Home/ Year in Review 2023 – 2024/ A Better Tomorrow

A Better Tomorrow

The 2023–2024 year saw NYGH make crucial progress in the creation of modern healing spaces and the introduction of best-in-class equipment to support our best-in-class care.

Our new and expanded care spaces and equipment were made possible by the exceptional generosity of our donors and the commitment of the Ontario government.

A tidy hospital room with a green wall. — One of the new rooms in the Ambulatory Minor Procedures Unit (Green Zone).

Highlights

Completion of upgrades to our Charlotte & Lewis Steinberg Emergency, including the Ambulatory Minor Procedures Unit, an inviting and comfortable space designed for treating minor injuries, freeing up space in the ED for seriously ill patients, and the Mental Health Emergency Services Unit, a dedicated space that promotes privacy, comfort and safety for people experiencing a mental health crisis, both made possibly by donors.
Introduction of a state-of-the-art Endoscopic Ultrasound System, imaging technology that will speed up diagnosis and treatment of digestive diseases funded by donors.

Opening of the refreshed Gulshan & Pyarali G. Nanji Orthopaedic and Plastics Centre, with updated clinical and waiting areas, funded by the Nanji Family Foundation.
Thanks to a capital investment by the Ministry of Health, more beds were open in our 120-bed Finch site Reactivation Care Centre (RCC). Since opening in December 2023, RCC has cared for 846 patients, allowing them to leave hospital sooner and receive individualized restorative care in a home-like environment. NYGH’s Alternate Level of Care or ALC rate (people who no longer need hospital care but are waiting to access community care) went from 25% prior to the pandemic down to 10.3% in 2023, due to the RCC and other partnerships such as NYGH@Home and North YorkCARES, and virtual technologies which are supporting people at home.

A healthcare worker helps a woman stand from a hospital bed and use a mobility walker. — An NYGH team member helps a patient at the Finch Site Reactivation Care Centre (RCC).

A hospital hallway is softly lit with open doors to rooms. One wall is painted to look like a blue sky with clouds. — The halls and rooms in the new Mental Health Emergency Services Unit (Purple Zone).

“ Our goal is to support people to be as independent as possible and move forward with their lives after their hospital stay – to return to their families or to prepare for long-term care or another level of care that is right for them.”

— Dr. Everton Gooden, President & CEO, North York General Hospital (December 2023 – present)

Dr. Gooden stands with his arms crossed while smiling at the camera. He has dark-toned skin, a shaved head, and wears black rimmed glasses with a black suit.

Transforming our Campus of Care for our Communities

Last year, our vision to transform NYGH’s campus of care to provide a full spectrum of hospital and community-based services for patients at every life stage came much closer to reality.

These renderings bring to life our vision of an advanced New Patient Care Tower and long-term care development that is at the heart of the NYGH’s campus of care.

A rendering of a long term care home and patient care tower situated near each other on opposite sides of Leslie Street, near Sheppard Avenue. — Rendering with labels of the new long-term care development across the street from the General site with the New Patient Care Tower.

Reimagining Seniors’ Care

The cornerstone of our transformation is the development of a new 528-bed long-term care (LTC) home, poised to become one of Ontario’s largest and most advanced homes for seniors, supported by philanthropy and the generosity of our donor community. The LTC home will redefine a new global standard of excellence in seniors’ care, demonstrated not only in its advanced design, but also in the best-in-class personalized care provided to the residents. The development will also be a hub of seniors-focused health and wellness services supporting the broader community to age in place.

In November we went out to our community to seek input on our plans. NYGH hosted an open Community Information Session at the Ethennonnhawahstihnen’ Community Centre, where local residents learned more about our aspiration to reimagine seniors’ care in North York through visual displays around the room.

NYGH leaders, experts, the Foundation and our design team interacted with community members who were very enthusiastic about NYGH’s expansion plans and the vision for interconnected seniors-focused health services at the hub and across North York.

Poster boards with information on North York General hospital are placed on stands for people to look at. — NYGH Community Information Session about our long-term care development.

Groups of people gather together around poster boards of information to read and talk with each other.

Designing the Hospital of the Future

Between now and 2031, we will build a new 350-bed acute care tower at our General site, adding 130 more inpatient beds. Our leading-edge New Patient Care Tower will house an expanded Emergency Department, a new surgical suite, critical care and other high-demand services providing exceptional care to people throughout life.

A rendering of of a hospital building at the corner of Leslie Street and a 401 Off-Ramp — Rendering of the New Patient Care Tower at our General site.

Caring for our Planet

As a large community hospital and employer, NYGH is committed to minimizing our environmental footprint and doing our part to improve the wellbeing of future generations.

66,845

single use bags saved from landfill

340

tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions saved

Waste Reduction and Diversion

Bring Your Own Reusable Bag (BYORB) Program: Since launching, the BYORB program has saved over 66,845 single use bags from the landfill after expanding to include Medical Imaging, Minor Procedures Clinic (General site), and the Minor Procedures Centre (Consumers site).

Energy and Infrastructure

NYGH has reduced overall usage in electricity, natural gas and water and saved over 340 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from entering the atmosphere—the equivalent to taking 105 passenger vehicles off the road.

A group of 5 healthcare workers in blue scrubs stand together outside in a park while smiling at the camera. 3 of them hold mugs in in their hands.

People wearing scrubs and plain clothes gather at a table in the park. They set up coffee, water, and have stacks of cups.

The peri-operative team partnered with the NYG Foundation and support services to introduce the “Roll out the China” initiative, which allowed for the purchase of reusable cups for use across all hospital events, such as staff meetings.

New Imaging Technology Will Speed Up Diagnosis and Treatment for Digestive Diseases

North York General Hospital has introduced a new state-of-the-art Endoscopic Ultrasound System (EUS) that will provide patients with a faster diagnosis so they can be treated sooner, thanks to donors.

The EUS provides the highest standard of care for assessing and diagnosing diseases of the digestive tract including cancer. It creates highly detailed images of normally hard-to-scan areas by using an endoscope (a thin tube fitted with a powerful light and camera) attached to an ultrasound device.

Two healthcare workers use imaging technology on a patient laying on a table. They watch the screen. They wear yellow scrubs. One has a Superman scrub cap, the other has a Batman scrub cap.

Read about the new technology

With our new Endoscopic Ultrasound System, our patients can now receive this advanced diagnostic imaging procedure right here at NYGH

— Dr. Peter Stotland, Chief of Surgery at NYGH

Robotic Technology Changes Lives

A large digital screen mounted on a machine shows data and other information.

A robotic leg bends at the knee with tools placed on it.

Severe knee osteoarthritis had robbed Loraine of her mobility, forcing her to crawl up the stairs in her home. Dr. Shawn Garbedian and a robot named ROSA helped her get her life back.

Loraine couldn’t believe how seriously knee osteoarthritis had impacted her life until her physiotherapist and rheumatologist informed her that she needed a knee replacement. Accustomed to an active life, taking long walks with her dogs, she had begun experiencing pain, stiffness and eventually had great difficulty walking, standing, and climbing stairs. A busy physician specialist, Loraine was finding it difficult to perform basic daily activities including cooking, grocery shopping, and holding her newborn grandchild. Travel for work presentations was increasingly challenging. At the end stages, she was forced to crawl up the stairs in her home.

Loraine’s rheumatologist referred her to North York General Hospital (NYGH) orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Shawn Garbedian. This was the beginning of Loraine’s journey to recovery.

Read Loraine's Story