Huntsville’s Hospital Retention committee is doing some really impressive work. So impressive, in fact, that it’s hard to believe the committee is made up of laypeople in the community and not healthcare administrators.
Appearing at Huntsville’s Regular Council meeting in December, Rob Alexander and Sven Miglin, chair and vice chair of the retention committee, highlighted for council the work the committee has been doing.
MAHC proposal won’t get provincial support
Paramount in their report is the belief that the plan being touted by Muskoka Algonquin Health Care (MAHC), recommending the building of one new hospital to service the District at a cost of $349 million, is far too expensive to be accepted by the Province.
A survey of provincially approved healthcare projects, conducted by the committee with the help of their consultants, revealed that the only large capital projects being approved are the ones focused on areas with the largest population growth, typically in large urban centers.
Comparing communities similar to Huntsville the committee found the funding amounts to be a lot smaller.
We found a few examples of projects for new builds that were rejected or, worse, sat in the queue for up to six years with no official feedback. Those that have been approved or have received favorable feedback tended to be much smaller from both an aggregate amount and on a per bed basis.Hospital retention committee report
Based on the quantitative evidence, the committee is of the opinion that the pre-capital submission made by MAHC is too expensive and unlikely to be approved. (Click here to see a PDF of the full report.)
A better approach is redevelopment of both existing sites
Instead, the committee suggests redeveloping the existing hospital sites using a wrap-around building approach in redevelopment: building new facilities around the current hospital but without attaching the facilities so that current operations are not disrupted and air systems are not integrated which could lead to infectious disease issues. Using this approach they predict they could reduce the cost to build per square foot from the $1113 projection contained in the MAHC pre-submission to $400-$500.
Our rough estimate is that there is about $75 to $125 million in savings that we want to pursue.Sven Miglin, hospital retention committee vice chair
In redeveloping the two existing sites, the committee is recommending a ‘campus of care’ approach to healthcare delivery in Muskoka. The committee defines the campus of care as having multiple healthcare providers co-located on one contiguous site. Many campuses include long-term care, ambulatory care, counselling, chronic care, community health, and primary care on one site.
The advantages of this approach are many, said Miglin. There are opportunities to share costs and health care professionals, lower travel costs, and provide better access to care.
By bringing everything related to healthcare together you make it better for patients, better for people visiting them, better for doctors. You can share a lot of costs.Sven Miglin, committee vice chair
Fairvern needs to be included
There are things the Town could be doing right now to help their situation, Miglin told council. The redevolpment of Fairvern Nursing Home on the hospital site is a vital piece of the campus care puzzle.
Fairvern is important in this but we are on different timetables. In 2016 they need to be site specific about where they are going. Council needs to facilitate the redevelopment of Fairvern for the campus of care.Sven Miglin committee vice chair
Upgrade water and sewer facilities and utilize right of way for better access
Alexander had some homework assignments for councillors.
He encouraged them to start working with the District to upgrade the water and sewer services to the hospital site.
As well, he said, the committee has identified an existing right of way from Hwy 60 to the hospital that would improve access and shave three minutes off emergency response time. “To the extent that we have that road, it saves three minutes and puts our site in better stead when considering where to put it in Muskoka.”
The Huntsville Hospital retention committee continues to work with the Task Force and a discussion about the campus of care model is on the agenda for January’s meeting.
Deanna Foell says
I hope that momentum grows for this way of thinking! Fingers crossed.
Terry Clarke says
This is wonderful!!! Logical and even efficient!! Huntsville and Muskoka will benefit from the thorough work of this committee!!
LES ROWLEY says
YEP….. MAHC BOARD SHOULD ALL BE FIRED AND A NEW SENSIBLE BOARD RE- APPOINTED WITH SOME ELECTED OFFICIALS SO THEY ANSWER TO THE TAXPAYER
John Aben Sr. says
I agree with Terry and Dianna. Looking forward to the next submission and keep hoping.
Dale Peacock says
Finally there is some reason for optimism. Thank you for your great work in chairing the hospital retention committee, Sven and Rob. Our community is lucky to have you working toward a solution to this critical issue.
Bill Beatty says
Glad to see the inclusion of Fairvern , a facility in need of change to improve the lot of our Seniors .
Rob Millman says
Several years ago, there was a plan to develop a retirement community on the Fairvern site. Obviously, it would benefit from available nursing services from Fairvern, as occasionally required; and the opportunity to transition to the nursing home when independent living was no longer an option. Now that we have a palliative care facility on the hospital site, this would be the next logical step.
The major problem was the air quality from the neighbouring sewage treatment plant, and a lesser one as the absence of a pedestrian bridge crossing the Muskoka River.
I cannot understand how relocating Fairvern from its present scenic, restful location would be either fair to its resident seniors, or cost-effective to the province.
Mary Ray Ward says
Thank you, Sven, Rob and your committee members for putting together a report that addresses the issues in a way that makes sense. I am looking forward to reading more on this as you continue working on this so very important project. Well done! Mary Ray Ward
Norma Hillier says
Very impressive…finally a couple of sensible workers at the helm!!
I wonder if our so called Huntsville paper will report on this…Doppler needs to go to print!!
Rob Alexander says
Rob you make some good points regarding the existing Fairvern site. The current Fairvern site is worth more than the land at the hospital. Both are owned by MAHC, so the lowest cost option for redevelopment of Fairvern appears to be at the hospital site. MAHC would then sell the existing Fairvern site (it still may make sense for independent living). Moveover, this could allow us to share some of the costs between facilities, and also perhaps improve patient care with access to the hospital, family health team, pharmacy etc of one campus.