Mount Sinai Hospital, Bridgepoint Active Healthcare and Circle of Care to form Sinai Health System

TORONTO, Jan. 22, 2015 /CNW/ - Mount Sinai Hospital and Bridgepoint Active Healthcare are pleased to announce the formation of the Sinai Health System, a new organization resulting from the voluntary amalgamation between the two hospitals. Joining as an affiliate is Circle of Care, a leading provider of home care and community support services.

Mount Sinai, Bridgepoint and Circle of Care share a vision of creating a premier exemplar of an integrated health system that enables patients to move seamlessly across different care settings. By leveraging the combined strengths of each organization, patients will have access to a better, more coordinated continuum of care: from acute care, through to rehabilitation, complex care, primary and community-based care.

Sinai Health System will focus on innovation and integration to address the challenges and opportunities arising from a rapidly aging population and the growing number of people living today with complex health conditions.

Fueled by best in class research and education, Sinai Health System will elevate the standards of clinical practice and excellence.   Research to improve care for complex patients will be accelerated by integrating Bridgepoint's Collaboratory for Research and Innovation into Mount Sinai's internationally recognized Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute.

While working together as a system, Bridgepoint and Mount Sinai will continue to deliver their excellent programs and services, and retain their names and unique identities. Circle of Care will operate as an affiliate organization, linked into the Sinai Health System at the governance, planning and system development level.

Sinai Health System's Board will be led by Jay Hennick, Chair (former Chair of Mount Sinai Hospital) and David Denison, Vice-Chair (former Chair of Bridgepoint). Joseph Mapa, President and CEO of Mount Sinai Hospital, has been named President and CEO of Sinai Health System and Marian Walsh, President and CEO of Bridgepoint Active Healthcare, has been named Associate CEO and Chief Transformation Officer.  Michael Scheinert will continue as the President and CEO of Circle of Care.

Quotes

"We are extremely excited to be creating a premier integrated health system that drives excellence and innovation in patient care. We believe that Sinai Health System responds to the changing needs of our patients, representing an extraordinary opportunity to broaden our impact on the communities we serve."

Jay Hennick, Chair of the Board, and David Denison, Vice-Chair of the Board 

"Bridgepoint, Mount Sinai and Circle of Care share deeply rooted values and an unwavering commitment to quality and excellent care for those patients who need our care. We are excited by the opportunity to leverage our combined strengths, to do even more for our patients and to create an exemplar of integrated patient care in Ontario," Joseph Mapa, President and CEO and Marian Walsh, Associate CEO and Chief Transformation Officer.

"The Sinai Health System offers new and important opportunities to create an integrated continuum of patient centred care that will transform the system and enhance patient outcomes." Michael Scheinert, President and CEO of Circle of Care

About Mount Sinai Hospital:

Mount Sinai Hospital is as an internationally recognized 442-bed acute care academic health sciences centre affiliated with the University of Toronto that is dedicated to delivering the best medicine and best patient experience. It is focused on excellence in patient and family-centred care, innovative education and leading-edge research. Clinical strengths include women's and infants' health, chronic disease management, specialized cancer care, emergency medicine, and geriatrics. The hospital has been designated with Exemplary Status from Accreditation Canada and every aspect of patient care is anchored in a rigorous quality plan and monitoring of safety and quality goals. Mount Sinai's Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute ranks in the top ten biomedical research institutes in the world. The Hospital was recently named the first hospital in Canada to receive Magnet® status for nursing excellence and patient care. The Hospital is considered to be a top employer in Canada, receiving multiple awards for its employment and culture centred programs.  www.mountsinai.ca.

About Bridgepoint Active Healthcare:

Bridgepoint is an internationally recognized, 464-bed hospital, research collaboratory, foundation and family health team community affiliated with the University of Toronto, dedicated to get getting patients living with complex conditions back to their lives. Bridgepoint is the only healthcare organization in Canada to focus exclusively on research, care and teaching for people with complex health conditions. Bridgepoint provides remarkable care in the hospital and community through active partnership, expert care, practical research and education for patients with complex care and rehabilitation needs. The hospital has been designated with Exemplary Status from

Accreditation Canada. Bridgepoint is an employer of choice in the healthcare sector and is the number one choice of patients for complex care and rehabilitation in the GTA. The Collaboratory's leading complexity research program is building a body of evidence that doesn't currently exist for complex patients. www.bridgepointhealth.ca

About Circle of Care:

Circle of Care is a leading community based non-profit agency serving the Greater Toronto Area dedicated to excellence and committed to providing safe, reliable, and high quality care. Circle of Care has received accreditation with exemplary standing from Accreditation Canada. The agency currently serves approximately 9000 clients, helping them to remain at home living independently, through the support of over 750 staff and 480 volunteers. Circle of Care is one of the few agencies in Ontario that has contracts with Community Care Access Centres and also provides a full range of community support services through the Local Health Integration Network and other funders. Circle of Care provides a comprehensive  integrated array of services, including: Personal Support and Respite; Kosher Meals on Wheels ; Transportation; Physiotherapy; Adult Day Program; Counselling and End of Life Supports; Visiting Hospice; Assisted Living and Supportive Housing; and Falls Prevention and Exercise Classes. Professional nursing services are under development.  www.circleofcare.com

SOURCE Mount Sinai Hospital

Sylvia Sharp, Vice President, Communications and Marketing, Mount Sinai Hospital, t: 416-586-8587, [email protected]; Danielle Donadio, Chief, Communications and Public Affairs, Bridgepoint Active Healthcare, t: 416-461-8252 x2018, [email protected]