NEWS RELEASE
ORILLIA SOLDIERS' MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
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As part of its ongoing commitment to Excellent, Compassionate Care…Everyday, Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH) is proud to announce today it is strengthening its Regional Women and Children’s Program by joining Kids Health Alliance (KHA), a partnership aimed at enhancing the paediatric health system with providers who share a common goal of improving the health of children and youth in Ontario.
Founded in June 2017 by The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital and the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario – Ottawa Children’s Treatment Centre, OSMH becomes just the second community hospital to join KHA, behind Markham Stouffville Hospital.
“The hospitals in the Alliance are leaders in the care of children,” said Dr. Michelle Gordon, Chief of Paediatric and Neonatal Medicine at OSMH. “We have a tremendously strong program here in Orillia serving patients and families from across Simcoe, Muskoka and beyond and it will only get better as we tap into the education and expertise that this partnership will provide.”
Gordon points out that OSMH has already worked closely with SickKids on a number of successful partnerships, including a program for children with complex medical conditions that helps better coordinate their access to care.
“The benefits from this partnership will be far reaching,” said Pat Campbell, OSMH President and CEO. “It will positively influence care here, as well as hospitals we work closely with to provide paediatric services, such as Collingwood General and Marine Hospital, Georgian Bay General Hospital, Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare and West Parry Sound Health Centre.”
The partnership will initially focus on enhancing paediatric care in the OSMH Emergency Department. Then, through continued sharing of specialized paediatric expertise and implementation of best practices, the collaboration will extend to enhancing care in neonatal intensive care and paediatric inpatient units.
“It’s important that we share expertise from specialized centres with caregivers and health centres, like OSMH, that are points of first contact and critical safety nets for children who are ill or injured. The milestone we are celebrating today is a great example of how collaboration can help elevate the standard of care and safety for our smallest patients,” says Dr. Michael Apkon, Executive Chair of the Kids Health Alliance Board and President and CEO of SickKids. “Kids Health Alliance will help facilitate a coordinated approach to care by ensuring effective communication between providers and ultimately supporting a holistic view of each patient’s needs and experiences.”
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