There are cuts coming to Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital in Orillia.
In order to meet a $5.9 million shortfall and balance the budget – the hospital plans on closing 16 beds and lying off 35 positions.
“We regret making changes that impact people’s jobs but as a result of today’s announcement, we can begin the process of mitigating those impacts through offers of early retirement and exploring the potential for internal transfers or filling current vacancies,” said Pat Campbell, OSMH President and CEO.
The hospital says the plan will also allow it to make much needed investment in a long-awaited electronic medical record (EMR) that will go-live in June, an enhanced orthopaedics program, and renovations to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
There are also plans to develope a newly designed program to enhance care for patients requiring post-acute rehabilitation services and medical care. To develop this new model of care, the hospital has provided notice to the NSM LHIN that OSMH will be withdrawing from the regional CCC (Complex Continuing Care) program, and relocating other beds within the hospital to the new unit to be established on the 4th floor.
“In part, this change is being made possible by the introduction of an integrated model of rehabilitation care that is being developed simultaneously by the NSM LHIN,” said Campbell.“Some of the regional CCC patients who came to us from outside Orillia will be able to receive the care they need closer to home, through that initiative.”
Establishment of the new unit will be phased in over several months and is scheduled for completion in early 2017.
-With a report from CTV Barrie's Heather Butts
