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Q. |
What is the West Parry Sound Health Centre? |
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A. |
The West Parry Sound Health Centre is a facility that operates 70 acute care and complex continuing
care beds, and 38 long-term care beds. |
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Q. |
Whom does the Health Centre serve? |
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A. |
The Health Centre serves six First Nation Reserves, the Town of Parry Sound and the Townships of the Archipelago, Carling, Magnetawan, McDougall, McKellar, Seguin and Whitestone. Patients come from Mactier and Rosseau in the south, Britt in the north and Magnetawan in the east. |
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Q. |
Why is rebuilding necessary? |
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A. |
Over the last decade there has been increasing challenges to reform health care in West Parry Sound. These challenges are brought about by a number of factors:
- Increasing financial constraints on public funding, which demand that health care providers do more with less
- Changes in modern medicine such as laparoscopic surgery, drug-based therapies, pre-op clinics
- Pharmaceutical treatments, reducing the length of stay for the average patient.
- Increasing proportion of elderly within the population, who generally have a greater need for health care services. |
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Q. |
Why is a new health centre required? |
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A. |
In 1998, the Health Services Restructuring Commission recommended the Bowes Street property be developed as the single hospital site in West Parry Sound. Once the new hospital has been built, the two existing sites will be closed. The advantages of one centre on Bowes Street include:
- One site offers all patients a central location for Health Centre services, thereby eliminating the inconvenience, stress and delays for patients and their families that can be involved in patient transfers.
- One site creates a single patient registration point for admission and introduces significant improvements in patient records.
- Having services at one site provides better patient care, allowing for all necessary staff and technology to be in one location.
- A new hospital will help attract physicians to West Parry Sound.
- The duplication of capital items, such as information technology, orthopedic equipment, diagnostic technology, etc. will be eliminated.
- Improved access to day surgery and ambulatory care services will reduce the need to stay in hospital and allow patients to stay home and/or to carry on with their normal lives.
- Enhanced services and the addition of new ones will reduce the need to travel outside Parry Sound to receive medical care. |
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Q. |
What do the new building plans consist of? |
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A. |
The plans consist of 44 Acute Care beds, 16 Complex Continuing Care beds, 5 Rehabilitation, 5 Sub-acute Care and 50 Long Term Care beds. There will also be space for Cardiac Rehabilitation, Physio-therapy, Specialist’s Clinics, the Sleep Clinic and Laboratory. |
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Q. |
How much is the building going to cost? |
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A. |
The anticipated cost is $62 million to develop the Bowes Street site. |
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Q. |
Where will the money come from? |
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A. |
The Government of Ontario has committed up to 75%. We will be seeking support from our municipalities and First Nations. The balance must be raised through our $6 million capital campaign. |
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Q. |
Why is a community campaign necessary? |
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A. |
Because we cannot rely solely on the provincial and municipal governments to fund all our health care needs. |
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Q. |
Who will be asked to contribute? |
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A. |
The "Health Centre Family" (Hospital and Foundation Boards, Auxiliary, Staff and Doctors), Corporations, Financial Institutions, Foundations, Businesses and Professionals, and individual members of the permanent & seasonal community. |
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Q. |
Why are donors asked for a five-year pledge? |
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A. |
Achievement of the fund raising goal would be difficult to reach in one-time gifts. |
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Q. |
Are gifts to the campaign eligible for tax credits? |
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A. |
Yes to the full extent allowed. More info. |
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Q. |
When will the Campaign take place? |
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A. |
The Campaign is under way and is scheduled to conclude in the Fall 2001. |
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Q. |
What impact will this project have on our community? |
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A. |
Restructuring health care delivery and rationalizing services will permit the West Parry Sound Health Centre to reinvest savings from operations into programmes and services to enhance the scope of what is available today. A sufficient number of long-term care beds will allow people with chronic ailments to remain in the area close to their families and friends. |
