Bluewater Health Sarnia

operational

Opportunity With hospital sites in Sarnia and Petrolia, Bluewater Health had a total of 161 beds. The Government of Ontario approved the redevelopment of the Norman Street and Russell Street buildings in Sarnia in its 2005-2006 Capital Plan in order to meet current and future health care demands. Innovations  EllisDon signed a contract with a maximum price including financing which protected taxpayers from price uncertainty. In addition to significant risk being transferred to the private sector, the financing agreement ensured that the project was subject to additional oversight including an independent budget review by a third party cost consultant. Results   The project added 325,000 square feet of space—almost doubling the size of the existing hospital—including tripling the emergency department. The project was completed on-time and within its budget. The hospital now has 326 beds including 213 acute care beds—an increase of 32 per cent. The project also added eight new operating rooms and four new procedure rooms.  The hospital has a consolidated maternal infant child program, which for the first time will offer labour, birthing and pediatric services on one floor. Other clinical services that expanded as a result of the redevelopment project include acute mental health programs, ambulatory care and the dialysis centre. Bluewater Health at all times remains publicly owned, publicly controlled and publicly accountable. The hospital’s increased capacity improves community access to health care, reduces patient wait times and enhances access to emergency and acute care services. The new facility was designed and constructed to adhere to the guidelines of and sustainability practices of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. Environmentally friendly features of the hospital include: An underground cistern to collect rainwater for use in landscaping; Powering the new facility with 50 per cent “green power;” Bringing natural light into the hospital by providing a window in all patient rooms; and Planting 160 new trees on hospital grounds. Bluewater Health has 1,885 staff, 185 professional staff and over 1,000 volunteers.

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