Humber River Regional Hospital's future highlighted

TORONTO , Nov. 27 /CNW/ - A Government of Ontario infrastructure project sign was put in place today at the future site of Humber River Regional Hospital, highlighting the plans and location for what will be a new state-of-the-art hospital.

Monte Kwinter, MPP for York Centre, and York - South Weston MPP Laura Albanese joined Dr. Rueben Devlin , President and CEO of Humber River Regional Hospital and Mr. Norm Naumoff , Chair of Humber River Regional Hospital's Board of Directors to officially install the sign.

Humber River Regional Hospital's new acute care facility will be constructed at Keele Street and Wilson Avenue in Toronto . The new hospital facility will offer a comprehensive range of patient programs in an environmentally-sustainable facility equipped with modern technology.

    
    The new hospital will include:

    -   Expanded emergency services
    -   Increased specialized outpatient services
    -   Modern, high-tech diagnostic equipment for better patient diagnosis
        and treatment
    -   Updated infectious disease containment systems to monitor and prevent
        a broad range of infections
    -   A commitment to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
        (LEED) certification, which recognizes buildings with reduced
        environmental impacts.
    

"The new Humber River Regional Hospital will provide the people in our community with a wider range of health care services in a larger, more modern, state-of-the art hospital," said Albanese.

"By improving health care infrastructure, we are putting the foundation in place for modern service delivery in our hospitals - demonstrating the McGuinty government's commitment to families and to individuals," said Kwinter.

"This investment will allow Humber River Regional Hospital to continue to play a vital role in providing quality health care and treatment to people in our community," said Mario Sergio , MPP for York West.

According to Naumoff, "this sign symbolizes Humber River's emerging role as one of Ontario's most vital acute care hospitals. We are embracing our future with enthusiasm and with the full knowledge of the trust and responsibility being placed on us. We are dedicated to success and to ensuring our community is home to the finest hospital facility and team: one which they will be proud to support."

"We're very excited that in January we will begin the initial infrastructure work for our new home," explained Devlin. "In 2014 we will move into Ontario's first digital hospital - a showcase facility developed to the highest environmental standards and equipped with the finest technology available. It will be the culmination of a dream shared by many in our hospital and our community."

Beginning in 2010, Infrastructure Ontario and the hospital will undertake a competitive procurement process to select a company to design, build, finance and maintain the new hospital. The Humber River Regional Hospital project will proceed under Infrastructure Ontario's Alternative Financing and Procurement model whereby risks associated with designing, constructing, financing and maintaining the hospital are transferred to the private sector.

Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care are working with Humber River Regional Hospital to build the new facility, which will remain publicly owned, publicly controlled and publicly accountable. Infrastructure Ontario is a Crown corporation dedicated to managing some of the province's larger and more complex infrastructure renewal projects - ensuring they are built on time and on budget.

Visit www.infrastructureontario.ca for more information.

Disponible en français

For further information: Gerard Power, Humber River Regional Hospital, [phone]; Terence Foran, Infrastructure Ontario, [phone]