Mackenzie Health Insider: A time of transformation

A time of transformation

There were many exciting milestones celebrated over the past year which we’ve proudly shared with you through our monthly Construction Update. With so many advancements occurring at both Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital and Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital, as well as our community-based locations, we’re now calling this the Mackenzie Health Insider, which will combine construction updates at Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital alongside major news at Mackenzie Health as a whole. As an Insider, you’ll continue to be the first to know about the latest news and important work underway as we advance our vision of healthier futures in Richmond Hill, Vaughan, King and across southwest York Region.

As we look toward the future, we’re excited to lead this transformational health care journey in collaboration with patients, families, government, health partners and our entire community. This past month marked several exciting milestones at Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital and Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital.

Pictured here is the feature staircase in the main entrance between level 1 and 2 and ceiling rough-in underway in the Joe and Wanda Zentil and Family triage area within Magna Emergency.

Essential spaces take shape at Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital 

We’re now 21 months away from opening Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital and construction is well underway. The ambulance garage, which is attached at Level 1, is being built to accommodate six ambulances parked within it, with the back doors open and accessible space to transport patients on stretchers into the facility. The ambulance garage will also be equipped with an emergency shower and eye wash station for safe transport and emergency support for all patients, staff and health care professionals.

Also taking shape is the new RBC Emergency Psychiatric Unit (EPU) within Magna Emergency which will support patients facing a mental health crisis or challenge and provide rapid assessment by mental health professionals in a private and quiet space.

Other notable construction progress highlights include the feature staircase in the main entrance between level 1 and 2, drywall bulkhead ceilings in level 2 in Critical Care, the ceiling grid in Magna Emergency and primer paint on door frames and walls in the triage area, recently sponsored by Joe and Wanda Zentil and Family. Modular washroom pods are all delivered and in place (between levels 4 and 8). Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital will house more than 520 washrooms, both public and inside patient rooms. Of these, nearly 300 are modular – which means the various parts were assembled together into one final product before being brought on site. (Click here to see our modular washroom video.) 

State-of-the-art lab renovations at Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital

Labs play a critical role in hospitals and are relied on for examining and analyzing blood and tissue samples. After analyzing the samples, laboratory staff provide patient results required by physicians to form a diagnosis. In February, the Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital diagnostic laboratory began renovating to make way for new, state-of-the-art automated chemistry and hematology systems. This new automation will provide greater efficiencies for lab staff and ultimately result in improved patient sample testing. This new lab technology will speed up the analysis process by automating steps that were previously performed manually and delivering results to the physician quicker. The completion of the automated lab will represent the first major milestone towards incorporating “smart” design at Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital.

This design will also be applied at Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital to streamline lab services and analysis across both hospitals and support integrated and efficient patient care.

Exceptional Care Belongs Here

To date Mackenzie Health Foundation has raised more than $118 million towards our $250 million Exceptional Care Belongs Here campaign goal, which represents the community share of the overall $1.6 billion project. Thank you to our generous community!