Headwaters Addresses $2.2 Million Deficit

Orangeville, ON, October 16, 2009 – Headwaters Health Care Centre announced to staff, physicians and volunteers this week that the hospital is facing a potential $2.2 million funding shortfall for the 2010/2011 fiscal year. If the province goes ahead with a zero funding increase for hospitals, Headwaters will need to make some significant changes to address the deficit. Cholly Boland, President and CEO of Headwaters Health Care Centre met with staff, physicians and Shelburne municipal officials to share the hospital’s proposed plan to maintain patient services and address the looming budget shortfall. Dufferin-Caledon MPP Sylvia Jones was also informed of the plan.

The proposal involves the hospital moving inpatient chronic care, rehabilitation and palliative care from Shelburne to Orangeville. “Seventy percent of admissions in Shelburne are patients who live in Southern Dufferin,” says Boland. The move would maintain the current level of service and help reduce operating costs. The hospital is also looking at possible scenarios to reduce 13 inpatient beds overall.

The average length of stay for patients in hospital has reduced over the years. Cardiac inpatient stays have dropped from 2 weeks to a few days, new mothers stay on average only 24-48 hours after delivery, and paediatric tonsillectomy patients are discharged same day following surgery. Hospital inpatient volumes have not grown substantially over the past several years so the same number of patients can be cared for in fewer beds.

The changes the hospital is proposing would go into effect in spring 2010. “We are looking for staff and physician input to help us come up with a solution that will maintain our level of services and more efficiently use our resources,” says Boland. In 2009, the hospital opened digital mammography, a 64-slice CT scanner and nuclear medicine to provide local access to tests and help generate revenue. With the work of the foundation and support of the community the hospital was able to purchase the state-of-the-art equipment. The hospital is now looking at opportunities to develop services to meet growing needs including expanding obstetrics, gynecology and urology. Enhancing these services will require approval from the Central West LHIN (Local Health Integration Network), to secure funding for the services and support from the hospital foundation to purchase new equipment as the province does not fund the purchase of hospital equipment.

Community X-ray services will remain in Shelburne and the hospital is looking into the feasibility of adding ultrasound services there also. “Our number one goal is to continue to improve our level of care and stay within a balanced budget,” says Boland.

The proposal would still have to go before the hospital Board of Directors and the Central West LHIN for approval.

The public is invited to provide comments and suggestions about hospital services. Please contact Cholly Boland, President and CEO, Headwaters Health Care Centre at 519-941-2702 ext. 2200.

About Headwaters Health Care Centre
Headwaters Health Care Centre serves more than 110,000 residents in Caledon, Orangeville, Shelburne and Dufferin County. The hospital operates two sites – Headwaters Orangeville, a 108 bed acute care hospital and Headwaters Shelburne, a 33 bed chronic care hospital. Visit www.headwatershealth.ca.

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