Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare’s Capital Plan Development Task
Force continues to work through Stage 1 of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term
Care capital planning process with a focus on having two hospitals for Muskoka
and area in the future. That’s a hospital in Bracebridge and a hospital in
Huntsville with 24-7 emergency departments, surgical services, and inpatient care
including obstetrics and intensive care supported by core diagnostic services
at each site.
Knowing this is the Board-endorsed service delivery model
for the future, since September we have been working on how we would build that
model. Is it best to renovate and expand, is it better to replace the buildings
altogether on the existing land? Or are we better to move to a new location?
Following three workshops with clinicians and community
partners to understand the size of space we would need in the future to match
our programs, services and increased bed base, as well as the adjacencies of
those departments to each other, our architectural consultant drew up these
high-level floor plans and layered the site plan onto each hospital property in
line with the most ideal development spot. This work showed us what a renovation
and expansion of the current buildings, a new replacement build on the existing
properties, and a new build on a new site in Bracebridge could look like. You
can see the plans and learn more about the
estimated construction cost at http://bit.ly/2BCK28B, and watch short videos explaining each option on our YouTube channel and on MAHC's Facebook page.
We were excited to share this progress, and so earlier this
month we spent time engaging our staff and physicians, and residents across the
region to provide an update on this work and to present the design options for redeveloping
our hospitals in South Muskoka and in Huntsville. It was great to visit six
communities and see upwards of 400 people, many of whom I was able to speak with
after the presentation and help answer their questions. Thank you to everyone
who came out to get informed!
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| CEO Natalie Bubela is one of four speakers during community information sessions about the building design options. |
Since March 4, our feedback survey has been open to hear
your thoughts on the different approaches that could be taken. Please take
some time to let us know what you think before Sunday, March 24 by visiting www.surveymonkey.com/r/MAHCfuture.
The Task Force will review the feedback and weigh it against
the design guiding principles, cost considerations and affordability before
recommending a preferred building option for each hospital to the MAHC Board of
Directors later this spring.
I hope you agree this is a very exciting time for Muskoka
and area to shape an even brighter future. We all need to be part of investing
in the future and making our hospitals the best they can be for our kids and
grandkids. We deserve it and I am really looking forward to making it happen
together.
