The opening of Niagara Health’s St. Catharines Site on March 24, 2013, ushered in a new standard of hospital care in Niagara.
New and enhanced regional programs were introduced in St. Catharines and at our sites across the region. Thousands of cancer, heart, mental health and other patients now have access to vital healthcare services right here in Niagara.
“The state-of-the-art St. Catharines Site has been the catalyst for a number of significant enhancements to patient care,” says Niagara Health President Suzanne Johnston. “It is an exciting time at Niagara Health as we continue our work to build a world-class hospital system where the quality of patient care and the work environment are second to none.”
“We’re excited to be celebrating the fifth birthday of our St. Catharines Site and the many accomplishments since the opening,” says John MacDonald, Chair of the Niagara Health Board of Directors. “Many hands contributed to our extraordinary successes over the past five years to enhance healthcare for residents across Niagara. Our journey together continues to create a Healthier Niagara.”
Here’s a snapshot of care our teams have provided since the opening of the St. Catharines Site:
CANCER CARE
The Walker Family Cancer Centre brought radiation treatment and other oncology services to Niagara for the first time. Since 2013, more than 3,600 patients have received radiation treatment at the St. Catharines Site.
“Staying in Niagara (for radiation treatment) was really very helpful. I only had to drive 20 minutes. When I was coming five days a week, that made quite a difference as opposed to anticipating having to drive possibly a couple of hours,” says Sandy McBay, who received treatment for breast cancer.
CARDIAC CARE
The Cardiac Care program has significantly expanded its services and added new procedures in recent years due largely to the opening of the Heart Investigation Unit (HIU). The HIU brought new cardiac diagnostic procedures and interventional treatments not previously available in Niagara. Since 2013, more than 10,000 procedures have been performed at the HIU.
“Every week in my clinic, one of the first questions patients ask is, ‘Will I have to go to Hamilton to have this done?’ It’s incredible to be able to turn to them and tell them that this can now be done in St. Catharines,” says Cardiologist Dr. Adnan Hameed.
MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTIONS
The Mental Health and Addictions Program boasts the largest physical footprint in the hospital building and has introduced a number of new specialized programs, including services for patients requiring longer-term treatment in hospital and psychiatric emergency care.
“We’re really working hard within our multi-disciplinary team to provide a lot of different services for people with addictions and mental health concerns. The team here works really well together,” says Nurse Practitioner Shahnawaz Ali.
Learn more about how patient care has been enhanced over the past five years at www.niagarahealth.on.ca
