ORANGEVILE, ON - June 25, 2024 – Headwaters Health Care Centre’s Annual Awards Ceremony celebrated the hospital’s achievements and recognized teams and departments who made a significant contribution to the hospital and community in the past year.

Kim Delahunt, Headwaters Health Care Centre President and CEO said, “I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our incredible staff, physicians and volunteers, whose heroic efforts continue to inspire us all. Their dedication to our patients and each other is truly commendable. I also want to recognize the invaluable partnerships we've cultivated, which have been instrumental in advancing our purpose of providing excellent health care, close to home. And to our community, your steadfast support means the world to us. Together, with a strong team and a proven track record of delivering excellent care, I am filled with continued optimism for what we can accomplish in the years ahead.”

The hospital reported a small surplus for the year ended March 31, 2024, due to increases in base funding, new one-time investments relating to surgical innovation, and surgical global funded volumes, and timing of Bill-124 funding received.

Details can be found in the audited Financial Statements.

To demonstrate the highlights and achievements of the past year, view Headwaters Health Care Centre’s virtual 2023-2024 Annual Report and video.   

The annual report celebrates the hospital’s many programs and services available close to home. Within the virtual Annual Report, learn about Headwaters’ patient experiences, most recent achievements and future plans, audited financial statements, and ways to get involved and make a difference. 

Annual Awards Recipients

Special honours were bestowed during the meeting to several award recipients, including the Chair’s Award, the Dr. David Scott Award, four new Headwaters Health Care Centre Recognition Awards and Headwaters Health Care Foundation Nursing Education Fund recipients.
 

Congratulations to the 2024 Chair’s Award Winner: The Accreditation Team

Chair’s Award: This award honours individuals, teams or organizations who are affiliated with Headwaters who have made an outstanding contribution to the hospital or who have supported the hospital during this past year.
 
Winner: Headwaters Health Care Centre’s Accreditation Team

Headwaters achieved Accreditation with Exemplary Status in October 2023, thanks to the outstanding dedication and hard work of the Accreditation Team. This prestigious recognition is a testament to the hospital’s collective commitment to providing safe, high-quality care to our patients. The Accreditation Team’s unwavering dedication and preparation played a pivotal role in this achievement.

The accreditation team leads worked tirelessly to ensure their program areas and departments were ready! Earning Exemplary Status is not just an accolade; it is a symbol of Headwaters’ continuous pursuit of excellence in healthcare. This achievement reflects Headwaters’ collective teamwork and responsibility to uphold the highest standards of patient care. This result has made a demonstrable difference to our organizational culture.

Congratulations to the 2024 Dr. David Scott Award Winner:  Dr. Paul Scotton

Dr. David Scott Award: This award is named after retired surgeon and life-long Orangeville resident, the late Dr. David Scott, who came to Orangeville in 1962 as the town’s first specialist in general surgery. He dedicated his life to improving the health and wellness of the community. The Dr. David Scott Award is presented annually and recognizes individuals or groups who have gone above - and - beyond to improve overall health and wellness in Dufferin-Caledon and promote linkages between the hospital and the community. Dr. Scott passed away in 2020, and this award continues his legacy.
 
The Dr. David Scott Award is based on an open nomination process and can be awarded to an individual or a team.
 
Winner: Dr. Paul Scotton

Dr. Paul Scotton is as an incredible health system leader who dedicated over 30 years of service, 18 of which were spent as Chief of the Emergency Department (ED). His outstanding contributions to both our community and hospital consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication, compassion and expertise in providing healthcare services that positively impacted countless lives.

Dr. Scotton was Chief of the ED during the pandemic and demonstrated exemplary leadership during that time. His contribution to Dufferin County, especially through training paramedics in Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support protocols, has empowered them to administer life-saving interventions on-site, prior to patients reaching the hospital. His impact extends to patients and families, many of whom felt his compassion and empathy during difficult moments, leaving lasting impressions that transcend medical treatments. Dr. Scotton’s leadership at Headwaters has inspired colleagues and staff to strive for excellence in their work. He embodies the qualities of an exceptional physician and community leader. 

Congratulations to the Headwaters Health Care Centre’s new Excellence Award Winners

As part of Headwaters’ commitment to recognizing our people, Headwaters expanded its annual awards to include four new categories. The Above and Beyond Leadership Award, Outstanding Physician Award, Quality and Safety Improvement Award, and Rising Headwaters Hero Award reflect the diverse talents and efforts within our hospital.

These four Excellence Awards also celebrate the exceptional contributions and achievements of our dedicated team members who go above and beyond in their roles every day.

Award nominations were reviewed by the Executive Leadership Team.

Congratulations to the 2024 Quality and Safety Award Winner: the Pharmacy Team

The Quality and Safety Award celebrates a team and/or individual (s) that have contributed to quality and safety initiatives to improve the delivery of patient care.
 
The winner promotes a safety culture through the implementation and assessment of evidence and leading practices; creative or innovative practices; adoption of a comprehensive approach to quality improvement/change management and program implementation.

Pharmacy Department: The Pharmacy Department spearheaded over 20 initiatives in the past 18 months aimed at enhancing quality, safety, and patient-centered care. Noteworthy achievements include the introduction of pioneering technologies like the BD Pyxis and BD anesthesia stations, a first for the Greater Toronto Area.
 
They have also increased IV pump safety compliance standards to be among the highest compliance standards in Ontario. They also developed specialized epidural and patient-controlled pain management systems to enhance patient safety.
 
As a leader in clinical education, the Pharmacy team led dialysis clinic, oncology education and ambulatory patient care improvements. They also supported surgical and anesthesia patients with a ‘best posssible’ medication clinic.  They also provide comprehensive medication education for cardiac patients in Headwaters’ reinstated Cardiac Wellness Clinic.”
 
The Pharmacy Team's commitment to excellence is evident in achieving the highest level of pharmacy accreditation and exemplary results in the recent hospital-wide Accreditation. Known for their unity, supportiveness, and adherence to hospital values of kindness, accountability, respect, and teamwork, the Pharmacy Team under the leadership of Manager Amrita Gujral continues to set a standard of excellence.
 

Congratulations to the 2024 Outstanding Physician Award Winner: Dr. Daniel Kahn

The Outstanding Physician Award winner demonstrates excellence in delivering patient care and commitment in promoting hospital vision and purpose. Makes a measurable and positive contribution to the hospital.

Dr. Daniel Kahn, Emergency Department Physician: Dr. Kahn goes above and beyond for every single patient he treats. He is knowledgeable and compassionate and takes the time to listen to each patient’s concerns despite the often-heavy workload in the emergency department.
 
His colleagues say he is a tremendous teacher. Dr Kahn assists new physicians with bedside ultrasounds, takes nursing students to see new procedures and then spends time explaining the diagnosis, testing and rationale to them.
 
During difficult shifts or cases, Dr. Kahn routinely checks on the well-being of all the staff involved and he is always willing to offer emotional support. He truly cares about all his patients and coworkers. He is the physician his colleagues want to care for their loved ones! He truly makes a difference to our patients’ experiences and their health outcomes.

Congratulations to the 2024 Above and Beyond Leadership Award Winner: Amanda Cotton

The Above and Beyond Leadership Award receipient demonstrates excellence in people leadership, a positive role model, inspires others to work collaboratively and creatively and commitment in promoting the hospital’s vision, values and purpose. This indiviudal makes a measurable and positive contribution to the hospital.

Amanda Cotton, Manager, Medicine, Complex Continuing Care, and Allied Health: Amanda joined Headwaters in 2015 and transitioned to the Manager role last year. Since then, she has excelled, demonstrating strong leadership and commitment. Under her guidance, the team has thrived, and Amanda has shown unparalleled dedication to her teams, patient experience, and broader leadership responsibilities.
 
Amanda actively promotes teamwork among her peers, readily offering support, advice, and feedback when needed. She eagerly accepts new challenges to further her growth as a leader. Amanda is accountable for the Hills of Headwaters Collaborative Ontario Health Team’s palliative working group, co-chairs the operations leadership committee, and contributes to Headwaters’ Engagement Action and Recognition Team. Additionally, she is thriving as a trainer in the Management of Aggressive Behaviours program.

Congratulations to the 2024 Rising Headwaters Hero Award Winner, Megan Malone

The Rising Headwaters Hero Award winner recognizes a frontline employee, physician or volunteer with less than five years of continuous service with the hospital, that has demonstrated great achievements, early success, and commitment to going above and beyond day-to-day in their role.

Megan Malone, Senior Financial Analyst: Megan goes above and beyond each day in her role as Senior Financial Analyst and her work is instrumental to the success of the department.
 
She steps up when it is needed, particularly during vacancies within the finance department. She clearly communicates financial data and insights to non-financial stakeholders, fostering understanding and support for financial initiatives. Megan also stays abreast of health care regulations and ensures financial practices adhere to compliance standards.   
 
Megan is also extremely approachable, reliable, helpful and personable to staff, leaders and third parties. These are excellent character traits when trying to demystify the complexities of finance and financial planning.
 
Her knowledge and expertise in her field is evident. Megan clearly demonstrates all our values of kindness, accountability, respect, and teamwork. One of her nominee’s pointed out, “When you work with Megan, you are working with excellence.”

Headwaters Health Care Foundation’s Nursing Education Fund

The Headwaters Health Care Foundation is pleased to award Headwaters Health Care Centre nurses with either grants for university degrees courses, certificates, or conferences for professional development through a new scholarship program, the Jean White Award and RBC Education Fund.

Headwaters Health Care Centre recognizes the importance of the professional development of its people and has made Learning and Development a Pillar of the hospital’s People Strategy Plan. To complement the hospital’s training, education and tuition assistance programs, a number of Foundation donors have contributed funds dedicated to educational opportunities for nursing staff at Headwaters.

Jean White Award
Jean White was a nurse at the Dufferin Area Hospital (now Headwaters), and manager of the OR for many years, retiring in the early 1970s. In 1996 she made a very generous donation towards the building of our current facility. In 2002, Jean White passed away at the age of 93. She left a legacy gift from her family to Headwaters through her will. Her desire was to support the education of nurses. The Jean White Education Fund has been established so that the income earned each year will be directed to nursing education.
 
RBC Education Fund
The RBC Education Fund supports front line nurses’ participation in educational opportunities to enhance patient experience and care.
 
Congratulations to the Headwaters Health Care Foundation Nursing Education Fund Winners
Charlotte Brown, Mary Cathleen Burton, Alessandra Centofanti, Myung Ja Choi, Kyle Shermet, Alexa Wiedemann (Charlotte and Alexa missing in photo)
 

About Headwaters Health Care Centre

Headwaters Health Care Centre is an innovative hospital located in Orangeville, Ontario dedicated to quality patient-centred care together with our community in Dufferin County-Caledon. In addition to providing acute and complex continuing care with a 24/7 Emergency Department, and extensive Ambulatory Care outpatient services, Headwaters is accredited with Exemplary Standing by Accreditation Canada, certified as a Breast Assessment Centre by the Ontario Breast Screening Program, and will be offering MRI services in early 2025.  
 
A proud member of the Rural Ontario Medical Program and a clinical affiliate of the Toronto Metropolitan University’s School of Medicine, Headwaters serves as a vital hub of health and wellness for over 140,000 residents in the region. With a workforce exceeding 800 staff, including 200 physicians and six midwives, Headwaters is not only a leader in healthcare but also a cornerstone of the local economy, supported by the dedication of over 200 volunteers.  
 
Learn more at headwatershealth.ca and support the hospital at hhccfoundation.com Headwaters is also a proud partner in the Hills of Headwaters Collaborative Ontario Health Team. 
 

Media contact

Jennifer Hamilton | Director, Communication & Stakeholder Relations, Headwaters Health Care Centre
Tel: 519-278-5085 | Email: jhamilton@headwatershealth.ca