Elected officials from across Simcoe Muskoka gathered with Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) leaders for a breakfast meeting on Friday morning to discuss RVH’s vision for the future of healthcare in the region. Representatives from all three levels of government joined the conversation, which focused on RVH’s recently launched 10-year strategic plan, Vitally You, and the path to realize it.
“Over the past two years, we’ve focused on envisioning our future and laying the groundwork for significant change to better serve our region,” said Gail Hunt, RVH President and CEO. “Central to this effort has been understanding what our growing communities need—quality care, close to home, delivered by skilled professionals within an accessible and equitable system.”
Based on the needs of the growing Simcoe Muskoka region, the health centre is focused on driving clinical and academic excellence, and cultivating high-performing teams who take pride in providing exceptional patient and family experiences. Throughout the meeting, RVH had showcased how it is advancing these priorities, as well as the innovative ways it is addressing key issues such as hallway medicine, long wait times, and the burden of travel for patients. These are concerns that local elected officials know their constituents are eager to see addressed.
Hunt, along with RVH chief of staff Dr. Jeffrey Tyberg, highlighted innovative programs that are making an immediate impact, such as the Emergency department (ED) Minor Ailment Patient Pathway. Since its launch last year, this pilot program has diverted 6,000 patients from the regular ED intake by offering pre-booked same- or next-day arrival times, reducing average wait times to just 1.5 hours and easing overcrowding in the main ED.
The meeting provided updates on RVH’s role to expand specialized services, including cutting-edge procedures typically offered only at large urban academic hospitals. Building on 15 years of teaching and research, RVH has transitioned from a community hospital with limited academic focus to a large regional health centre. With a commitment to education and research, RVH is now one of Ontario’s largest providers of clinical trials in oncology and hosted over 900 students for clinical placements last year.
Dr. Chris Martin, intensivist, chief and medical director of Critical Care, co-medical director of Trauma and director of Education at RVH, along with colleagues from the Medical and Academic Affairs team, provided a simulation demonstration using RVH’s high fidelity mannequins. This displays some of the advanced education RVH can provide to healthcare learners.
Another key point of discussion was RVH’s critical role within the region’s healthcare ecosystem. Officials were reminded that 61 per cent of patients receiving treatment in RVH’s regional programs last year were from outside Barrie, underscoring the hospital’s connection to communities across Simcoe Muskoka.
The Hudson Regional Cancer Program, ranked number one in Ontario by Cancer Care Ontario, saw 141,000 patient visits last year. Additionally, the Renal Program is the fastest growing in Ontario, offering a home hemodialysis program that allows patients to receive vital kidney treatment in the comfort of their homes. The Child and Youth Mental Health program also partnered with Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital to launch the Simcoe Muskoka Regional Eating Disorder Program.
Continuing to provide the care residents need close to home means RVH has to expand its physical space, which the health centre has been planning since 2020. Given the province’s fiscal constraints and the rising costs of construction, RVH submitted a revised capital expansion plan in September 2024, to prioritize urgent needs and focus on expanding services in both Barrie and Innisfil over the next decade. Key developments include a Health Hub in Innisfil with an urgent care centre, diagnostic services, outpatient clinics, and 180 post-acute beds. These new services will help meet the evolving healthcare needs of South Simcoe’s expanding population.
It’s clear that RVH is not only adapting to the growing needs of our community but is truly leading the way in transforming healthcare for the entire Simcoe Muskoka region,” shared Lynn Dollin, Mayor of the Town of Innisfil. “This vision for the future will have a lasting impact, and I’m committed to ensuring our community has the support it needs to make it a reality.”
At the Barrie campus, the plan also includes expanding services in areas such as cardiac care, cancer, dialysis, and neonatal care. RVH is actively working with the Ministry of Health to advance the project, which they anticipate imminent approval for at its current stage. Both campuses are planned to evolve together to meet the mounting healthcare pressures and improve access to care for the region’s rapidly growing communities.
“RVH plays a critical role in our region’s healthcare system and its transformation is not just about expanding services—it’s about improving lives,” said Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall. “As we face increasing healthcare demands, these changes will provide our community members with the care they need, when and where they need it, without long drives down the 400. They’ll have them right here at home.”
As the meeting concluded, the officials left with a renewed understanding of the critical role RVH plays in the region’s healthcare system and the transformative changes needed to meet future demand. The conversations sparked a shared commitment to ensuring that the plans outlined in Vitally You become a reality. With collaboration and continued support from all levels of government, RVH is poised to lead the way in building a stronger, more accessible healthcare system for the growing needs across all of Simcoe Muskoka.
