Windsor's quest for a single site mega hospital is one step closer to reality.
Both of the city's two hospital boards have met to discuss operational plans, including who will control the proposed $1.5 billion facility.
The report outlines that Windsor Regional Hospital will govern and manage the new single site acute care hospital and take over all acute services.
“It's not a facility that's going to be built for today,” says Windsor Regional CEO David Musyj. “It's going to be built for today, tomorrow, 10, 20, 30 years from now. This is going to be our community's hospital for decades to come.”
Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital would continue to operate the downtown Ouellette Avenue site, focusing on non-inpatient care and diagnostic services.
"We wanted to make sure that we maintained a role in the inner city. Serving the inner city is core to our organization," says Hotel-Dieu CEO Ken Deane.
Windsor Regional will also transfer funds to Hotel-Dieu to run rehab services out of its Tayfour Campus.
The two boards met last week to discuss how services will be allocated. Hospital officials say this was a large task considering both hospitals specialize in various services.
“It's an opportunity to create a new vision for the organization that reflects our legacy," says Deane.
The report has been submitted to the Erie. St. Clair LHIN and the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care.
It's unknown how long it will take for the plan to be approved. In the meantime, it is business as usual for both hospitals and patients shouldn't expect to see any changes.
The exact location of the new hospital has not been determined.
Each hospital received a letter from the health minister on Jan. 23 that announced a capital grant of $2.5 million to support preliminary planning for the new acute care hospital.
