The Windsor-Essex Hospitals System is a significant investment in local healthcare that will modernize infrastructure and improve accessibility for patients in the region. It includes the following:
A state-of-the-art hospital at County Rd. 42 and the 9th Concession to replace Windsor Regional Hospital’s two existing outdated acute care campuses. The hospital will include 80% single-patient rooms to increase patient privacy and decrease the threat of infection.
An Urgent Care/Satellite Emergency Facility to provide a new model of emergency care to patients in the city’s core. The facility will also include diagnostic imaging, primary care services, chronic disease management a laboratory and pharmacy.
A Centre of Mental Health Excellence including moving 60 acute mental beds to Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, Tayfour Campus, on Prince Rd. The plan also includes the examination of increased diagnostics and dialysis at this site.
THE NEW WINDSOR-ESSEX HOSPITALS SYSTEM:
Is a once-in-a-lifetime, major system reform that will transform hospital services in Windsor-Essex. The collaborative and local plan will provide patients the right care, in the right place, at the right time, for generations to come. It includes the integration of acute care in a new state-of-the-art acute care hospital that will replace existing outdated and undersized facilities, the integration of tertiary, acute and community based mental health care, and a centre of Mental Health Excellence.
Offers patient and family-centred care. The acute care hospital will be designed to accommodate individual patient needs with larger rooms offering more privacy for patients, better accommodations for families and a safer, less institutional environment.
Improves patient safety and privacy. At least 80% of the rooms in a new hospital will be private. This will help prevent the spread of infection and increase patient privacy.
Helps Windsor-Essex retain and recruit top healthcare professionals. Modern infrastructure will give employees the right tools and facilities they need to enhance patient care. A strengthened focus on education and research will increase collaboration and opportunities for clinical trials.
Creates seamless system of mental healthcare in Windsor-Essex. Moving 60 acute mental health beds to the Prince Rd. site – where specialized mental health and addictions and children’s mental health services are already offered – will give mental health clients direct access to care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and will give patients and clients a single entry point into the mental health system.
Just the Facts, Please!
COMMON MYTH
The new system will have fewer beds.
FACTS ABOUT THE NEW WINDSOR-ESSEX HOSPITALS SYSTEM
The Windsor-Essex Hospitals System includes the same number of beds as currently exist with room to expand based on the region’s projected future needs. Sixty (60) acute mental health beds are moving to the Tayfour campus.
COMMON MYTH
The proposal contains nothing for residents in the City’s core.
FACTS ABOUT THE NEW WINDSOR-ESSEX HOSPITALS SYSTEM
The plan contains $300 million worth of investment in healthcare facilities in downtown Windsor. The plan includes a number of services in the core including a satellite Emergency (Urgent Care), outpatient mental health, chronic pain management and dialysis.
COMMON MYTH
The proposed Urgent Care Centre is no different from a walk- in clinic.
FACTS ABOUT THE NEW WINDSOR-ESSEX HOSPITALS SYSTEM
Urgent care is a new model of emergency care. The centre will be staffed by hospital emergency room staff and physicians and contain a CT scanner, a pharmacy and a lab. Approximately 90% of current WRH emergency room patients are not admitted to hospital and many of those patients would receive quicker treatment at a hospital-run urgent care centre.
COMMON MYTH
The site for the new acute care hospital is inaccessible.
FACTS ABOUT THE NEW WINDSOR-ESSEX HOSPITALS SYSTEM
Accessibility was the number one criteria used to select the site. The new site is as accessible as or more accessible to patients, staff, physicians and physician offices than the current two campuses. The plan also includes additional services in downtown Windsor (urgent care, mental health, chronic pain management, dialysis, primary care etc.) and additional services in Windsor West at the Tayfour Campus (dialysis, diagnostics, acute mental health) to improve accessibility throughout the entire system. Transit Windsor will provide service to the new hospital when it opens.
COMMON MYTH
Members of the public did not have a say in this plan.
FACTS ABOUT THE NEW WINDSOR-ESSEX HOSPITALS SYSTEM
There have been 67+ town hall discussions and other opportunities for individuals to ask questions and give feedback. In addition, members of the public were invited to give feedback on the criteria used to select the site and apply for a seat on the site-selection subcommittee. Experts involved in this project have described the level of community engagement as ‘unprecedented.’ Community involvement will continue to be an integral part of the process in future planning stages.
COMMON MYTH
The system will result in the closure of Erie Shores Healthcare.
FACTS ABOUT THE NEW WINDSOR-ESSEX HOSPITALS SYSTEM
Erie Shores Healthcare in Leamington is an integral part of hospital services in the region. The current plan assumes all current services continue in Leamington and the CEO from Erie Shores Healthcare has been part of the planning process with representation on the Steering Committee for the new Windsor-Essex Hospitals System.
COMMON MYTH
Patients will be charged more for private rooms.
FACTS ABOUT THE NEW WINDSOR-ESSEX HOSPITALS SYSTEM
Hospitals built today must have 80% private rooms to limit the spread of infection and increase patient privacy. Those who do not have coverage for a private room will receive a free room upgrade if there are no semi-private or ward rooms available.
COMMON MYTH
Demographics do not support development in the area.
FACTS ABOUT THE NEW WINDSOR-ESSEX HOSPITALS SYSTEM
The lands are needed for City’s long-term planning. The area surrounding the new hospital is part of the larger Sandwich South area that was transferred to the City in 2003 for future growth.
COMMON MYTH
The new site will be expensive to service.
FACTS ABOUT THE NEW WINDSOR-ESSEX HOSPITALS SYSTEM
Development Charges will fund required infrastructure. Under the Development Charges Act, the cost of new infrastructure required because of development is funded through development charges, not by existing residents’ taxes. Development charges must be paid by developers before they can get building permits.
COMMON MYTH
The region needs to rethink the existing plan.
FACTS ABOUT THE NEW WINDSOR-ESSEX HOSPITALS SYSTEM
This plan was created by a Steering Committee with representatives from the City of Windsor, County of Essex, all area hospitals, the Essex County Medical Society, the Erie St. Clair LHIN and CCAC. Planning to date has taken approximately 5 years and cost $2.5 million which was paid for by the province. The plan has received overwhelming support and both Windsor City Council and Essex County Council have committed to covering the $200 million local share. In 2017, Health Minister Eric Hoskins approved moving forward with planning. There is no reason to start over and no additional money to do so. The alternative to not moving forward with this plan is operating out of the two existing insufficient and outdated facilities.
Source https://www.wrh.on.ca/Site_Published/wrh_internet/Document.aspx?Body.Id=%2091792
