Did you know that there are still over 200 workers completing finishing touches, installing equipment, delivering furniture and testing the building systems and infrastructure of our new St. Catharines Site to ensure that the building is fully operational in advance of construction being completed on November 26?
Have you ever wondered what actually happens between “getting the keys” and transitioning to provide care at the new site beginning March 24?
Watch these short videos and find out!
As part of an ongoing series featuring our New St. Catharines Site, we recently invited the media for an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the mechanics supporting our state-of-the-art, nearly one-million-square-foot hospital to explain the process of getting the physical building ready for our patients and staff, in advance of providing care on March 24.
Learn how the new hospital is energy efficient
What happens once you get the keys?
“The job of getting the keys started years ago. Our user groups, including clinical staff and physicians, have been a part of this process from day one. The focus of this building has always been how we are going to improve the experience of the patient, their families and our staff.
You’ll see in every decision, and even as we tour the mechanical electrical rooms that the focus has always been on improving the comfort of the patient, how do we improve the environment for our staff and patients and how do we ensure safety at all times.
We’re going to continue that as we take the keys and start looking at the operations of the hospital. As we take this beautiful building with all of these features we have to make sure that our staff are well educated, orientated and trained in how to make the best use of it.”
Gloria Kain, Chief Planning and Development Officer
What is the name of our new hospital?
We are frequently asked, what is the name of the new hospital and what is the process is to decide its name?
To make a long story short, we are currently calling it the new St. Catharines Site. With regards to the process of naming, the following answer was provided by our Supervisor, Dr. Kevin Smith to the St. Catharines Standard as a response to its Search Engine Column in June; in addition to appearing in an edition of this newsletter.
When the new health complex opens in 2013 the St. Catharines General and Ontario Street sites will no longer operate as functioning sites of the Niagara Health System. A final naming for the complex has not been decided, but the working site name is the Niagara Health System’s St. Catharines Site.
The naming of a facility falls under the jurisdiction of the NHS Board. In the interim, the Ministry-appointed Supervisor has that responsibility. Any change in name will involve a stakeholder consultation process.
The other possibility is that the facility be named in recognition of a donor as per the naming opportunities at the site. The NHS Board or Supervisor would also be engaged in that approval process.
Countdown to turning the building into a hospital
With 59 days left in the construction schedule, and 177 days until the New St. Catharines Site opens, the building is looking more like a hospital with each day that passes.
On budget, on schedule and over 97% complete, the design of this world-class facility took the strengths of local knowledge from our clinicians and global expertise of our architects to create a building that is focused on the patient experience.
Although the exterior of the structure looks complete, it is still just a building; construction will be completed on November 26, 2012. The period between then and clinical move day on March 24, 2013 will be used to train and orient staff to the site and also welcome community members to tour their new hospital before we open to provide patient care.
Join us in achieving the goal of providing one million square feet of care
