This is an opinion column written by Lynn Guerriero, President and CEO of Niagara Health. It was originally published in the St. Catharines Standard, Welland Tribune and Niagara Falls Review.
Looking back at 2024, it’s worth reflecting on what has been a transformative year for Niagara Health. Together with the community, we’ve made progress on some long-term goals, even as we’ve grappled with the significant challenges facing healthcare today.
One of the most impactful conversations this year has been about the three-site hospital model. This plan, more than a decade in the making, is a response to the realities of our healthcare system: aging facilities, outdated infrastructure, and a shortage of healthcare workers. Moving from five hospital sites to three is a big change, and we’ve made it a priority to listen to the communities affected, particularly as the South Niagara Hospital (SNH) begins to take shape.
The SNH project has been a visible and exciting milestone in 2024. Construction is well underway, and you can see the activity from miles away. This hospital represents not just a new building, but a new vision for healthcare in our region — one that we’ve built together with our community. Once open, the hospital will transform care for all residents, not just those in Niagara Falls. It will bring 156 additional beds to the system, double the size of the current Niagara Falls Emergency Department, and help us attract top healthcare talent to the region.
In 2025, we’ll continue engaging with the community, this time with a focus on reimagining the Welland Hospital as part of the Welland Hospital Redevelopment. Another major focus in 2024 was the launch of our new Hospital Information System (HIS). This is a massive investment in how we work and care for patients, but it’s not without its challenges. Like any large-scale implementation, there have been bugs and frustrations, and we know our staff and our patients have felt the strain. In 2025, we’ll focus on optimizing the system to make it work better for those who use it every day and focus on realizing the value of the system for our patients – increased quality and safety of care.
We also introduced the Chief of Primary Care role last year, a significant step for Niagara Health. Hospitals aren’t mandated to handle primary care, but we believe in its importance to the overall health of our residents. When people have access to community-based care —whether for chronic conditions, routine screenings or other needs — it takes pressure off hospitals, allowing us to focus on our core functions of providing emergency and acute care. This role underscores our commitment to a healthier Niagara, both inside and outside our hospital walls.
Despite these strides, 2024 wasn’t without its challenges. Long wait times, bed shortages and the complex needs of patients requiring alternative levels of care (ALC) remain critical issues. We’ve taken steps to address these challenges, from public education about when to use an Emergency Department, to innovative programs like our ED technicians, who help reduce ambulance offload delays, to ongoing recruitment efforts to strengthen our workforce. The South Niagara Hospital will also play a role in easing these pressures once it opens, adding capacity and modernizing care.
Through it all, our teams have shown incredible dedication and professionalism. They work tirelessly, often under immense pressure, to provide the best care possible. Their efforts don’t go unnoticed, and they remain the heart of everything we do.
Looking ahead, this year we will continue to strengthen partnerships — with local governments, community organizations, academic institutions and other healthcare providers. These collaborations will be key to creating a more connected and efficient healthcare system across Niagara.
As we move forward, we’ll continue to engage with the community, celebrate progress and confront challenges head-on. By working together, we can create a stronger healthcare system — one that meets the needs of our region today and well into the future.
