Mackenzie Health Announced Today As New Major Regional Healthcare Provider

RICHMOND HILL, ON, June 21, 2012 /CNW/ - York Central Hospital announced today the launch of Mackenzie Health, a major regional healthcare provider formed to serve Southwest York Region. Mackenzie Health will include two full service hospitals: the renamed Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital, formerly known as York Central Hospital, and the future Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital to be operational in 2018/19. It also encompasses a number of community based services to support one of Canada's fastest growing communities.

Both the new Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital and Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital will offer core services with specialized services being distributed between the two hospitals based on community need and most appropriate location. This part of the plan will be determined over the coming year as part of Stage Two of the government mandated planning process. The two-hospital model of care will be governed by one administration.

The name Mackenzie Health was chosen after a great deal of research and discussions with the community. It leverages the proud history of Southwest York Region and our nation. The location of the hospitals is also significant with both situated on Major Mackenzie Drive, bridging the communities of Richmond Hill and Vaughan.

The Government of Ontario granted approval to begin Stage Two planning for the building of the new hospital in Vaughan in February.  The new hospital is scheduled to be fully operational by 2018/19. In the most recent provincial budget, the Ontario government confirmed that plans for the development of the hospital will continue on schedule.

QUOTES

"As one of the fastest growing communities in Canada, Southwest York Region needs expanded health services. Mackenzie Health will be able to meet these needs today and tomorrow," said Dina Palozzi, Chair, Board of Directors, Mackenzie Health. "Thanks to extensive consultation with our many stakeholders and community members in Vaughan and Richmond Hill, we were able to develop a brand and name which resonates with the diverse communities we serve."

"We are thrilled to launch Mackenzie Health, a major regional health care provider to better serve the people of Southwest York Region," stated Altaf Stationwala, President and CEO, Mackenzie Health. "This new and innovative model of care with two hospitals and a network of community service locations further demonstrates our ability to bring the best of healthcare to our local communities. Working together, we are committed to providing a world-class health experience for the people of Southwest York Region."

"Our Foundation has accepted the challenge to help raise funds in support of the new Mackenzie Health and we plan to continue with our mission to inspire inspirational gifts," said Fraser Nelson, Chair, Board of Directors, Mackenzie Health Foundation. "Under the Mackenzie Health Foundation banner, we will unite our community in the common goal of providing the best of health, close to home for Southwest York Region."

"Today marks an important milestone for healthcare in Vaughan and throughout Southwest York Region," said Greg Sorbara, MPP, Vaughan. "The McGuinty government is committed to excellence in healthcare and recognizes the need for increased health services in this diverse and expanding region.  We are committed to working together to ensure Mackenzie Health and the future Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital will offer access to world-class health facilities and medical services."

"Expanding regional healthcare with two hospitals and a network of community-based services will ensure residents in the Town of Richmond Hill and beyond have access to state-of-the-art medical facilities and services close to home," said Reza Moridi, MPP, Richmond Hill.

"This is an important moment for the City of Vaughan with the Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital another step closer to reality," said Maurizio Bevilacqua, Mayor of Vaughan. "Unifying health services under Mackenzie Health will ensure our entire community's healthcare needs are met and we have access to the first-rate healthcare services the people of our community want and deserve."

"Mackenzie Health will build on almost 50 years of delivering excellent healthcare at the Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital formerly known as York Central Hospital," stated Dave Barrow, Mayor of Richmond Hill. "Through this new major regional health provider, we can ensure Southwest York Region has access to the best healthcare on a daily basis."

Quick Facts

• Mackenzie Health is a new major regional healthcare provider for Southwest York Region.
• Mackenzie Health will include two hospital sites - the future Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital and the existing Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital (formerly known as York Central Hospital).
• Both MacKenzie Health hospitals will offer core services. Specialized services will be distributed based on community needs and most appropriate location.
• Southwest York Region is known as one of the fastest growing and most diverse communities in Canada. The new Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital will be the first new hospital to be built in the Southwest York Region in 50 years.
• Mackenzie Health was chosen as the new identity, after extensive community and stakeholder consultation. As part of the name selection process, it was important the new name be historical and resonate with the diverse population.
• The Government of Ontario granted approval to begin Stage Two planning in February. Construction will begin in 2015/16. The new hospital is scheduled to be fully operational in 2018/19.

Backgrounder

• Mackenzie Health is a new, major regional healthcare provider for Southwest York Region.  It will offer two full service hospitals and a network of community based services to one of Canada's fastest growing communities.
• The two hospital sites include; the future Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital and the existing Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital (formerly known as York Central Hospital).
• As part of an integrated program, both Mackenzie Health hospitals will offer core services, including emergency rooms, intensive care, operating rooms, in-patient care and support services. Specialized services will be distributed between the two hospitals based on most appropriate location and community need. Both hospitals will be linked to other regional health care providers.
• The new hospital known as Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital will be located in Vaughan at Jane and Major Mackenzie Drive. The Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital (formerly known as York Central Hospital) is located in Richmond Hill on Major Mackenzie Drive at Trench Street.
• Mackenzie Health was chosen as the new identity, after extensive community and stakeholder consultation involving; members of the community, donors, hospital staff, physicians, patients, volunteers, health partners and elected representatives. Focus groups and one- on- one consultations were conducted in both in Vaughan and Richmond Hill to talk about the community's expectations, thoughts and ideas on the future of health care in the Southwest York Region.  It was also important that the new name for both the overarching organization, its component hospitals and community based services resonate with the diverse population.
• The name Mackenzie Health evokes history and leverages the proud heritage of the region.
• Addison Alexander Mackenzie was a member of the Ontario Legislature and respected veteran of Vimy Ridge for whom Major Mackenzie Drive is named. Three Canadian Prime Ministers also bore the name Mackenzie including Alexander Mackenzie, Mackenzie Bowell and William Lyon Mackenzie King. The location of the hospitals is also significant with both situated on Major Mackenzie Drive, bridging the communities of Richmond Hill and Vaughan.
• Southwest York Region is known as one of the fastest growing and most diverse communities in Canada. The City of Vaughan was listed as the fastest-growing municipality in Canada between 1996-2006, achieving a population growth rate of 80.2 per cent according to Statistics Canada.*
• The Government of Ontario granted approval to begin Stage Two planning for the building of the new Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital in February.  Stage Two planning will allow Mackenzie Health to further define the size and scope of services at the new Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital, and identify bed numbers, service volume projections and technical parameters used by architects to develop and refine the architectural plan and prepare the tender documents.
• It is estimated that construction of the new Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital will begin in the 2015/16 fiscal year. It is projected that it will take two to three years to build the hospital and the necessary infrastructure on the site of the new hospital. The new hospital is scheduled to be fully operational by 2018/19. In its most recent budget, the Ontario government confirmed that planning for the development of a new hospital will continue on schedule.
• The new Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital is the first new hospital to be built in the Southwest York Region in almost 50 years. The City of Vaughan has committed $80 million to the purchase of the hospital lands and a local share contribution. York Region has committed $117 million towards the new Vaughan Hospital and has approved an advance of two-thirds of the estimated cost of the planning and design stages. Further community fundraising initiatives are underway.

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaughan

Media Contact:

Melina Cormier
Chief, Communications and Public Affairs
Mackenzie Health
Tel: [phone] ext. 7492
E-mail: [email protected]  

Elizabeth Barnett
Communications Consultant
Mackenzie Health
Tel: [phone] ext. 7490
Email: [email protected]