Investing in tomorrow – building healing care environments for our community

December 23, 2020

This past year has challenged health systems around the globe, forcing organizations to think differently and adjust their approach to delivering care. From introducing digital care models like virtual physician appointments to working together to find the best medical interventions to improve patient outcomes, health care delivery will never be the same.

North York General Hospital (NYGH) is thinking beyond today to how we can revamp current spaces and enhance care environments now and into the future. The hospital’s Master Plan is a roadmap for modernizing our facilities and infrastructure to meet the needs of our growing community. Over the next 20 years, the population in North York Central catchment area is expected to increase by 30%, while the percentage of residents aged 65 and over will increase from 11% of the population to 23%.

“As our communities age and the areas that we serve grow, there will be an even larger need for services and state-of-the-art health care five, 10, 15, and 20 years down the road,” says Rudy Dahdal, Vice President, Planning, Redevelopment, and Clinical Support at North York General. “We need to invest in a better tomorrow to ensure people not only have access to the best care but receive that care in a seamless, barrier-free way.”

Over the long term, we will need to modernize and expand our hospital which was built over 50 years ago. Right now, we are redeveloping our current spaces to enhance the quality of care and experience for patients and their families today. In November, the Steinberg Family Paediatric Centre opened at the General site, bringing together all paediatric services into one area, including inpatient rooms and services and outpatient clinics. The unit boasts 12 private patient rooms, two paediatric short-stay rooms, five clinic rooms, a family waiting area and a large family lounge room.

“This new space offers an exceptional healing environment that is both child and teen-friendly and focuses on patient-and family-centred care,” says Sheri Ferkl, Director of the Maternal, Newborn, Paediatric and Clinical Genetics Programs at NYGH. “We have one of the largest, community hospital based paediatric programs in Ontario, treating more than 18,000 children each year.”

“Supported through philanthropic donations, the redevelopment would not have been possible without the generosity of our community, with the lead gift from Charlotte and Lewis Steinberg,” says Terry Pursell, President and CEO of the North York General Foundation. “The space is bright and inviting, and is incredibly healing, which we know enhances the overall care experience for patients and families.”

With the unwavering support of donors and our government partners, North York General has moved forward on a record number of modernization projects this past year:

We also completed the successful transition of all the outpatient services that were at our Branson site to two new accessible locations: NYGH Outpatient and Community Services Centre and NYGH Minor Surgical Procedures and Elder Care Centre and received approval and a $1.5M Planning Grant to develop a new Reactivation Care Centre (RCC) at our Branson site.

In December, we received Ontario Government approval to redevelop and expand the Seniors’ Health Centre (SHC) – doubling the number of beds at the SHC from 192 beds to 384.

“Improving and expanding our physical space is integral to enhancing the quality of care we provide,” adds Dahdal. “We are incredibly proud of the work we’ve done to date, whether it be opening a brand-new Paediatric Unit, or redeveloping existing space at our General site and Branson site. Together, all of this is helping to guide us as an organization to think beyond the care we provide today to deliver safe, effective and equitable care, in appropriate environments well into the future.”