Why We Need New Hospitals

Understanding Our Redevelopment Vision

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Why is MAHC doing a capital redevelopment project?

MAHC is taking advantage of a unique opportunity to build two brand-new, modern hospitals that will better meet the future health care needs of our community. Right now, our hospitals are outdated and have limitations that make it harder to provide the best care. This project will allow us to upgrade our facilities and bring more advanced health care closer to home.

This is a rare and important chance to improve health care in Muskoka. By building these state-of-the-art hospitals, we can make sure our community has access to the latest medical technologies and innovations. Our current hospitals have served us well in the past, but they need significant improvements to keep up with today’s health care standards. The new hospitals will be designed to meet modern health care needs and ensure our hospitals can provide excellent care for many years to come.

Why is there a sense of urgency in making these changes?

The urgency comes from the need to replace old hospital buildings that were built decades ago and no longer meet the health care needs of our community. As construction costs keep rising and our facilities continue to wear down, it’s important to act quickly to avoid higher costs in the future and to make sure we can keep providing high-quality health care.

This is a unique opportunity to improve health care by building two new, advanced hospitals. Our current hospitals need major updates to handle today’s and tomorrow’s health care needs. By acting now, we can also improve the patient experience, particularly by reducing crowding in emergency departments.

Investing in new facilities will help us reduce costs in the long run, as it becomes more expensive to maintain the old ones. This project is part of a long-term plan to create modern, efficient hospitals. Even though there may be challenges like rising costs or delays, we’re committed to keeping the project on track and ensuring we can deliver the best possible health care.

Why are you building new facilities instead of renovating the existing hospitals?

Building new hospitals is more cost-effective and causes less disruption to patient care than trying to renovate the old ones. Renovations would require major updates to meet today’s standards and would interrupt health care services during construction.

We carefully looked into the option of renovating but found it wouldn’t meet our long-term needs. Our current buildings also do not follow today’s building codes or the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), so they would need costly upgrades.

Building new facilities is a better financial decision since the necessary updates would be very expensive. Renovating would also disrupt patient care, requiring temporary moves and delaying the project. The limited space in our current hospitals makes renovations even harder without affecting services and patient care.

Have you reconsidered the single-site model?

MAHC carefully looked at the idea of a single-site hospital but decided against it after listening to community feedback and following guidance from the Ministry. Instead, we’re moving forward with a multi-site hospital system that better meets the needs of our region.

We explored different options, including the single-site model, to find the best way to improve health care. However, the community did not support the single-site model, and the Ministry also advised against it. In January 2024, the Ministry confirmed that we should not pursue a single-site option.

MAHC is committed to building a multi-site hospital system, which we believe will provide better access to care, improve quality, and meet the needs of our entire region more effectively.

Why are you moving to a regional health care approach from a local-based model?

MAHC is moving to a regional health care approach to improve efficiency, sustainability, and the quality of care across Muskoka and nearby areas. This shift will help reduce operational problems, share expertise, and expand services to better meet the needs of both today and the future.

By making this change, we can handle financial pressures and staffing challenges more effectively. Combining services across two hospitals will cut costs, reduce duplication, and streamline operations, as recommended by the Ministry and our funding partners.

The regional approach will also improve patient care by bringing together expertise and resources at both hospital sites. It allows us to keep current services while offering the

flexibility to expand as our community grows. Using advanced technology and forming partnerships will help extend care to rural and remote areas, making it more accessible.

This model aligns with provincial health care trends and will make it easier for patients to access specialized care closer to home by concentrating certain services at specific sites, reducing the need for long-distance travel.

Why should South Muskoka communities contribute to this project when many residents go to Orillia because it’s closer than Huntsville?

Contributing to this regional health care project is important for South Muskoka communities because it helps keep essential medical services close by, supports community growth, and improves health care quality across the region.

This project is designed to meet the health care needs of the entire Muskoka region, including South Muskoka. Based on feedback from local residents, we’re committed to maintaining a multi-site hospital system without reducing services.

Both hospital sites, including the one in Bracebridge, will have 24/7 Emergency Departments, ensuring that critical care is always available nearby. Many South Muskoka residents already use the Bracebridge hospital for emergency care, and that is expected to continue as the hospital expands and improves.

The Bracebridge site will offer important services like short-stay inpatient care, day surgeries, and diagnostic imaging, ensuring that South Muskoka residents have easy access to the care they need. Supporting this project means ensuring that essential health care remains close and accessible, benefiting the entire community now and in the future.

What is the projected financial commitment from the government and local share groups?

The redevelopment project for MAHC has secured a substantial financial commitment totaling $967 million, with contributions carefully structured between the provincial government and local communities to support the construction and equipping of the new facilities.

Total Budget: The total allocated budget for the project is $967 million, ensuring comprehensive funding for all aspects of construction and furnishing.
Provincial Funding: The provincial government is providing substantial support by funding 90% of the construction costs, which amounts to $742 million.
Local Share: Local communities are contributing $225 million, covering 10% of the eligible construction costs plus additional expenses for furniture, fixtures, equipment, and infrastructure like parking lots.