CELEBRATING SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION OF THE SAULT AREA HOSPITAL

SAULT STE. MARIE, ON, Oct. 13 /CNW/ - David Orazietti, MPP for Sault Ste. Marie, joined Algoma-Manitoulin MPP, Mike Brown, hospital officials, staff and community members today to celebrate substantial completion of construction at the Sault Area Hospital with a symbolic key exchange.

Representatives from Hospital Infrastructure Partners, the consortium responsible for the build, finance, maintain project also participated in the ceremony.

Substantial completion means the main portion of construction on the Sault Area Hospital is complete in accordance with the project agreement and the facility is now turned over to hospital officials.

With construction complete, the Hospital will begin the transition process leading up to occupancy, which includes:

• ongoing performance testing to ensure the building is patient-ready;
• delivery and installation of remaining equipment and furniture; and,
• training and orientation of over 2,500 staff, physicians and volunteers.

As one of the first Alternative Financing and Procurement hospital projects to get underway in the province, construction on the Sault Area Hospital began in August 2007 and the facility has reached substantial completion on time and on budget.

The new hospital will open to patients on March 6, 2011, providing the community with a state-of-the-art facility housing enhanced programs and services under one roof.

Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care worked with the Sault Area Hospital to manage the construction of the new hospital, which will remain publicly owned, publicly controlled and publicly accountable. Infrastructure Ontario is a Crown corporation dedicated to delivering some of the province's larger and more complex infrastructure renewal projects - ensuring they are built on time and on budget; as well, it is dedicated to providing the public sector and not-for-profit organizations with long-term financing to renew their infrastructure.

To learn about other infrastructure projects that are part of the stimulus program in your community, visit the provincial government's Revitalizing Ontario's Infrastructure website at http://www.infrastructureapp.mei.gov.on.ca/

Quotes:

Honourable Bob Chiarelli, Minister of Infrastructure
"Through our $30-billion infrastructure plan, ReNew Ontario, this government is building modern health care facilities that provide Ontarians with the services they need and deserve."

Honourable Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care
"The McGuinty government's investment in the Sault Area Hospital will ensure that residents of Sault Ste. Marie and the Algoma District have access to the best health care facilities and quality care that we can provide."

David Orazietti, MPP for Sault Ste. Marie
"Our government committed to building our community a new state-of-the-art hospital, which includes a cancer radiation therapy bunker and we have delivered on the most important public infrastructure project in decades. Past governments had no plan to move this project forward, but today we are marking the end of construction on time and on budget because we have made improving patient care a priority."

Mike Brown, MPP for Algoma-Manitoulin
"I am so proud to be here to celebrate what this new hospital will mean for the Algoma Region as a whole but, in particular, for those who will no longer have to travel away from home and their family to receive life-saving cancer care."

Elaine Pitcher, Chair, SAH Board of Directors
"This is a truly momentous occasion for the Sault Area Hospital. We simply could not have made it this far without the unwavering support and commitment of our hospital family and the generosity of our donors, volunteers and communities in the region. I would also like to recognize our friends and colleagues at Infrastructure Ontario and Health Infrastructure Partners who have helped us realize our dream of a state-of-the-art health care facility."

Ron Gagnon, SAH President and Chief Executive Officer 
"Our staff, physicians and volunteers will finally have the latest in infrastructure, equipment and technology commensurate with their own tremendous talents, skills and dedication. The new SAH represents a giant leap forward in our efforts to be a truly excellent place to work, practice medicine, volunteer and receive quality care."

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Backgrounder

SAULT AREA HOSPITAL

The construction of the new Sault Area Hospital will consolidate the services of two existing sites into a new three-level complex situated close to long-term care facilities.

The new hospital will be 20 per cent larger than the two hospitals combined and will provide enhancements to existing services along with the addition of a radiation therapy treatment satellite facility for residents of Sault Ste. Marie and surrounding area.

The introduction of radiation treatment facilities will ensure that the approximately 120,000 residents of Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma region served by SAH have closer-to-home access to this advanced-level care.

The new SAH will feature:

• A clinical service area that is one-third larger than the current combined sites
• An emergency department that is between double and triple its current size
• Improved infection prevention and control systems including isolation rooms, dedicated clean and soiled elevators and a centralized sterilization processing department
• A ratio of 50 per cent private rooms in the medical/surgical units, providing additional comfort and privacy to patients and their families
• Wireless infrastructure throughout

Construction began in August 2007 and was completed on time and on budget.

Construction statistics:

• 500 to 600 tradespeople were on site at the peak of construction activity.
• More than 60 subcontractors were involved in the project.
• 80 per cent or more of skilled tradespeople were from Sault Ste. Marie and the immediate area.
• Approximately $105 million in salaries was paid to tradespeople over the life of the project.
• Value of goods and services purchased locally is between $15 and $23 million.
• Approximately 2 million person-hours were spent constructing the facility.

For further information:

Mario Paluzzi Sault Area Hospital                          705-759-3837

Mandy Downes Infrastructure Ontario 416-327-5246