Niagara Health 2022-23 Annual Report

Niagara Health’s Indigenous Health Services and Reconciliation team is pleased to unveil the initial piece of artwork by community member, Delbert (JayR) Jonathan, to create a visual identity and presence across all Niagara Health locations.

This beautiful piece incorporates the representation of Turtle Island, with the medicine wheel in the centre. The use of Turtle Island as well as the medicine wheel are intended to be inclusive and visually recognizable to many nations.

The medicine wheel represents the importance of balance, the balance of our mental, emotional, physical and spiritual components. We recognize the importance of incorporating supports to bring each of us into balance to achieve and maintain health.

The plants, medicines, animals and waters, all have roles and responsibilities. Creation has accepted their roles and responsibilities and works to fulfill those daily. We sometimes need to remember to move in a way that cares for and respects creation, including ourselves and our communities. It is our responsibility to care for ourselves and everyone around us.

Cover art by Delbert (JayR) Jonathan

Niagara Health is a regional healthcare provider with multiple sites and a growing network of communitybased and virtual services.

We believe that every person in our region deserves to live every day of their life in the best health possible. As a community-based academic centre, our focus on teaching and learning, research, innovation and partnership propels us to continually improve care and make a difference in people's lives.

Our team is made up of more than 7,300 staff, physicians and volunteers who we count on to deliver Extraordinary Caring. Every Person. Every Time. Our Accreditation with Exemplary Standing is a clear demonstration of our team's commitment to the highest safety and quality standards.

We provide a full range of acute care hospital services to 450,000 residents across the Niagara region, and we are one of the few hospitals in Ontario that own and operate a long-term care facility.

Creating a healthy community is a collaborative effort. The courage and hope demonstrated by so many during the COVID-19 pandemic inspires us to continue to work with community partners to improve the health and well-being of our region.

Kathie A., patient

The nurses and doctors were wonderful and caring. The Environmental Services staff were so friendly and helpful too. They never made me feel like I was a burden. I am truly in awe of how hard they work and how much they sincerely care about their patients. I thank them all from the bottom of my heart.

Nicole M., Niagara Health Registered Nurse and patient

I am both a nurse at NH and now a cancer patient. I cannot say enough about the entire team at the Walker Family Cancer Centre. Every single member I have interacted with has been exemplary. The acts of kindness I witness each time I am there are heartwarming and comforting.

The past year has been one of both challenge and opportunity. The waning of the COVID-19 pandemic has strengthened our resolve to recommit to supporting the health and well-being of Niagara residents. We are now moving beyond the response efforts that helped us successfully navigate the pandemic and returning to our foundations, as outlined in our new strategic plan.

As you will see in the pages that follow, despite the hardships of the pandemic, we have not only launched our five-year strategic plan but also stayed true to its pillars and, in many instances, accelerated our work to advance them. These are: putting people first, ensuring the delivery of safe and effective care and transforming how we work.

We are proud of the investments we’ve made over the past year in our people, those who care for you. This is reflected by our continued effort to advance diversity, equity and inclusion within our walls. And we continue to work to provide the tools that empower our people to practice healthcare to the fullest of their abilities. This includes innovations such as SCOPE (which bridges hospital and primary care), Project Monarch (a new hospital information system that will leverage technology to enhance the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of care) and Surgical Transitions Remote-Care Monitoring (a digital patient support tool). The year also saw continued work to create an innovative workspace that will support the delivery of world-class healthcare in Niagara –the South Niagara hospital.

But it is not only our commitment to fostering the conditions needed to deliver world-class healthcare, it is our resolve to ensure the universality of that care. Most notably, the past year saw the launch of the Indigenous Health Services and Reconciliation team. Guided by their knowledge and worldview and led by their capabilities, Niagara Health will work to create culturally appropriate and safe spaces for the delivery of care.

Looking ahead, we face challenges. There is no doubt that our healthcare system was severely stressed over the course of the pandemic, which has created significant health human resources shortages, from physicians to other healthcare professionals. This affects all of us across Niagara and the province, which means a solution demands partnerships, collaboration and a commitment to a shared vision of universal healthcare. Niagara Health is committed to this vision and to doing our part to ensuring every Niagaran gets the care they need.

We remain optimistic that we will rebuild the strength of our people, continue to reimagine the potential of our hospital system and advance the innovations needed to deliver the healthcare the people of Niagara need and deserve, now and well into the future.

Lynn Guerriero President and CEO

Bernice (Bunny) Alexander Board Chair

We remain optimistic that we will rebuild the strength of our people and continue to reimagine the essence and potential of our hospital system.

Niagara Health Board Chair and President and CEO

Earlier this year Niagara Health unveiled the road map that will guide us over the next five years – the Transforming Care Strategic Plan.

This ambitious plan sets clear goals for 2028, tailored to the healthcare needs of everyone across the Niagara region, recognizing the challenges we currently face (as well as those we can expect in the future) and at the same time identifying the opportunities that will enable us to deliver on this plan. Most fundamentally, the plan returns us to our core nature as a hospital, enabling us to focus on those functions we do very well and at the same time expanding our capabilities and our capacity to serve our growing communities.

With three pillars, the plan embeds the adaptability we need to adjust to changing circumstances while creating the conditions for success. As we emerge from the pandemic, the need to take care of the Niagara Health team so they can best care for our patients has become clear.

Our first pillar – Putting People First, addresses this by continuing to build an inclusive and collaborative workplace that empowers patientcentred care.

The second pillar – Delivering Safe and Quality Care, speaks directly to how we care for our patients, how they move within our network, how quality is continuously improved and how integrated data and research drive healthcare.

Our third pillar – Transforming How We Work, implements many learnings that contribute to the success of 21st century healthcare organizations like Niagara Health, including refining our regional model, implementing interdisciplinary team best practices and enhancing and leveraging technology.

By 2028, Niagara Health will:

• Ensure a positive patient experience with a focus on the increasing demands of our aging community and work with specific patient populations, beginning with Indigenous partners, to improve care;

• Deliver consistent, highquality care across all sites, using technology and data, which will get easier with the implementation of our new hospital information system;

• Fully transition to a regional model with three hospital sites, including the St. Catharines hospital and the opening of the new South Niagara hospital, as well as the redevelopment of the Welland hospital, which will specialize in same-day surgical procedures; and

• Continue to build an inclusive and collaborative workplace with a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion.

The Strategic Plan gives us clear direction and enables us to act purposefully to achieve our objectives over the next five years.

You can read the Strategic Plan on the Niagara Health website.

Niagara Health has made great strides in the past year to build and foster partnerships and relationships across the region and province.

Niagara Health is proud to have worked with academic and research partners, the Indigenous community, healthcare and community partners, as well as with elected officials and provincial government representatives. This work is grounded in the principle that together we hold collective responsibility for the health and well-being of all Niagara residents.

We focused on educating and building awareness, engaging with interested and affected parties and seeking opportunities

for collaboration. Practically, this has resulted in daily interactions with elected officials and regular communications with provincial government representatives.

We connect with partners and elected officials through e-newsletters, meetings, presentations, and participate in events and committees to advocate

for shared priorities and ensure the communities are receiving factual, up-to-date information.

We have advanced work on key issues including fostering awareness and understanding of our regional plan and building a collective voice and action to recruit physicians to the region, increase health human resources, build community capacity and align work across strategic plans.

We continue to advocate for ongoing collaboration with our partners to ensure the right care is delivered in the right place at the right time – creating a healthier Niagara, together.

Niagara Health’s Indigenous Health Services and Reconciliation team visited the Indigenous Health Learning Lodge at McMaster University to discuss opportunities for us to work together and build partnerships. >

From left: Charity Beland, Manager of the Indigenous Health Services and Reconciliation team and Alexandra Trottier, Executive Director, Indigenous Health Learning Lodge, McMaster University

In partnership with more than 20 community organizations, Niagara Health hosted a free community event on Thursday, May 11 recognizing Canadian Viral Hepatitis Elimination Day. <

This work is grounded in the principle that together we hold collective responsibility for the health and well-being of all Niagara residents.

The Ontario government is providing $5,006,981 to Niagara Health as part of its $572.3 million investment to reimburse hospitals across the province for their lost revenue during the pandemic in order to provide financial stability and support continued high-quality patient care people need and deserve. >

Pictured are Niagara Health President and CEO Lynn Guerriero and Niagara West MPP Sam Oosterhoff at the St. Catharines hospital.

Oreoluwa Majekodunmi, a third-year nursing student at Brock University doing her fourth placement at Niagara Health. >

< Thank you to everyone who stopped by to network with our physician recruiters, including Dr. Rafi Setrak, Chief of Emergency Medicine, at the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians conference.

Niagara Health is proud to be an academic partner with McMaster University’s Niagara Regional Campus, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, School of Nursing, and Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine.

Dr. Amanda Bell, Regional Assistant Dean of the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine.

Patients Marilyn and Larry Lanigan were able to celebrate their 55-year wedding anniversary together, and later shared a room during their admissions, thanks to their healthcare team in the fall of 2022. Read story

Niagara Health President and CEO Lynn Guerriero addresses graduates at Niagara College during a convocation ceremony where she was bestowed an honorary diploma in Health Sciences.

story

The team from Niagara Warehouse of Hope collected more than 140 foam mattress and stretcher surfaces from different Niagara Health sites earlier this year to send to Ukraine. The foam surfaces were replaced with gel at all five sites as part of Niagara Health’s Pressure Injury Prevention Strategy. Read story

Dr. Amit Mehta, Deputy Chief of Diagnostic Imaging, with images captured by the new Sectra One picture archiving and communication system implemented at Niagara Health this year. The new system will lead to faster diagnoses, increased collaboration between healthcare providers, and allow the most pressing patient cases to be prioritized by radiologists reading studies. Read story

Donna Allman (left), who was treated for breast cancer at the Walker Family Cancer Centre, and sister Diane Willoughby, hold port pillows that Diane sewed to support Niagara Health patients, including Donna, who use the implanted devices to receive long-term intravenous treatment. The sisters donated about 200 port pillows last year. Read story

Photo by Matthew Craggs, Niagara College. Read

Niagara Health was one of two Canadian hospitals to achieve the Choosing Wisely Canada Leadership Status, the highest national recognition for providing safe, high-quality care by reducing the overuse of low-value tests, treatments and procedures. Niagara Health’s Clinical Utilization Committee leads the quality improvement programs that have helped the organization earn the accolades. Read story

Niagara Health’s COVID-19 Assessment Centre (AC) and COVID, Cold and Flu Care Clinics permanently closed on March 31. The hospital’s three ACs administered more than 327,000 swabs and served as the primary screening and testing locations for COVID-19 in the region. Read the story

For the fifth consecutive year, Niagara Health was selected as one of Hamilton-Niagara’s Top Employers by the editors of Canada’s Top 100 Employers. Read story

Cancer care and treatment for patients in Niagara advanced in 2022 with the installation of a new CT simulation machine that positioned Niagara Health as a leader in radiotherapy imaging. The machine uses stateof-the-art detector technology and artificial intelligence to provide better-quality 3D and 4D imaging used in planning radiation treatment, and will positively impact survival rates of patients with cancer. Read story

Welland Resident Norma Lizotte often writes messages of support for healthcare workers on the sidewalks outside her Welland home. Lizotte’s daughter, Carolyn Moore, is a registered practical nurse at Niagara Health. Read story

Last September, Paul Battaglia, a cancer survivor from St. Catharines, and his wife Katie Beaton, joined staff from Wellspring Niagara in handdelivering 800 Smile Cookies to Niagara Health staff as a gesture of gratitude for their work. Read story

Honouring valued members of our team at the annual Awards of Excellence is one of the ways Niagara Health formally recognizes staff, physicians, volunteers and students who are transforming how we work to deliver safe, quality care. This year, nine awards were handed out to individuals and teams that exemplified our CORE values of Compassion in Action, Driven by Optimism and Achieving Ambitious Results.

President and CEO Award for Extraordinary Performance

Denis Guillemette, Registered Nurse

The confidence in Denis’ care and treatment of patients and families goes above and beyond. With such a calm and comforting presence, returning patients often ask for him by name. His demeanor and how he relates to patients of all ages is inspiring.

As a team leader, Denis is enthusiastic, hard working and always eager to help others. His diligence and compassion is nothing short of extraordinary.

Compassion in Action

Danielle Smith, Nurse Practitioner

Danielle always goes the extra mile to ensure patients are getting the best care possible. In addition to her regular duties, she is continuously advocating for patients and communicating with their families. When patients are assigned to Danielle, they are sure to receive the best care possible.

Danielle is always looking for ways that she can make the patient experience better. She is empathetic, compassionate and a testament to the healthcare profession.

Driven by Optimism

Rose Michaud, Environmental Services

Each day, Rose works diligently to support a welcoming atmosphere for everyone who walks through the doors at Niagara Health. With a consistently sunny and optimistic attitude, she shows the highest level of attention in her work that ensures our teams are supported to provide patient care, without interruption.

Throughout her 21 years in Environmental Services, Rose has been a driving force in maintaining infection, prevention and control standards to keep community and team members safe.

Achieving Ambitious Results

Catherine DeGiorgio, Scheduling Specialist

As a scheduling specialist for numerous units, including Intensive Care, Catherine has the important job of scheduling shifts and time-off for team members. Responsible for scheduling more than 700 staff, Catherine works diligently to ensure shifts are filled and patients are cared for.

Extraordinary Interdepartmental Collaboration

Annie Mazmanian, Brigitte Alcide and Erica Plante, Nurse-to-Nurse Peer Support Group

Registered nurses in the Critical Care and Emergency Services program, Annie, Brigitte and Erica recognized the need for a peer support program as they provided care throughout the pandemic. They found talking with each other about what they were experiencing was incredibly helpful for their mental health.

As a result of their extraordinary caring, the Nurseto-Nurse Peer Support Group is continuing to grow and being considered a leading practice for accreditation at Niagara Health.

Extraordinary Future through Innovation

George Hajdok, Head of Medical Physics

Always looking for opportunities to improve processes and expand Niagara Health’s clinical scope, George works diligently to acquire new state-of-the-art equipment and software, as well as leveraging his experience to expand cancer care techniques.

Extraordinary Caring

Shanna Graham, Ward Clerk

With a smile on her face, Shanna works incredibly hard to support patients and colleagues. As a Ward Clerk, she often stays late to ensure she isn’t leaving any loose ends for the next shift in her unit. Nominated an astounding six times for an Award of Excellence, Shanna is always mindful of how every process can have an effect on patients, families and colleagues.

As a constant reassuring presence, Shanna is incredibly knowledgeable and always willing to provide assistance to those around her.

Extraordinary Team

Rachel Murphy, Sherri Lemon and Melenie Neamtz,

Screening Supervisors

In March 2020, as screening processes were implemented across all sites at Niagara Health as a result of the pandemic, a combination of redeployed staff and external hires formed a team of more than 100 screeners.

To support this important work, volunteer coordinators, Rachel, Sherri and Melenie were reassigned to supervise scheduling and day-today operational requirements of the screening teams. They performed a critical role in supporting our screening teams as the first line of defense to maintain patient, visitor and team safety.

George also collaborates with top-billed oncologists to deliver new, complex treatments to the Niagara region. He is an advocate for public awareness and creating solutions to improve clinical workflow efficiency.

Extraordinary Leadership

Laurel Mills, Manager, Mental Health

Laurel puts people first. She is positive, reassuring and routinely makes an effort to check-in with staff to ensure things are going smoothly and team members are able to take their breaks. Laurel has supported many team members throughout difficult situations, by offering an open-door policy.

A positive influence in the mental health program, Laurel’s presence fosters a culture of sharing and open communication with staff, to ensure the best possible patient care.

The woman in the photo on Facebook is wearing a medical mask but there’s no hiding her smile.

Donning a disposable hospital gown, she leans in for a selfie with her partner, who musters a weary smile as he rests in a hospital bed at the Niagara Falls Site.

“I’m grateful for all your prayers, the staff of the hospital, and everyone helping us while we’re here,” the post reads.

The couple are from Fort Albany First Nation, a Cree community on the southern shore of the Albany River in Northeastern Ontario.

They came to Niagara with the rest of their community when they were evacuated on April 18, 2023 due to flooding. The community got the green light to return home on May 11, but the couple in the photo made the difficult decision to stay behind when the man was admitted to the Niagara Falls Intensive Care Unit in critical condition that same day.

They were without their usual support network, but they weren’t alone in their healthcare journey. Indigenous Relations Specialist Jolene Courchene was with them every step of the way.

Courchene is part of Niagara Health’s new Indigenous Health Services and Reconciliation team, working

alongside Charity Beland, Manager of Indigenous Health Services and Reconciliation, to ensure inclusive, equitable and compassionate healthcare journeys for Indigenous patients and their families.

Courchene provided ongoing emotional and cultural support to the patient and his family, and called in service providers to help with food, clothing and toiletries. She worked closely with the Deputy Chief of Fort Albany and the couple’s health benefits providers to ensure the family had shelter during their extended stay in Niagara.

She also provided regular advocacy for the patient while in hospital and assisted with communication between the family and his care team.

Twelve days after he was admitted, he was transferred to hospital in Kingston. Courchene coordinated travel plans for his family to join him there.

The text messages sent to Courchene after they arrived matched the expressions in that photo on Facebook.

“Thank you for everything, Jolene,” they read. “Thank you, Niagara Falls, for saving his life.”

I’m grateful for all your prayers, the staff of the hospital, and everyone helping us while we’re here.

Creating an environment where every person at Niagara Health feels seen, empowered and respected is key to achieving our vision of Transforming Care.

As one of Ontario’s largest hospital organizations, Niagara Health has made diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) a priority by working with community partners and collaborating with our team members to deliver safe, quality care.

We have continued to focus on this important work over the past year and have made significant progress in a number of areas to support a diverse workforce through implementation of an inclusive recruitment process, diverse interview panels for leadership positions and physicians, as well as inclusive recruitment training.

Working with Toronto Metropolitan University, Niagara Health has established a demographic baseline

to understand experiences, and review and revise policies and programs based on best practices. As a next step, Niagara Health launched a mentorship program for staff in early 2023.

As part of our continued commitment to growth and development, the Extraordinary Us mentorship program is designed specifically for equitydeserving groups. It shines a light on team members who demonstrate leadership qualities, ensuring they have the tools and supports to be successful.

Moving forward on our journey, we will continue to listen, reflect and learn to ensure that DEI is embedded in everything we do at Niagara Health.

Dr. Victor Uwaifo Interim Chief of Psychiatry

“Someone like myself is lucky enough to be a physician, but to hold a leadership position – I’m hoping to be a role model for young people to pursue a career in medicine, to embrace it because it can be rewarding and it helps address the inequalities that exist. Having a diverse workforce is an advantage. You can see things from a different perspective, it makes people more creative and helps the population we serve.”

Focusing on the incredible value of having a diverse and inclusive workforce, we are sharing a series of stories called We are Niagara Health to highlight team members who make a difference in the lives of patients and colleagues every day.

In 2023, Niagara Health was recognized as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for having exceptional workplace diversity and inclusive programming.

Niagara Health encourages team members who identify as a member of an equity-deserving group to participate in the diversity mentorship program, Extraordinary Us.

Niagar a Health

Ten years ago, Dr. Jennifer Tsang made a decision that not only changed the direction of her career, it laid the foundation for Niagara Health to become a research hospital. Dr. Tsang had just completed her PhD in biomedical research in a large, academic hospital rife with opportunities for an ambitious young physician, when she decided to come to Niagara Health. Possibility abounded at community hospitals, too, she realized, especially creating equity in healthcare.

“Community hospitals are where most people receive their healthcare in Canada and I saw that as an opportunity to make a real difference,” Dr. Tsang recalls. “At the time I joined Niagara Health, there wasn’t much research occurring here or in other similar community hospitals across Canada. This is what sparked my personal and professional journey and commitment to do what I can to build research capacity at hospitals like ours, because this has real potential to change the way we deliver care and the outcomes and experience for our patients and their families.”

Today, Dr. Tsang is Niagara Health’s Research Lead, Intensivist and Physician Co-Lead, Critical Care Research Program. She is also the first executive director of the Niagara Health Knowledge Institute (NHKI), a new program leading community hospital-based research in Canada and advancing healthcare and health service delivery through research, academic activities and quality improvement. NHKI launched this spring thanks to a $4-million donation from the McCall MacBain Foundation.

Other Niagara Health research highlights

There are more than 75 research studies underway at Niagara Health involving Cardiology, Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, Interventional Radiology, Oncology, Pediatrics and Surgery. That includes 25 clinical trials that are giving patients access to cutting edge treatments not yet available elsewhere in the world.

Niagara Health Research Day returned to an in-person event this year, held at Brock University and drawing a record 140 attendees. There were also 47 research poster presentations by Niagara Health clinicians and staff, and students from partner institutions.

Critical Care Physician Dr. Eric Duan was awarded the Medical Staff Association Physician Research Award. Dr. Duan has been integral in growing the critical care research program, which has attracted 12 multicentre international and national randomized control trials, and seven multi-centre national observational studies.

and mobilization.

The NHKI will also maintain ongoing efforts to build research capacity in other community hospitals throughout Canada.

Decision Support Co-ordinator Virginia Pullar was awarded the Dr. Johan Viljoen Staff Research Award. Pullar uses data to support research and quality improvement activities at Niagara Health. Findings from one project she was involved in, Exploring Changes in Patient Safety Incidents During the COVID-19 Pandemic, were published recently in the Journal of Patient Safety.

Transforming healthcare through knowledge generation

Hospital Information System

Niagara Health is on a journey to transform the way we deliver patient care through a new, modern hospital information system (HIS). Using state-of-the-art technology, the HIS will better connect patients and healthcare providers with information to positively and powerfully transform care in Niagara.

Niagara Health and Hotel Dieu Shaver and Rehabilitation Centre recently signed a 10-year agreement with Oracle Health to build the HIS. The new system will replace paper-based records and outdated electronic processes with a modern, connected and accessible electronic health record system. It will enable

Virtual Urgent Care

better data management, improved patient safety, faster access to information, and enhanced quality and consistency of patient care.

Project Monarch was selected through an internal contest as the name of the project to build the new HIS. The branding represents positive change and powerful transformation for the countless improvements it will provide for patients, families, team members and the community.

The new HIS is expected to launch in the fall of 2024.

Seamless Care Optimizing the Patient Experience (SCOPE)

Niagara is an interprofessional care team connecting primary care providers to hospital services and community health partners to serve patients with complex needs. Family physicians and nurse practitioners registered with SCOPE can connect to internists, registered nurses, diagnostic imaging, nephrologist and home and community care services for immediate consultation and urgent assessment and management of their patient’s medical conditions.

Surgical Transitions Remote-Care Monitoring

Niagara residents who need urgent care but don’t have access to a primary care provider, or cannot make an appointment with their primary care provider, can book an appointment online to see a Niagara Health provider from the comfort of their home. The Virtual Urgent Care service is available five days a week from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for adults who have an urgent medical issue or health concern that is not life-threatening.

Diagnostic Imaging Electronic Referral Solution

We implemented an electronic referral (eReferral) solution for all Niagara Health Diagnostic Imaging Services permitting primary care providers to easily send structured referrals from within their clinical workflow, view wait time information, and reduce delays associated with incomplete requisitions and faxes. Building on this success, expansion of the Ocean eReferral service will continue across a variety of other outpatient and specialist services.

We have launched a new program and digital platform to improve patient outcomes and surgical care experiences before and after hip, knee, shoulder, bowel and transurethral resection of the prostate surgeries. Called SeamlessMD, the app guides patients with personalized education materials, reminders, progress tracking, post-surgery symptom monitoring and other services. A nurse navigator provides remote-care monitoring support which allows for patient questions and concerns to be addressed and alleviates the need to visit the hospital.

Niagara Health President and CEO Lynn Guerriero signs a 10-year agreement with hospital information system vendor Oracle Health, formerly Oracle Cerner.

We are transforming the way healthcare is delivered in Niagara, and the South Niagara hospital is going to play a significant role in these positive changes.

The project reached a major milestone in 2023 when EllisDon Infrastructure Healthcare was awarded the $3.6-billion contract to design, build, finance and maintain the new hospital.

Located in Niagara Falls at the corner of Montrose and Biggar roads, the 1.3-million-square-foot facility will offer a full scope of hospital services, including emergency, critical care, diagnostic, therapeutic and surgical services, as well as Centres of Excellence in complex care, wellness in aging and stroke.

We are working towards building the first WELL-certified hospital in Canada, with features that focus on the health and well-being of

staff, volunteers, patients, families, caregivers and all hospital users. The hospital will also feature an Indigenous healing space and garden that was designed with our Indigenous partners to create culturally safe and welcoming areas for Indigenous Peoples.

Approximately 1.3 million square feet.

Centres of Excellence in complex care, wellness in aging and stroke.

This state-of-the-art hospital will take five years to build, with construction scheduled to begin summer 2023, and opening planned for summer 2028.

healthier

Accommodate 7,400 more senior wellness visits

156 more beds for the region

Accommodate 20,000 more emergency visits

12 additional hemodialysis stations

Reduce wait times

74% increase in MRI diagnostic capacity

Building a

Niagara TOGETHER

Thanks to your generous support, you have helped so many Niagara residents.

The Niagara community has always shown compassion, generosity and support for each other. So many of you have stepped up and met the call to support local healthcare this past year.

the treatment and diagnosis of cancer, plus so many others. Your support this past year has been nothing short of remarkable and inspiring.

You have helped us raise over $12 million for local healthcare and pledged over $50 million for the new South Niagara hospital. For that, we are simply in awe and owe you a heartfelt THANK YOU!

The future of healthcare in Niagara is bright and exciting because of your support and care for our community.

You have helped us raise over $12 million for local healthcare and pledged over $50 million for the new South Niagara hospital.

As many of you know, the Niagara Health Foundation raises funds to support the purchase of vital patientcare equipment and hospital upgrades.

These gifts have supported everything from beds and surgical equipment to ECG machines, bladder scanners, a CT Simulator, and vital tools used in

As we look forward to the construction and completion of the new South Niagara hospital, we are encouraged by your enthusiasm and support.

This year we returned to hosting our community events in person. We were humbled by the support for the Kids Ultimate Challenge, Big Move Cancer Ride, Welland Elimination Draw, and our Speakeasy Gala which saw a record-breaking 800 guests.

We were able to come together once again to support local healthcare and celebrate as a community around a common goal, the best possible healthcare for the residents of Niagara.

To learn more about the Niagara Health Foundation and how you can support Niagara Health and local healthcare, visit NiagaraHealthFoundation.com.

Once again, thank you for your support. It means so much.

“We could not be more excited about this medical centre of excellence coming to Niagara. What this means is leading edge medical care for many years to come.”

Mayor Jim Diodati and Harry Oakes Campaign co-chairs

Board of Directors

Marylee O’Neill, Board Chair

Charlie Rate, Vice-Chair

Ray Archer

Gervan Fearon

Susanne Flett

Jennifer Li

Shane Malcolm

Bill Maurin

John McKinley

Stephen Murdoch

Catherine Novick

Anthony Reitboeck

Carmen Rossiter

Janice Thomson

Elisabeth Zimmermann

Ex-Officio

Lynn Guerriero

Dr. Alison MacTavish

Simon Akinsulie

Dr. Johan Viljoen

Outgoing Directors

Terms complete on June 27, 2023:

Bunny Alexander

Marti Jurmain

Murray Paton

Cathy Sutherland

Rob Tiffin

Barry Wright

Senior Leadership

Medical Advisory Committee

Department Chiefs

Chair: Dr. Johan Viljoen

Anesthesiology: Dr. Donald DuVall

Diagnostic Imaging: Dr. Julian Dobranowski

Emergency Medicine: Dr. Rafi Setrak

Laboratory Medicine: Dr. Satish Chawla

Medicine: Dr. Lorraine Jensen

Mental Health and Addictions (Interim):

Dr. Victor Uwaifo

Obstetrics/Gynecology (Interim):

Dr. Karen Macmillan

Oncology: Dr. Michael Levesque

Pediatrics: Dr. Madan Mohan Roy

Surgery: Dr. Ian Brown

Lynn Guerriero President and Chief Executive Officer

Simon Akinsulie Executive Vice-President, Practice, Clinical Support and Chief Nursing Executive

Harpreet Bassi

Executive Vice- President, Strategy and Communications

Linda Boich

Executive Vice-President, Patient Experience and Integrated Care

Sonali Kohli

Executive Vice-President, Digital Transformation; Chief Information Officer

Angela Zangari Executive Vice-President, Finance, Redevelopment and Facilities; Chief Financial Officer

Heather Paterson Executive Vice President, Clinical Operations

Fiona Peacefull Executive Vice-President, Human Resources

Dr. Johan Viljoen Executive Vice-President, Medical; Chief of Staff

Niagara Health publishes audited financial statements every year as part of our financial accountability and responsibility to the community. Complete 2022-23 financial results are available on the Niagara Health website.

Our total operating budget for the year was approximately $693 million. We ended the year with a deficit of $5.7 million, primarily due to the year end Bill 124 reopener and pay equity accrual. This was partially offset by the recognition of unearned activity-based funding. Prior to these adjustments, Niagara Health ended the year with a surplus of $7.3 million.

Revenue Sources for 2022-23

Approximately 89% in base and onetime funding was received from the Ministry of Health (MOH), Ontario Health (OH) and Cancer Care Ontario during the fiscal year.

Niagara Health received a $6.7-million base investment increase in fiscal 2022-23 to help offset inflationary cost pressures for salaries and benefits, patient care supplies and services and general operating expenses. In addition Niagara Health received a $17 million structural base adjustment, outstanding from the 2012 Supervisor’s report.

Expense breakdown for 2022-23

Approximately 70% of total expenses are related to salaries, benefits and medical staff remuneration. Inflationary cost pressures every year amount to approximately $9 million ($7 million attributed to collective bargaining and economic and step increases).

Average emergency visit: $373

79% of expenses are related to direct patient care such as nursing, pharmacy, diagnostic imaging, laboratory and therapies.

An additional 10% is related to support services such as housekeeping, food and maintenance. The remaining 11% is for administrative costs.

1,045 Beds

7,115 Inpatient

Average inpatient cost per day: $1,210

Approximately 76% of expenses are related to direct patient care such as nursing, pharmacy, diagnostic imaging, laboratory and therapies.

An additional 13% is related to support services such as housekeeping, food and maintenance. The remaining 11% is for administrative costs.

34,648 Admissions

185,061 Emergency and Urgent Care

32,116 Outpatient

62,902 Dialysis/Renal

3,343 Babies Born

6,698 Cataract Surgeries

25,209 Mental Health

21,027 MRI Scans

* Administrative includes Administration, Human Resources, Finance, Materials Management, Information and Communication Services.

* Support Services includes Housekeeping, Food, Maintenance, Biomedical, Registration, Health Records, Education Services.

190,660 Other Outpatient

2,331

Heart Investigation Unit Procedures

“Shining a light on the superb Niagara Health team was the best part of my public relations role at the hospital. Now to be on the receiving end of that excellent care demonstrates to me again why that recognition is so deserving. Thanks to the Emergency Department and 4A teams in St. Catharines.”

Steve Gallagher, patient

NiagaraHealth.on.ca