COLUMN: Progress continues on Vaughan’s new hospital

yorkregion.com
Aug. 29, 2017
By Maurizio Bevilacqua

Health care is a pillar of modern society. It contributes to a community’s well-being, enhances standard of living and dramatically improves quality of life. I believe it is important for everyone to have access to vital medical services that are close to home, and have long advocated for the advancement of health care in Vaughan.

In the next few years, the dream of having a hospital in our city will become a reality when the new Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital opens its doors for the first time.

Construction on the $1.6-billion hospital hit another milestone recently with the arrival of cranes on the site of the new state-of-the-art facility. This signals another step forward in this important project and the impressive progress being made to bring world-class health care to our city.

The Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital is an integral part of Vaughan’s evolution. It is in perfect alignment with our noble mission to move this city forward without leaving anyone behind. This is the first new hospital to be built in York Region in 30 years. It will also be the first in Canada to feature fully integrated “smart” technology systems and medical devices that can communicate directly to one another in order to maximize information exchange. As a full-service hospital with an emergency department, 350 beds and 1.2 million square feet, it will set a new standard for care and services, and will include obstetrics, pediatrics, mental health as well as the York Region District Stroke Centre.

Since 2014, the city has been working on the Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct on Major Mackenzie Drive between Jane Street and Highway 400, preparing the site for the hospital. By working together with community and government partners, we have been able to make significant progress on our vision. Residents and corporate leaders have risen to the occasion and demonstrated their spirit of generosity with considerable donations. We are also grateful for the support of Mackenzie Health, Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Together, we are bringing positive change to people’s lives.

Creating opportunities and improved services for our communities ultimately comes down to partnerships and how they can be truly effective when everyone involved is focused on the greater good. Our efforts are paying off now as the hospital begins to take shape and we look forward to the future where citizens will have access to the care they need that is closer to home.