Page 8 - GBGH Foundation Newsletter - Summer 2022

AN UPDATE FROM GBGH MATTHEW

INTERIM PRESIDENT AND CEO LAWSON

Our hospital has faced its fair share of significant their kind in the region) for
challenges during the pandemic. From staffing a total of 36 beds, as well
challenges, to burnout, to COVID-19 outbreaks, GBGH as a day-hospital program.
has experienced the many effects of the pandemic. And To accommodate these new
now, we are starting to see some of the “side effects” of services, GBGH has proposed
more than two years of uncertainty, stress and reduced building a large expansion off the
access to health services. Not only are we seeing higher back the existing Emergency department.
acuity medical and surgical patients, we are also seeing
a dramatic increase in patients experiencing a mental With more than 10 mental health patients in our
health crisis. Emergency department at some times and with some
patients waiting in excess of 100 hours for an appropriate
Even before the pandemic, the demand for mental health mental health bed at another facility, the need is growing
services was on the rise. Now, there is an overwhelming increasingly urgent. Our region has the second longest
need to add more of these services across the province, wait times for a mental health bed in the province. The
and within our own region there is a shortage of mental longer patients wait for mental health care, the more
health beds. GBGH has been working toward being part urgent their situation becomes and we’re seeing it
of the solution for some time now. In March, we submitted every day. That is why it is critical that GBGH continue
our Stage 2 proposal for a comprehensive program to advocating for an acute mental health program for this
serve Simcoe-Muskoka. community and this region. Holistic, patient-centred
care means caring for patient’s mental and physical
Based on data related to current and projected mental health needs simultaneously and that is the care GBGH
health volumes, our proposed plan entails 18 acute is striving to provide.
inpatient beds, 10 geriatric mental health beds, eight
psychiatric intensive care unit beds (the only ones of
Matthew Lawson

Matthew Lawson
Interim President & CEO
Georgian Bay General Hospital

During her tenure at GBGH, Gail Hunt initiated an important transformation of the hospital
focused on aligning services with the needs of the community, building a culture of learning,
and continually improving quality and safety. The following are just some of the many
highlights the team accomplished under Gail’s leadership.

SEPTEMBER 2017 NOVEMBER 2019 MARCH 2020 MARCH 2022
GAIL BEGINS AS GBGH ACHIEVES THE HIGHEST GBGH & COMMUNITY DIALYSIS OFFICIALLY OPENS
PRESIDENT & CEO OF GBGH LEVEL OF ACCREDITATION PARTNERS OPEN A COVID-19 IN ITS NEW LOCATION IN
POSSIBLE – ACCREDITED WITH ASSESSMENT CENTRE TO MEET MIDLAND, AFTER GBGH
EXEMPLARY STANDING. THE SUDDEN AND URGENT ADVOCATES FOR AN EXPEDITED
SEPTEMBER 2018 NEED TO PROVIDE TESTING. RELOCATION PROCESS.
GBGH LAUNCHES ITS NEW JANUARY 2020
STRATEGIC PLAN (2018-2023) OCTOBER 2020
GBGH BEGINS PERFORMING MARCH 2022
SHOULDER REPAIR SURGERIES GBGH’S ICU ACHIEVES LEVEL GBGH SUBMITS STAGE 2
AS PART OF HOSPITAL’S
3 BASIC STATUS (OCTOBER
FALL 2018 STRATEGY TO GROW THE 2020), THE SECOND HIGHEST PROPOSAL FOR AN ACUTE
GBGH AND THREE PARTNERS SURGICAL PROGRAM TO ALIGN LEVEL OF ICU, ASIDE FROM MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM.
– CENTRE DE SANTÉ WITH COMMUNITY NEEDS. SPECIALTY UNITS.
COMMUNAUTAIRE CHIGAMIK
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE,
WENDAT COMMUNITY 2020-2022 SEPTEMBER 2021
PROGRAMS AND THE NORTH
SIMCOE FAMILY HEALTH TEAM MASTER PLANNING PROCESS IS GBGH, RVH, COLLINGWOOD
– COLLABORATE TO FORM COMPLETED TO DETERMINE THE AND HEADWATERS LAUNCH
THE NORTH SIMCOE ONTARIO HOSPITAL’S FUTURE. A NEW ELECTRONIC HEALTH
HEALTH TEAM RECORDS SYSTEM (CARE4).
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