A new way of caring Check out today’s special section to learn about the hospital advances taking place in Niagara with programs, facilities and equipment. Bringing care closer to home New regional services introduced for cancer, cardiac, mental health patients Welland resident Suzanne Schmidt was the first patient to undergo diagnostic cardiac catheterization in the Heart Investigation Unit at the St. Catharines Site. Enhanced cardiac care is one of several new regional services now offered in Niagara with the opening of the NHS’s newest hospital. uzanne Schmidt had no idea she was going to be can now receive care in Niagara, in some instances, in Niagara,” said Dr. Janice Giesbrecht, NHS Chief of have to travel outside Niagara for care. part of history. patients with more complex needs will continue to go Oncology. “Expanding access to services here in the S to Hamilton for services. region enhances treatment and helps patients have All acute inpatient mental health services in Niagara better quality of life.” are now provided at the new St. Catharines Site, con- The Welland resident was relieved her doctor had “It’s so reassuring to know you have medical help a solidating services that were previously also offered at recommended she go to the new St. Catharines Site of little bit closer because for all of the years we had to go Radiation services are being ramped up gradually NHS sites in Welland and Niagara Falls. Outpatient the Niagara Health System for a diagnostic procedure to Hamilton,” Suzanne said. “It is reassuring knowing and safely during the first year of operation. mental health services continue to be provided at on her heart instead of making the longer drive to hos- we’ll have some help here a little bit closer, and it is a Welland and Niagara Falls sites, as well as the new St. pital in Hamilton. beautiful hospital.” The centre expects to see more than 28,000 visits Catharines Site. during 2013-2014 for treatment, referral or follow- As it turned out, Suzanne was the first patient up appointments, compared to the 17,589 visits the Until now, Niagara residents needing longer-term to undergo diagnostic cardiac catheterization at Partnership NHS oncology department had last year. The cancer the hospital’s Heart Investigation Unit (HIU). program has a longstanding relationship with Cancer mental health services (hospital stays of 60 to 90 days) The HIU brings together specialists in Niagara Care Ontario (CCO) and Juravinski Cancer Centre have had to travel outside the region for care, typically “The staff were absolutely fabulous,” Suzanne said. and Hamilton through a partnership with Hamilton (JCC). A coordinated, sup- to Hamilton, which made “They made me feel extremely comfortable right from Health Sciences (HHS). portive relationship with it more difficult for the pa- the get go. They were compassionate, and the doctor CCO and the JCC ensures tients and their families. was wonderful.” “It is literally one program on two sites,” said Susan comprehensive, integrated Kwolek, NHS Vice-President of Patient Services. “Our cancer services are available “It is reassuring knowing “We want patients to Cardiac catheterization is one of several new region- physicians go back and forth … and our nurses are for the people of Niagara. we’ll have some help understand that that they al services now offered in Niagara with the opening of orientating between Hamilton and here. It’ll function are valued and that we will the NHS’s newest hospital. independently when it’s fully up and running, but As the centre increases its here a little bit closer.” do everything we can to always under the umbrella partnership of Hamilton capacity, some patients will help their recovery,” said The HIU, part of the NHS’s regional cardiology Health Sciences.” travel to JCC in Hamilton Dr. Edgardo Pérez, Regional program, began providing cardiac catheterization for treatment. In addition, Suzanne Schmidt, Chief of the Mental Health testing to heart patients in mid-April. The procedure The cardiac program will continue to evolve over patients with specialized and Addictions Program. enables specialists to diagnose and assess the sever- time to provide interventional care, such as the inser- care needs for head and Cardiac Patient “This new facility provides ity of cardiac disease and evaluate the suitability of a tion of stents. neck cancers and other them a place that is condu- patient for angioplasty, surgery, and other therapy or more complicated or rare cive to healing care.” interventions. Similarly, the hospital’s Walker Family Cancer cancers will continue to re- Centre has introduced a much-needed service to ceive this care in Hamilton Therapy programs for in- One of a number of recent enhancements to our Niagara patients — radiation therapy. as part of our integrated clinical plan for services in cardiac services, the 7,000-square-foot state-of-the- the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant Local Health patient and outpatient services are based on a holistic art centre expects to provide about 1,300 diagnostic Chemotherapy treatment has been provided in Integration Network. approach and include various therapies, a gymna- procedures in its first year. Niagara for nearly three decades, but cancer patients sium, sensory stimulation, group rooms, a therapeutic requiring radiation therapy, usually in addition to Clinics will continue to be held at the NHS’s kitchen and activity spaces. In the past, all cardiac catheterization procedures their chemotherapy, had to travel outside the region. Welland and Niagara Falls sites for new patient and were performed at Hamilton General Hospital’s Heart The opening of the cancer centre will reduce the need follow-up visits. Mental health services will support care of patients Investigation Unit. Twenty per cent of the patients for many patients to leave Niagara for care. experiencing psychiatric emergencies, acute care and seen at Hamilton’s cardiac catheterization program As with cardiac and cancer care, expanded mental longer-term care including transitional support and last year were Niagara residents. While many patients “It’s fantastic to provide comprehensive cancer care health services at the NHS will mean fewer patients community integration. 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AD{TS2367787} AD{TS2394976} A new way of caring St. Catharines Site sets new standard of hospital care in Niagara he Niagara Health System’s newest hospital opens “The previous hospital facilities that were replaced a window on the future of healthcare in Canada. by the new site (St. Catharines General and the Ontario T Street Site) served patients in the area well for decades, At nearly one million square feet, the comprehen- but their design and functionality had been surpassed sive acute care hospital in St. Catharines is a show- by modern healthcare standards,” Ms. Kwolek said. case of technological innovation and patient-centred “This new site has been designed for our doctors, staff architectural design that helps medical professionals and volunteers to care for the community safely and provide better care and allows patients to better enjoy effectively for generations to come.” their stay. The site also introduces much-needed regional ser- The hospital, which opened its doors on time and vices to Niagara, meaning the residents of the penin- on budget March 24 after nearly three years of con- sula now have access to care closer to home. struction, has drawn the attention of healthcare offi- cials across the country and internationally who are Improving access keen to see the latest advances in functionality and purpose-built space in action. Comprehensive cancer care — including radiation therapy — is available for the first time in Niagara “This hospital is outfitted with state-of-the-art tech- through the hospital’s Walker Family Cancer Centre. nology and design features that set a new standard for Patients with cardiac illness can now be assessed at Canadian hospitals,” said Susan Kwolek, NHS Vice- the Heart Investigation Unit, which offers diagnos- President of Patient Services. “We’re excited to be in tic cardiac catheterization. And people with mental a brand new, modern building with the latest medical health needs now have access to an 81,000 square foot equipment, but we are even more excited about the Mental Health and Addictions Department where enhanced care we are now able to provide our patients they can receive longer-term mental health care — and their families.” something that previously would have required a trip to Hamilton. Design features “Improving access to care helps us give patients a Some of the design features that make the hospital better overall experience,” said Interim Chief of Staff so unique include: Dr. Joanna Hope. “Many Niagara residents will now be able to spend more time focusing on their health f The highest percentage of single-patient and recovery, and less time travelling outside the re- rooms in Ontario with 80% private rooms. gion for care.” f One of the only hospitals in the world to have a The new St. Catharines Site was designed with dedicated HVAC system, enabling the hospital input gathered from the general public and NHS staff to be split into two distinct air-handling zones in more than 38 hospital departments and specialty for complete isolation in the event of a pandem- areas during numerous consultations in order to cre- ic or other significant event — the independ- ate a building focused on maximizing patient experi- ent section includes half of the Emergency ences and outcomes.