Hospital Improvement Plan Implementation

Niagara Health System

• Developing the Plan
  • About HIP
    • Why a HIP?
    • Questions and Answers
    • Case for Change
    • Quality Care
    • Financial Pressures
    • Factors Driving Change
    • How Can We Change?
    • NHS at a Glance
    • Better Ways of Delivering Care
  • Background
    • Key Messages
    • National Trends in Health Care
    • Niagara’s Population
      • Geographic Overview
      • Travel Maps
      • Population Projections
      • Population Characteristics
      • Income and Employment
      • Health Determinants & Practices
      • Health Status, Life Expectancy
      • Hospitalization
      • Prevalence of Chronic Conditions
      • Disease Prevalence Maps
  • FAQs
    • The Hospital Improvement Plan
    • Emergency Care in Fort Erie/Port Colborne
    • Women’s & Children’s Health
  • Vision / Plan
    • HIP Addendum – December 2008
    • HIP Addendum & Site Charts – November 2008
    • Kitts Review & Recommendations – October 2008
    • Consultation Summary Report – October 2008
    • Draft Hospital Improvement Plan – July 2008
    • Health Experts Say …
      • Centres of Excellence
      • Emergency Services
      • Women’s and Children’s Health
    • Vision Details
      • Emergency Services
      • Women’s and Children’s Health
    • Video Briefing
• Implementing the HIP
  • Implementation Plan – Year 1
  • Early Opportunities
    • Surgical Program
    • Medicine Program
    • Emergency Services
    • Maternal/Child Program
    • Addictions & Mental Health
  • Services at our Sites – Now and by 2013
  • Planning for Changes
  • Effective Use of Patient Care Equipment
  • HIP Implementation Steering Committee
• Stakeholder Relations
  • Community Information
  • Community Advisory Forums
  • Chair’s Message to C.A.F.
  • Vice Chair’s Address
• Contact
• News
• Videos
• Contact

Welcome

The Niagara Health System is moving into year 2 of implementing the Hospital Improvement Plan (HIP). We are focusing on the important issues before us as we chart a better future for healthcare in Niagara. There are two main factors driving the HIP – the need to improve the quality of patient care and for the NHS to operate with a balanced budget.

Since the approval of the HIP in January 2009 by the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant Local Health Integration Network, a number of important steps have been taken as we begin implementing changes. This past year has seen the completion of targeted changes in the following services at Niagara Health sites.

Year 1 – 2009

• May 2009 – Consolidation of surgical services to four locations in Niagara Falls, St. Catharines and Welland and relocation of some specialty surgeries, such as ophthalmology, plastic surgery and dental surgery to one or two locations.
• July 2009 – Conversion of the ER at Port Colborne Site to a 24/7 Urgent Care Centre, treating a wide range of non-emergency ailments for adults and children. Treatment times are tracking much lower than an ER.
• August 2009 – Installation of a new Siemens 128-slice CT Unit at Welland Site.
• August/September 2009 – Closure of 30 beds at various sites
• September 2009 – Conversion of the ER at Douglas Memorial Site (Fort Erie) to a 24/7 Urgent Care Centre, treating a wide range of non-emergency ailments for adults and children. Treatment times are tracking much lower than an ER.
• September/October 2009 – Conversion of Acute beds at Douglas Memorial Site, Port Colborne Site and Niagara-on-the-Lake Site to mainly Complex Continuing Care beds.

In Year 2 – 2010, the following changes are occurring.

• February 2010 – Move from Ontario Street Site of Niagara Diabetes Centre to Welland Site. This administrative centre provides clinic bookings for all 6 locations of the Niagara Diabetes Centre. It also houses physician specialist clinics and sees patients with special needs, such as pregnant women and children.
• May 2010 – Opening of 10 Acute Stroke beds at Greater Niagara General Site. A specialized healthcare team will provide inpatient care in a dedicated area to patients recovering from stroke. This is a first for Niagara and enhances the Regional Stroke Program now located at the Niagara Falls site.
• May 2010 – (To be confirmed) Closure of 39 inpatient beds at various sites.
• Late Autumn 2010 – Renovation of larger treatment space for Port Colborne Site’s Urgent Care Centre on main floor (pending Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care approval of plans)

Change is always difficult and there has been a lot of emotion in the community regarding the changes. With the approval and support of the Local Health Integration Network, it is our goal to work collaboratively with all of our internal and external stakeholders to evolve our hospital system to one that provides health care to Niagara that is both high quality and sustainable.

Visit the Implementing the HIP section of this website and then the Early Opportunities section for more information.