Coordination needed to ensure Bill 60 avoids ‘whack-a-mole’ scenario: Mackenzie Health CEO

Hospital shares update at council, responds to legislation that expands private delivery of care

Yorkregion.com
May 31, 2023
Melissa Wallace

In an effort to cut long wait-lists to care, the Ontario government passed Bill 60 in May, titled the Your Health Act, which allows independent clinics to offer select, publicly-funded surgeries and procedures.

Responding to questions after his annual update to Richmond Hill City Council on May 24, which he also shared at regional council, Altaf Stationwala, president and CEO, Mackenzie Health, said that Bill 60 could help alleviate the backlog, if done properly.

“The principle that all hospitals have taken is that, if it’s done in co-ordination, it has huge abilities to improve access in care, but it has to be done in a coordinated fashion with the local hospitals,” he said.

He explained that the biggest concerns would be losing hospital staff to fill needs of private clinics, and that they might be enticed by 9-to-5 working hours, which would leave huge holes in care.

“The legislation is still in its early stages ... there are a number of guard rails to ensure that it’s done in a coordinated fashion,” said Stationwala. “We’re not in effect just playing whack-a-mole by solving a problem somewhere and then having it pop up somewhere else.”

He was optimistic that, done in proper co-ordination with hospitals, independent health facilities could add capacity and improve care delivery and that the rules and regulations were still being drafted.

Stationwala’s update also emphasized the importance of working with council now to address the needs of the city going forward.

He said future development including at Yonge and Highway 7, an increase in highrises, the addition of a subway and aging population were all issues that would further increase the needs of the already-stretched hospital, and that it could take decades to get capital projects approved.

“We are challenged like most hospitals, on any given day, with 20 to 30 admitted patients waiting for a bed and they can wait up to two days at a time if we’re under a significant surge,” he said.

Data from Mackenzie Health, which includes Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital, last year includes the following:

Conducted 292,714 diagnostic imaging tests

Had 181,640 emergency department visits

Performed 10,584 surgical procedures

Had 1,975 critical care admissions

Delivered 3,597 babies

Had 29,976 outpatient mental health visits, 21,633 outpatient cancer visits and 3,408 stroke patient visits

As of March 2023, Mackenzie Health has 5,142 people on staff, 700 volunteers and 678 physicians.

Mackenzie Health marks its two year anniversary of becoming a two-hospital organization in June. It will also celebrate its 60th anniversary this fall.

Other highlights from council:

Mayor David West awarded resident Patrick Francone with a certificate of recognition for achieving his goal of running every street in Richmond Hill. It started as a COVID-19 exercise project and took him two years. “We hope your achievement will inspire others to find ways to explore our great city of Richmond Hill,” said West. According to an April 12 social post from Francone, he ran 5 km to 30 km at a time, through “rural roads to urban streets and hilly, winding suburbs, four pairs of shoes and a few blisters" and finally finished all 1,317 streets over 713 km.

Almost 2,000 people came to Spring Fair, organized by Deputy Mayor Godwin Chan, who expressed gratitude to those who came out, and that the rain stopped right when the event started. He hopes to run the event again in 2024.

On June 8 from 7-9 p.m., Ward 2 Coun. Scott Thompson will be hosting a safety symposium at Elgin Barrow Arena where the public can connect with emergency services, safety organizations and learn about neighbourhood watch. There will be prizes and giveaways and tips to keep your home and community safe.

On June 17, regional and local councillor Joe DiPaola will host a Family Fun Day at Lake Wilcox Park from 12-2 p.m. Enjoy live music, food trucks and more. Register at joedipaola.ca prior to the event.