Mackenzie Health Insider: Investing in our two-hospital future

Investing in our two-hospital future

As the international health community does what it can to contain COVID-19, Mackenzie Health is also doing everything possible to ensure the health and safety of all our patients and staff. We’re adjusting our screening protocols and supporting our staff at Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital for COVID-19 as we keep up-to-date with guidelines provided by our public health partners.

We continue to get closer to realizing our two-hospital future and are focused on investing in both of our hospitals – Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital and Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital. In February, we were pleased to host some of our local Members of Provincial Parliament as they announced a Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund investment to support the hospital operations at Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital that help us deliver safe, quality care to our community.

This past month, we also celebrated one of our newest transformational donors whose generosity will support countless families who will receive treatment at Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital for many years to come.

All this and more in this edition of the Insider.

Screening for coronavirus

Updated signage can be found at all entrances at Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital to advise patients and visitors how they can protect themselves and those around them during flu season and to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Ongoing news of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, has many wondering whether or not hospitals in Ontario are prepared to face the challenges that come with treating patients during a global outbreak. The short answer is yes. At Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital, we have a number of precautions in place to help ensure all of our patients and staff remain safe.

We are screening for recent travel history anywhere outside of Canada along with fever and / or respiratory symptoms. We have been keeping our staff informed and up-to-date as we learn more about the virus and are making sure our front-line staff have all of the tools and resources they need to apply the appropriate precautions when screening, testing and treating patients. To date, the risk for COVID-19 in Ontario remains low.

As we learn more about COVID-19 and how it’s transmitted, we continue to update our criteria and protocols to be in line with the most up-to-date best practices across the medical community.

Local MPPs join Mackenzie Health leadership at a funding announcement at Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital on February 14. From left: Altaf Stationwala, President and CEO, Mackenzie Health; Logan Kanapathi, MPP for Markham-Thornhill; Daisy Wai, MPP for Richmond Hill; the Hon. Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education and MPP for King-Vaughan; Michael Parsa, MPP for Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill; and Mark Falbo, Chair, Mackenzie Health Board of Directors.

Mackenzie Health is in a unique position in the province as we prepare to open a second hospital to expand access to care for the residents in our region. We’re just as committed to ensuring Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital has what it needs to continue to deliver the safe, quality care our patients deserve.

In February, we were pleased to host some of our local Members of Provincial Parliament for a funding announcement that will allow us to make needed infrastructure improvements at Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital. The government is investing more than $1.2 million as part of the Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund which will enable us to replace our bulk oxygen tank and pad that supplies life-giving oxygen to our patient care areas, upgrade our fire alarm system, as well as make repairs to the electrical system. This funding will support fundamental hospital operations.

We’re excited for our two-hospital future and what that will mean for the residents of our community. In order to be able to deliver the same level of care to everyone who walks through our doors in Richmond Hill and in Vaughan, it’s important that investments in both hospitals continue to be made. 

R. Ferri Automotive puts pedal to the metal for Mackenzie Health

Mackenzie Health Foundation leadership with Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua, celebrate Remo Ferri and his family as one of our newest transformational donors at an event on February 6.

Family is very important to Remo Ferri, President of R. Ferri Automotive. So is the community of Vaughan where Remo has built his highly successful automotive business. “We have been waiting a long time for the moment where we can invest in our local hospital,” says Remo. When presented with the opportunity to contribute to the Ultimate campaign, Remo knew he wanted to direct his generous $1-million gift toward supporting families in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital. With a long history of giving to organizations that support children’s health, this transformational gift will be recognized by naming the family lounge and play area within the NICU. “Helping to provide a room where kids and their families can take their minds off of the reason they’re in the hospital is something we can be proud of,” explains Remo.

When the new hospital opens, families will have a peaceful and inviting space to rest and recharge when their little one is being cared for at the hospital. “Spaces like the R. Ferri Automotive Family Lounge are just as important as the clinical care we provide to our patients,” says Altaf Stationwala, President and CEO of Mackenzie Health. Generous community partners like R. Ferri Automotive are bringing the ultimate in health care close to home for young patients and their families.

Are you on the Ultimate leaderboard?

Healthy competition is inspiring some serious generosity across our community. Donors are vying for the top spot on the Ultimate leaderboard.

So, what’s the leaderboard all about? Each time you make an online donation, you have the option of adding your name to several leaderboards based on your location and favorite sports team, car or screen (Netflix, anyone?). Then, based on your location and the amount of your donation, team, car or screen of choice, you’re placed on the respective leaderboards. The Global Leaderboard – a.k.a. the Ultimate leaderboard – shows the most generous donors overall (we’ve got a few tied for first place!).

Big or small, each donation brings us closer to our $250-million campaign goal to help build and equip Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital and enhance care at Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital. We’re getting closer to opening Canada’s first smart hospital and we can’t do it without you. Claim your spot on the Ultimate leaderboard and show off your support of Mackenzie Health. Donate today at www.theultimatesuitsyou.ca.