Post WWII – 1945 to 1975......................................................................................................... 25 1980s – 2000s, The Recession and Beyond ............................................................................... 27 Policy Discussions on Rural and Northern Hospitals Over the Past 20 Years ........................... 27 Present Day ................................................................................................................................... 29 Overview of Community Hospitals ............................................................................................ 29 Primary Care .............................................................................................................................. 31 Evolution of Medicine and Technology ..................................................................................... 32 Transformation .......................................................................................................................... 37 International Supporting Evidence............................................................................................ 37 Canadian Supporting Evidence .................................................................................................. 38 Brief Historical Profiles of Community Hospitals in the NE LHIN ................................................. 40 Algoma Hub ............................................................................................................................... 40 Cochrane Hub ............................................................................................................................ 44 James and Hudson Bay Coasts .................................................................................................. 50 Nipissing/Temiskaming Hub ...................................................................................................... 53 Sudbury/Manitoulin/Parry Sound Hub ..................................................................................... 58 The Four Hub Hospitals ................................................................................................................. 63 Conclusion by Louise Paquette, CEO, NE LHIN ............................................................................. 68 Appendices .................................................................................................................................... 70 References .................................................................................................................................... 77 Community Hospitals and Health Care in Northeastern Ontario|3 Contributors to the Report Community Hospitals and Health Care in Northeastern Ontario – Transforming the Patient Experience is the result of contributions from a number of groups and individuals. The North East Local Health Integration Network (NE LHIN) wishes to acknowledge contributors, and thank them for their knowledge and expertise. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the historical events and chronology. Centre for Research in Human Development (CRHD), Laurentian University, Sudbury – Human Services Collaboration Dr. John Lewko, Director Amanda Labbe, Research Assistant Krystie Hall, Research Assistant Dr. Richard Volpe, University of Toronto Dr. Angela Colantonio, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute and University of Toronto Dr. Alan Salmoni, Western University Institute for Northern Ontario Research and Development (INORD) Dr. David Robinson, Director Centre for Rural and Northern Health Research (CRaNHR) Dr. Wayne Warry, Director Consortium national de formation en santé (CNFS) Erik Labrosse, Director NE LHIN Staff Thank you to our community hospitals for providing photos and historical information. Community Hospitals and Health Care in Northeastern Ontario|4 Foreword by Louise Paquette, NE LHIN Chief Executive Officer Dear Fellow Northerners, Like most Canadians, we view our health care system with great pride. Here in the North East, our history and heritage are an integral part of the health care conversation. As Northerners, we responded to the needs of miners, lumberjacks and young families by establishing community hospitals across Northeastern Ontario. They are a reflection of the development and growth of the region over several decades and became the heart and soul of our communities. As is often the case with the boom and bust cycles of resource-based economies, our population is now declining and aging, with many seniors suffering from complex chronic conditions including heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes and osteoarthritis. We live in an age where advances in surgical techniques, drugs and technology require us to rethink the delivery of health care services. Change is essential and we must not allow the fear of change to dominate our discussions. My hope is that this historical perspective will stimulate conversation and help us move forward to create a community model of care that truly responds to the needs of the people of Northeastern Ontario. By understanding our past, I hope we can plan our future and ultimately answer the question: If we were creating a health care system in Northeastern Ontario today, what would it look like and how would we build a system that provides Northerners with as much care as they need and as much independence as they want? Louise Paquette Community Hospitals and Health Care in Northeastern Ontario|5 Introduction In the early 1900s, the population of Northeastern Ontario increased dramatically with new settlers eager to reap the benefits of a resource-rich economy. When we think of Northeastern Ontario, many things come to mind – its physical beauty, unique geology, myriad of lakes and rivers, exceptional cities and small towns, and most of all, its passionate people. The people of Northeastern Ontario are a diverse mix of individuals from across the globe. For those of us fortunate enough to call Northeastern Ontario home, we understand the benefits and the challenges that the region holds. Resource-based industries, retooling of industrial manufacturing to meet modern demands, and diversification of the economy to attract new investments, are all part of Northeastern Ontario’s narrative. So too are the changing demographics that result from economic shifts. Demographics play a defining role in the health care decisions we make as a society. An aging population has demands that are different from those of a youthful inner city neighbourhood. A population separated by vast distances has logistical challenges not faced by people in larger metropolitan settings. Smaller populations set amongst medium-sized cities and rural locations can have difficulty attracting primary care providers, let alone specialists. The evolving role of community hospitals scattered across the North East Local Health Integration Network (NE LHIN) region is an excellent example of the challenge faced in smaller communities. As economic