Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC) will convene an important Board of Directors meeting on October 10, 2024, during which an essential vote will occur regarding the Stage 1.3 capital redevelopment plan submission to the Ministry of Health. This decision is a pivotal step in MAHC’s ongoing efforts to enhance healthcare services for Muskoka and area through the establishment of two new acute care hospitals.
The board will consider a motion that underscores the Province of Ontario’s significant investment in local healthcare expansion, the comprehensive analyses and consultations undertaken by MAHC, and the commitment to continued stakeholder engagement.
Importantly, the MAHC capital redevelopment steering committee recommends adding 10 new beds to the Bracebridge site, increasing the total to 46. This recommendation comes as a result of extensive stakeholder engagement, demonstrating that MAHC has listened to community concerns and is responding proactively to anticipated future growth. While it extends beyond the current data corridor, it reflects a commitment to high-quality patient care, preserves existing services, and maintains the integrity of the overall plan.
In a letter signed by 45 physicians from South Muskoka earlier today, they expressed support for the proposed plan to add 10 beds at the Bracebridge site, stating that it will sufficiently meet the care needs of South Muskoka residents. M.P.P. Graydon Smith also endorsed the plan, calling it “a tremendously positive development.” Final approval from the board is needed before the proposal can be submitted to the Ministry of Health.
Board Meeting Details:
- Date: October 10, 2024
- Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Location: Huntsville District Memorial Hospital Boardroom
Agenda Highlights:
- Open Session:
- Welcome and Land Acknowledgement
- Approval of Agenda
- Declaration of Conflict of Interest
- Stage 1.3 Functional Program Review and Discussion
- In-Camera Session:
- Discussion of detailed financial analysis related to the Stage 1.3 submission.
- Open Session:
- Board Vote
The open session will be accessible to the public; however, seating is limited. Attendees must register at least 24 hours in advance. Pre-registration is available at: https://form.mahc.ca/Board-Meeting-Registrations/Board-of-Director-Meeting-Registration.
Following the in-camera session, MAHC will provide an update to the community on the board’s decisions and the next steps in the submission process.
Mayor Heidi Lorenz issued the following statement today:
The update from Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare earlier today regarding new hospitals for the area is a positive sign that things are going in the right direction.
Since the outset we have placed our trust in the process and so it is reaffirming to see that MAHC’s capital redevelopment steering committee is responding to feedback from various individuals and organizations.
I was delighted to see the committee is recommending to the MAHC board of directors the addition of 10 new beds to the Bracebridge site, increasing the total to 46.
Clearly, consultation has been key to ensuring a plan for the best new hospitals possible.
I commend everyone who has provided input to MAHC, in particular our local doctors. Your participation in the process is a testament to your commitment to our community.
Gravenhurst is pleased to support a plan that our local medical professionals can get behind. It was great to see that 45 physicians have signed a letter of support for the proposal to add 10 beds at the Bracebridge site. The MAHC board will consider the recommendation on Thursday, Oct. 10.
I want to thank MAHC officials for their unwavering dedication to the delivery of health care in Muskoka. We are fortunate to have a team of highly skilled professionals working on our behalf.
As well, I want to recognize our MPP, Graydon Smith, for his advocacy on this file.
The Town of Gravenhurst looks forward to supporting Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare as the organization moves forward with its plans to build new hospitals.
It is certainly an exciting time for health care in Muskoka.
Statement from Mayor Rick Maloney regarding the hospital redevelopment
Today, Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare’s Capital Redevelopment Committee announced plans to present a recommendation to the Board of Directors on October 10, which includes the addition of 10 incremental net new beds to the Bracebridge site.
This is encouraging news and a direct result of several months of collaborative efforts by the Town, local doctors, and members of the community. I wish to acknowledge the leadership of MPP Graydon Smith. His ongoing effort has been instrumental in protecting the future of healthcare in our community.
I am also pleased to learn today that our doctors, who have strongly advocated for more acute care beds, believe that a 46-bed model can adequately serve the acute care needs of South Muskoka.
The Town of Bracebridge is committed to supporting the health and wellness of our community and will strongly advocate for opportunities that keep care in our community. I will continue to support the efforts of the District of Muskoka to address the challenges of patients requiring alternative levels of care (ALC), and I am confident that with focused and collaborative efforts, we can work towards solutions that allow patients to be closer to the care and support they require.
I am hopeful the Board will endorse this recommendation at their meeting this Thursday.
– Rick Maloney, Mayor, Town of Bracebridge
Statement from MPP Graydon Smith regarding MAHC’s Proposed Changes to the Redevelopment Plan for the South Muskoka Hospital Site
I welcome the decision of Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare’s (MAHC) Capital Redevelopment Committee to recommend to the Board of Directors an additional allocation of 10 net new beds for the future South Muskoka hospital site. This change brings the total bed allocation to 46, up from MAHC’s originally proposed 14 beds. This is a tremendously positive development.
Today’s announcement has been supported and endorsed by 45 physicians from the South Muskoka medical community. I want to thank them for their hard work and advocacy on behalf of their patients over the past several months.
I also wish to acknowledge the efforts of the broader community of residents and municipally elected officials, particularly Bracebridge Mayor, Rick Maloney. Their diligence was important in helping to raise awareness about the need for more beds in South Muskoka.
Over the past many months, I have done everything I could to facilitate discussion, find common ground and, ultimately, agreement, on the need to reconsider the bed allocation at the South Muskoka hospital site. Working towards a hospital solution that benefits everyone from Severn Bridge to South River and all points in between, has been my goal from the beginning.
I believe that today’s development and subsequent support from the medical community and municipalities from across Muskoka and Almaguin represents the “win-win” scenario we have all been seeking and working so hard to accomplish.
The South Muskoka hospital site will soon be home to a new full service, acute care hospital offering state of the art and greatly enhanced diagnostic, surgical and emergency services.
Our government’s capital investment into MAHC’s hospital redevelopments is larger on a per-capita basis than perhaps anywhere else in Canada. I have worked hard to secure this investment and will continue to work and advocate on behalf of every resident in the riding to ensure our communities continue to grow stronger, healthier and more prosperous.
This is the letter from the 45 South Muskoka doctors supporting the decision by MAHC’s steering committee to allocate 10 net new beds to the South Muskoka site.
The MAHC Capital Redevelopment Committee recently passed a motion to recommend that the Board of Directors amend the hospital redevelopment plan to include an additional 10 acute care beds at the Bracebridge site. This will bring the total number of acute care beds up to 46, and this recommendation will be considered by the board at their October 10th meeting. While this proposed revision does not completely meet the expectations that were outlined in the Care Close to Home model, we are encouraged by this significant improvement. We are thankful for the strong community advocacy that has taken place by the public and the support
of our local politicians. Specifically, we recognize that our MPP Graydon Smith has been working hard behind the scenes to support and protect healthcare in our community.
Should the Board approve this revision, it is our opinion that 46 acute care beds will be able to service the basic acute care needs for South Muskoka, especially if there are options for expansion should our future needs change. We are further encouraged by the involvement of the District of Muskoka in helping find local, nonhospital solutions for our ALC (alternative level
of care) patients. This multi-faceted approach will help to create efficient and effective healthcare for our community.
When the hospital redevelopment proposal was made public in January, only 14 acute care beds were planned for the Bracebridge site. It is only through the several months of advocacy by our community, municipal politicians, and MPP Smith that we are now up to 46 acute care beds. This revised plan is much more viable for the long-term sustainability of our local acute
care hospital. MPP Smith has been a strong presence to this point, and we are confident that he will continue to advocate for Muskoka at a provincial level as redevelopment planning continues onto the next stages.
We thank the public for their ongoing support, and hope that the Board of Directors will pass this recommendation on October 10th.
Dr. Scott Whynot Dr. Kent Phillips Dr. Keith Moran Dr. Tom Irvine
Dr. Graeme Gair Dr. David McGregor Dr. Paulette Burns Dr. Terry Holman
Dr. James Moran Dr. Terry Bridle Dr. Kim Forester Dr. Ardyn Todd
Dr. Shane Williams Dr. Florian Kirstein Dr. Courtney Potts Dr. Chris Richardson
Dr. John Rhee Dr. Cole Krensky Dr. Jessica Reid Dr. William Caughey
Dr. Alex Webb Dr. Kersti Kents Dr. Bharti Mittal Dr. Tony Drohomyrecky
Dr. Sandi Adamson Dr. Timea Maxim Dr. Rohit Gupta Dr. Michael Mason
Dr. William Hemens Dr. Victoria Dawson Dr. Kristen Jones Dr. Luke Wu
Dr. Martin O’Shaughnessy Dr. Jessica Nairn Dr. Vicki Dechert
Dr Ken Hotson Dr. Jennifer Hammell Dr. Stephen Rix Dr. Christopher LaJeunessse
Dr. Jeff Pitcher Dr. Tina Kappos Dr. Joe Gleeson Dr. Rand Simpson
Dr. Faizal Bawa Dr. Keith Cross
From Huntsville Mayor Nancy Alcock
As announced in today’s Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC) press release, based on extensive community feedback, their Capital Redevelopment Steering Committee is making a key recommendation to the MAHC Board of Directors regarding the proposed “Made-in-Muskoka Healthcare” plan for hospital redevelopment that would add 10 new beds at the Bracebridge site. This motion will be voted on by the MAHC Board at their October 10 meeting.
Huntsville Mayor Nancy Alcock has issued the following statement regarding the proposed changes to the hospital redevelopment plan:
“I am very encouraged to see the revised proposal and its recognition of stakeholders’ concerns. I am confident that the revisions will go a long way towards helping finalize MAHC’s upcoming submission to the Province of Ontario, which will ensure that we have a multi-site regional hospital to meet the needs of our community today and tomorrow.
Given the Province’s initial funding commitment, and pending MAHC Board approval, I am optimistic that the proposal will now move forward within the timeline.
It’s important to note that there will be no changes to the model for the Huntsville site with this proposed submission.”
Next Steps for Made-in-Muskoka Healthcare…
The Town of Huntsville will continue to actively participate in the Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC) hospital planning process and supports ongoing dialogue amongst all the stakeholders to ensure the formation of the final plans for the Ministry of Health submission this fall, currently planned for November, are reflective of the needs of the communities the two hospital sites will serve for many years to come.
Huntsville’s endorsement of MAHC’s proposed multi-site regional hospital redevelopment plan underscores its significance for the entire region of Muskoka and area, spanning from Severn Bridge in the south, Sundridge in the north, westward to West Parry Sound, and eastward to Haliburton. The plan, valued at close to a billion dollars and with preliminary funding secured from the Ontario Government, aims to not only address local healthcare challenges but also enhance services for residents across this expansive catchment area.
More about the proposed Made-in-Muskoka Healthcare system…
MAHC’s proposed Made-in-Muskoka Healthcare system will allow each site to specialize in different services, focusing staff on patient groups with like diagnoses and providing enhanced patient care services and programs, as well as assisting in recruitment for specialty staff and physicians. The two expanded new facilities will have an overall increase of 44 (previously 34) hospital beds and the overall square footage will almost double, increasing by over 250,000 sq. ft. Enhanced medical services across the region include expanding emergency departments to include a fast track for minor conditions, improved mental health rooms, and streamlined ambulance offload processes. Diagnostic services are set to broaden beyond hospital settings, with plans to include MRI capabilities. Furthermore, the proposal seeks to integrate indigenous healing practices into the healthcare framework and incorporate virtual care solutions.
Key benefits of MAHC’s proposed Made-in-Muskoka Healthcare system include:
- Focus staff on patient groups with like diagnoses
- Critical mass of concentrated services enhances quality of care
- Assist in recruitment for specialty staff and physicians
- Enhanced patient care services and programs
MAHC’s Made-in-Muskoka Healthcare proposal would provide new and expanded medical services for the region, including:
- Expanded emergency departments – fast track for minor conditions, improved mental health rooms, easier ambulance offload
- Outpatient surgery opportunities
- Expanded list of available procedures
- Diagnostics – opportunities to expand beyond hospital locations
- MRI
- Opportunity to integrate indigenous healing practices
- Virtual care integrated
- Overall total of 167 beds – an increase of 44 beds overall
For Frequently Asked Questions regarding the proposed Hospital Redevelopment, please visit MAHC’s hospital redevelopment webpage at Madeinmuskokahealthcare.ca.
