Oak Valley Health – which includes Markham Stouffville Hospital and Uxbridge Hospital – amidst a rapidly changing health care landscape, has embraced change, navigated challenges, and reached significant milestones together last year.
While the pandemic continued to present new challenges and continued to evolve the way Oak Valley Health operated on a day-to-day basis, hospital staff were able to adapt, demonstrating their commitment to patient care.
Over the past year, Oak Valley Health had more than 1.6 million lab interventions, saw over 468,000 patients – 110,768 of which were in the Emergency Department – performed over 21,000 surgeries, and delivered over 3,200 babies.
Staff have continued to work hard to ensure patients have an extraordinary experience across the organization.
Kim Walk, a patient who gave birth to her children at Markham Stouffville Hospital, returned to Oak Valley Health several years later as an oncology patient. Kim is now a two-time breast cancer survivor – thanks to the exceptional care she received in the newly renovated and relocated Breast Health Centre. Read more about Kim’s story in the Year in Review and hear from her in the Year in Review video.
In addition to providing exceptional patient care, Oak Valley Health continued to innovate and make advancements that supported patients and the community. The COVID-19, Cold, and Flu Care Clinic (CCFCC) opened to provide assessment and treatment for patients with respiratory symptoms, and focused on paediatric patients; especially at the end of 2022, when the triple threat of COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) overloaded the Canadian health care system.
Markham Stouffville Hospital opened the newly renovated and relocated Breast Health Centre, a model of patient-centred care, equipped with the most advanced tools and an expert team of health care specialists. A new interventional radiology suite was also officially launched, housing a first in Canada innovative GE Healthcare technology.
Uxbridge Hospital announced funding of 2.5 million for a redevelopment project, planned to add 11 new beds for a total of 31 beds, and diagnostic and emergency services for more than 23,000 patients per year. It is an exciting step towards Oak Valley Health’s vision of a modern hospital campus. The Uxbridge site will feature a hub model of care for the community with three interconnected facilities, including a new hospital with greater capacity, a long-term care home, and the ambulatory care building.
This year was also a time to invest in and prioritize in the more than 3,000 staff, over 550 professional staff and midwives, and almost 1,000 volunteers that make up the organization. Oak Valley Health launched its 2023-2026 People Plan, one that will ensure continued recruitment, development, and retention of team members. And a testament to the work that continues to be done around equity, diversity, and inclusion within the organization, Oak Valley Health was recognized as one of Forbes Canada’s Best Employers for Diversity 2022, ranking in the top 150 organizations across Canada, and as one of only 12 hospitals nationwide.
The lessons learned from the pandemic have given Oak Valley Health staff the skills and strength to persevere and to ensure they are providing the care and services the community needs. Moving forward, the organization’s priorities are to continue to support and invest in its people, giving them what they need to succeed, as well as further evolving the patient experience – making it truly extraordinary for every person who walks through the door.
The photos, words, and video in the Year in Review aim to convey Oak Valley Health’s commitment to quality care and exceptional relationships. View Oak Valley Health’s 2022/2023 Year in Review: https://www.oakvalleyhealthyir20222023.ca/
Story submitted by Michelle Lee Hoy.
