It’s been almost two months since Mackenzie Health became two hospitals. Our team has already achieved many remarkable milestones as we now provide care to our community at two full-service hospitals in addition to our community-based locations. As COVID-19 case numbers in the community and in hospitals continue to decline, we are now able to focus even more resources on providing hospital care.
Mackenzie Health is also pleased to introduce the new chair and vice-chair of our Board of Directors.
All this and more in this edition of the Insider.
The first month at Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital
Mark and Scarlett were the first two babies born at Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital on June 6, 2021.
On June 6, Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital opened to the community as Mackenzie Health’s second full-service hospital with the Magna Emergency, core services and specialized services, including our Woman and Child and inpatient Mental Health programs and the Sorbara Integrated Stroke Unit.
In the first month of operations, the team supported our community in so many ways. Since welcoming the first babies at Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital — a set of twins! — on opening day, the members of the Woman and Child team have brought an additional 250 babies into the world and have cared for more than 300 pediatric patients in our Pediatric Urgent Care Clinic.
More than 5,500 visits to the Magna Emergency occurred in its first month in operation while daily emergency department visits increased by 60 per cent across both of our hospital sites since Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital opened last month.
The Mental Health team provided support during more than 230 in-person outpatient mental health clinic visits, while more than 300 surgical procedures have been completed. The Medical Imaging department performed almost 10,000 exams, including more than 2,400 CT scans and more than 400 MRI scans.
With two full-service hospitals now open, even more people across western York Region will be able to receive care at Mackenzie Health.
The journey to two hospitals wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work and dedication of so many. Take a look at this video to see some of the highlights of the last few decades of achievements as Mackenzie Health became two hospitals.
Proud to support the largest vaccination program in recent history
Clinical pharmacist Tania administers the first COVID-19 vaccine in York Region at Mackenzie Health last December.
Mackenzie Health has been proud to support the province and York Region as part of the largest vaccination program in recent history. The vaccine clinic team at Mackenzie Health administered 97,274 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine since opening the vaccine clinic in December 2020 and was the first to administer a COVID-19 vaccine in York Region.
We always intended to play a temporary role in the rollout of the vaccination program. Now that Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital is open to the community as a full-service hospital, we closed the vaccine clinic to the public on July 11 to allow us to focus our resources on providing hospital care. More details can be found on York Region’s website.
There are many clinics across York Region available for residents to get vaccinated. Appointments can be booked at www.york.ca/COVID19Vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine remains the most powerful tool we have available to us to help end this pandemic. Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself and those around you.
During the last wave of the pandemic, the Mackenzie Health team cared for the highest proportion of COVID-19 patients in Ontario while also operating a COVID-19 vaccine clinic and assessment centre. We’re so inspired by the dedication of our staff, but we know the pandemic has taken a toll on them. That’s why we’re immensely grateful to the Longo’s Family Charitable Foundation for their generous gift towards mental health programs and resilience training for our health care workers. All donations raised in support of our front-line staff will be matched by Longo's, dollar for dollar, up to $50,000. To learn more, visit our campaign website.
Introducing our new chair
Fay Lim-Lambie was appointed chair of the Mackenzie Health Board of Directors on July 14, 2021.
At Mackenzie Health’s Annual General Meeting on July 14, Fay Lim-Lambie was appointed as the new chair of the Board of Directors. Fay has been a member of the Board since 2016 and has helped guide our organization through periods of incredible growth and change. As Dean of the Centre for Health Sciences and the Centre for Community Services and Early Childhood at George Brown College, Fay brings with her a wealth of leadership experience and commitment to making a difference in the lives of the residents we serve.
Along with Fay’s appointment, Stephanie Zee, Managing Director within the Financial Crimes Unit at BMO Financial Group, was also named the new vice-chair of the board and four new members were welcomed to the board. Read our news release for more information about the Mackenzie Health Board of Directors and its new members.
We thank outgoing chair Mark Falbo and the other members of the board – Gary D’Andrea, Anthony Ianni and Len Koroneos who recently completed their terms – for their leadership and dedicated years of service.
Read more about Mackenzie Health and Mackenzie Health Foundation in our community report and companion financial report
Stay tuned for more updates …