Peterborough Regional Health Centre
Encyclopedia
Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) was established in January 1999, following a directive from the Ontario
Hospital Restructuring Commission. It is a combination of the former Peterborough Civic Hospital and St. Joseph's Health Centre, previously operating from those two locations in the City of Peterborough
, Ontario, Canada
. All acute care
services were provided at 1 Hospital Drive (the former Civic Hospital), located in the Central-West part of the city, while chronic
, rehabilitation and palliative care
services, along with some out-patient
medical and surgical services, were provided from the 384 Rogers Street site (the former St. Joseph's Health Centre) located in the "East City" or Ashburnham neighbourhood of Peterborough. Effective June 2008 all services of the PRHC (excluding some Outpatient Mental Health services and the Women's Health Care Centre) moved into a new 715000 sq ft (66,425.7 m²) hospital building located directly in front of the old Civic Hospital, across from the Nicholls Building which, as of January 2010, continues to house some Outpatient Mental Health services, including the Schizophrenia Clinic, Family & Youth Clinic and Psychiatric Services for the Elderly).
(GTA) and Ottawa
, and is the business, culture, education, and health care centre of a greater region stretching from the Counties of Northumberland
(south) to Haliburton
(north), and the City of Kawartha Lakes
(west) to Hastings County (east). The region covers a huge geographic area, and is home to a population of approximately 300,000.
As a regional hospital, the PRHC receives many urgent and emergency transfers of seriously ill or injured patients from smaller hospitals in (and outside) its catchment area, including hospitals in Bancroft
, Barry's Bay, Belleville
, Campbellford
, Cobourg
, Haliburton
, Lindsay
, Minden Hills and Trenton
.
s.
In the early 2000s a large number of family physicians gave up their admitting privileges at the PRHC, and the hospital opted for a Hospitalist
system whereby the hospital has hired physicians onto staff, and those physicians now provide inpatient care to the majority of general medical patients. Unfortunately, the high pay rate and other factors, such as not having to maintain an office, lured numerous physicians away from their general practices in the community, exacerbating an already serious chronic shortage of primary care physicians.
(LHIN) conducted a "peer review" of the entire operations of the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) with the explicit goal of finding permanent financial savings to address a chronic budget shortfall which PRHC has experienced for many years now. The review team filed their final report in late April, and that report stated that it was the teams opinion that PRHC is "over built" for the population the facility serves, and it is recommended that 151 staff and 71 beds (12 of them critical care beds) be eliminated.
Immediately upon release of the report there was a tremendous public backlash against what most people view as an inaccurate and distorted report: For example, the review determined that PRHC has too many bed/staff based on a service population of 80,000 when, in fact, PRHC serves a greater region covering a huge geographic area in Central East Ontario, with an estimated population of around 300,000. There is also concern regarding the impact that such cuts would have on the future of PRHC and whether it would even be able to continue in its role as a regional referral hospital, and the impact on the Peterborough and region economy.
As of May 2010 there is constant daily pressure on the LHIN and the Government of Ontario
Ministry of Health to dismiss the reports recommendations, and instead to move more quickly on expanding the regional services provided at PRHC (e.g., introducing cardiac surgery, neurosurgery, and other programs). It is felt that if there are, in fact excess beds and staff, then they should be re-deployed to provide new services that are needed, rather than being cut. A blog forum has been established to share the latest information and opinions on this topic, and to act as a forum for protesting any cuts to health services in Peterborough.
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
Hospital Restructuring Commission. It is a combination of the former Peterborough Civic Hospital and St. Joseph's Health Centre, previously operating from those two locations in the City of Peterborough
Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough is a city on the Otonabee River in southern Ontario, Canada, 125 kilometres northeast of Toronto. The population of the City of Peterborough was 74,898 as of the 2006 census, while the census metropolitan area has a population of 121,428 as of a 2009 estimate. It presently ranks...
, Ontario, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. All acute care
Acute care
Acute care is a branch of secondary health care where a patient receives active but short-term treatment for a severe injury or episode of illness, an urgent medical condition, or during recovery from surgery...
services were provided at 1 Hospital Drive (the former Civic Hospital), located in the Central-West part of the city, while chronic
Chronic (medicine)
A chronic disease is a disease or other human health condition that is persistent or long-lasting in nature. The term chronic is usually applied when the course of the disease lasts for more than three months. Common chronic diseases include asthma, cancer, diabetes and HIV/AIDS.In medicine, the...
, rehabilitation and palliative care
Palliative care
Palliative care is a specialized area of healthcare that focuses on relieving and preventing the suffering of patients...
services, along with some out-patient
Patient
A patient is any recipient of healthcare services. The patient is most often ill or injured and in need of treatment by a physician, advanced practice registered nurse, veterinarian, or other health care provider....
medical and surgical services, were provided from the 384 Rogers Street site (the former St. Joseph's Health Centre) located in the "East City" or Ashburnham neighbourhood of Peterborough. Effective June 2008 all services of the PRHC (excluding some Outpatient Mental Health services and the Women's Health Care Centre) moved into a new 715000 sq ft (66,425.7 m²) hospital building located directly in front of the old Civic Hospital, across from the Nicholls Building which, as of January 2010, continues to house some Outpatient Mental Health services, including the Schizophrenia Clinic, Family & Youth Clinic and Psychiatric Services for the Elderly).
Service area
The City of Peterborough (pop. 78,000), located in Central-East Ontario, is one of the largest cities between the Greater Toronto AreaGreater Toronto Area
The Greater Toronto Area is the largest metropolitan area in Canada, with a 2006 census population of 5.5 million. The Greater Toronto Area is usually defined as the central city of Toronto, along with four regional municipalities surrounding it: Durham, Halton, Peel, and York...
(GTA) and Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, and is the business, culture, education, and health care centre of a greater region stretching from the Counties of Northumberland
Northumberland County, Ontario
Northumberland County is situated on the north shore of Lake Ontario, in central Ontario, Canada. It is located east of Durham County , west of Hastings, southeast of Kawartha Lakes and south of Peterborough County. The county seat is Cobourg...
(south) to Haliburton
Haliburton County, Ontario
Haliburton is a county of Ontario, Canada, known as a tourist and cottage area in Central Ontario for its scenery and for its resident artists. Minden Hills is the county seat. Haliburton County was established in 1983, but had existed as the Provisional County of Haliburton since 1874...
(north), and the City of Kawartha Lakes
Kawartha Lakes
The city of Kawartha Lakes is a unitary municipality in Central Ontario, Canada. Although called a city, Kawartha Lakes is the size of a typical Ontarian county and is mostly rural....
(west) to Hastings County (east). The region covers a huge geographic area, and is home to a population of approximately 300,000.
As a regional hospital, the PRHC receives many urgent and emergency transfers of seriously ill or injured patients from smaller hospitals in (and outside) its catchment area, including hospitals in Bancroft
Bancroft, Ontario
Bancroft is a town located on the York River in Hastings County in the Canadian province of Ontario.- History :In 1853 the first pioneer family settled in the area, and over the next 15 years the settlement grew quickly, as another 88 families followed...
, Barry's Bay, Belleville
Belleville, Ontario
Belleville is a city located at the mouth of the Moira River on the Bay of Quinte in Southern Ontario, Canada, in the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor. It is the seat of Hastings County, but is politically independent of it. and the centre of the Bay of Quinte Region...
, Campbellford
Campbellford, Ontario
Campbellford is a small town in Northumberland County, Ontario, Canada, in the municipality of Trent Hills.Located at , Campbellford lies approximately midway between Toronto and Ottawa. It is situated on both the Trent-Severn Waterway and the Trans Canada Trail. It can be reached from Highway...
, Cobourg
Cobourg, Ontario
Cobourg is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario, located in Southern Ontario 95 km east of Toronto. It is the largest town in Northumberland County. Its nearest neighbour is Port Hope, to the west. It is located along Highway 401 and the former Highway 2...
, Haliburton
Dysart et al, Ontario
The United Townships of Dysart, Dudley, Harcourt, Guilford, Harburn, Bruton, Havelock, Eyre and Clyde is a municipality in Haliburton County in Central Ontario, Canada...
, Lindsay
Lindsay, Ontario
Lindsay is a community of 19,361 people on the Scugog River in the Kawartha Lakes region of south-eastern Ontario, Canada. It is approximately west of Peterborough...
, Minden Hills and Trenton
Trenton, Ontario
Trenton is a community in Southern Ontario in the municipality of Quinte West, Ontario, Canada. Located on the Bay of Quinte, it is the main population centre in Quinte West....
.
Staff and volunteers
PRHC is the region's second-largest employer with a staff of approximately 2,000 and about 350 physicians with various privileges. The hospital has more than 600 volunteerVolunteering
Volunteering is generally considered an altruistic activity, intended to promote good or improve human quality of life, but people also volunteer for their own skill development, to meet others, to make contacts for possible employment, to have fun, and a variety of other reasons that could be...
s.
In the early 2000s a large number of family physicians gave up their admitting privileges at the PRHC, and the hospital opted for a Hospitalist
Hospital medicine
Hospital medicine in the United States is the discipline concerned with the medical care of acutely ill hospitalized patients. Physicians whose primary professional focus is hospital medicine are called hospitalists; this type of medical practice has extended beyond the US into Canada...
system whereby the hospital has hired physicians onto staff, and those physicians now provide inpatient care to the majority of general medical patients. Unfortunately, the high pay rate and other factors, such as not having to maintain an office, lured numerous physicians away from their general practices in the community, exacerbating an already serious chronic shortage of primary care physicians.
Program and service areas
- Cardiac (including Diagnostic Cardiac CatheterisationCoronary catheterizationA coronary catheterization is a minimally invasive procedure to access the coronary circulation and blood filled chambers of the heart using a catheter. It is performed for both diagnostic and interventional purposes....
and PacemakerArtificial pacemakerA pacemaker is a medical device that uses electrical impulses, delivered by electrodes contacting the heart muscles, to regulate the beating of the heart...
Insertion) - Critical Care Medicine (ICUIntensive Care Unitthumb|220px|ICU roomAn intensive-care unit , critical-care unit , intensive-therapy unit/intensive-treatment unit is a specialized department in a hospital that provides intensive-care medicine...
, Telemetry) - Diagnostic ImagingMedical imagingMedical imaging is the technique and process used to create images of the human body for clinical purposes or medical science...
Services (including General RadiologyRadiologyRadiology is a medical specialty that employs the use of imaging to both diagnose and treat disease visualized within the human body. Radiologists use an array of imaging technologies to diagnose or treat diseases...
and FluoroscopyFluoroscopyFluoroscopy is an imaging technique commonly used by physicians to obtain real-time moving images of the internal structures of a patient through the use of a fluoroscope. In its simplest form, a fluoroscope consists of an X-ray source and fluorescent screen between which a patient is placed...
, CT, MRIMagnetic resonance imagingMagnetic resonance imaging , nuclear magnetic resonance imaging , or magnetic resonance tomography is a medical imaging technique used in radiology to visualize detailed internal structures...
, UltrasoundMedical ultrasonographyDiagnostic sonography is an ultrasound-based diagnostic imaging technique used for visualizing subcutaneous body structures including tendons, muscles, joints, vessels and internal organs for possible pathology or lesions...
) - Emergency Services (including Base Hospital and District Stroke Centre)
- General Medicine
- GeriatricsGeriatricsGeriatrics is a sub-specialty of internal medicine and family medicine that focuses on health care of elderly people. It aims to promote health by preventing and treating diseases and disabilities in older adults. There is no set age at which patients may be under the care of a geriatrician, or...
- Internal MedicineInternal medicineInternal medicine is the medical specialty dealing with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of adult diseases. Physicians specializing in internal medicine are called internists. They are especially skilled in the management of patients who have undifferentiated or multi-system disease processes...
(CardiologyCardiologyCardiology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the heart . The field includes diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology...
, DermatologyDermatologyDermatology is the branch of medicine dealing with the skin and its diseases, a unique specialty with both medical and surgical aspects. A dermatologist takes care of diseases, in the widest sense, and some cosmetic problems of the skin, scalp, hair, and nails....
, EndocrinologyEndocrinologyEndocrinology is a branch of biology and medicine dealing with the endocrine system, its diseases, and its specific secretions called hormones, the integration of developmental events such as proliferation, growth, and differentiation and the coordination of...
, GastroenterologyGastroenterologyGastroenterology is the branch of medicine whereby the digestive system and its disorders are studied. The name is a combination of three Ancient Greek words gaster , enteron , and logos...
, NephrologyNephrologyNephrology is a branch of internal medicine and pediatrics dealing with the study of the function and diseases of the kidney.-Scope of the specialty:...
, NeurologyNeurologyNeurology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Specifically, it deals with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of disease involving the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems, including their coverings, blood vessels, and all effector tissue,...
, RheumatologyRheumatologyRheumatology is a sub-specialty in internal medicine and pediatrics, devoted to diagnosis and therapy of rheumatic diseases. Clinicians who specialize in rheumatology are called rheumatologists...
) - Interventional RadiologyInterventional radiologyInterventional radiology is a specialty of radiology, in which image-guided procedures are used to diagnose and treat a multitude of diseases across all body systems...
- Laboratory Medicine and PathologyPathologyPathology is the precise study and diagnosis of disease. The word pathology is from Ancient Greek , pathos, "feeling, suffering"; and , -logia, "the study of". Pathologization, to pathologize, refers to the process of defining a condition or behavior as pathological, e.g. pathological gambling....
- Long-term Care
- Medical OncologyOncologyOncology is a branch of medicine that deals with cancer...
(including Outpatient Cancer Clinic) - Mental HealthMental healthMental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and...
Services (including Inpatient, Outpatient Clinics) - PaediatricsPediatricsPediatrics or paediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. A medical practitioner who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician or paediatrician...
(including Inpatient, Paediatric surgeryPediatric surgeryPediatric surgery or paediatric surgery is a subspecialty of surgery involving the surgery of fetuses, infants, children, adolescents, and young adults...
) - PerinatalPregnancyPregnancy refers to the fertilization and development of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, in a woman's uterus. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or triplets...
& Women's HealthWomen's healthWomen's health refers to health issues specific to human female anatomy. These often relate to structures such as female genitalia and breasts or to conditions caused by hormones specific to, or most notable in, females. Women's health issues include menstruation, contraception, maternal health,...
(including GynaecologyGynaecologyGynaecology or gynecology is the medical practice dealing with the health of the female reproductive system . Literally, outside medicine, it means "the science of women"...
, Labour & DeliveryChildbirthChildbirth is the culmination of a human pregnancy or gestation period with the birth of one or more newborn infants from a woman's uterus...
, MaternityMaternityMaternity or motherhood is the social and legal acknowledgment of the parental relationship between a mother and her child.It is specially related with the protection of the baby and the mother within and after the childbirth.-See also:...
, BasinettesBassinetA bassinet or bassinette is a bed specifically for babies from birth to about four months, and small enough to provide a "cocoon" that small babies find comforting....
, Level II Nursery, Women's Health Centre) - PharmacyPharmacyPharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
- SurgerySurgerySurgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
(General, Gynaecology, OphthalmologyOphthalmologyOphthalmology is the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a specialist in medical and surgical eye problems...
, OrthopaedicsOrthopedic surgeryOrthopedic surgery or orthopedics is the branch of surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system...
, OtolaryngologyOtolaryngologyOtolaryngology or ENT is the branch of medicine and surgery that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of ear, nose, throat, and head and neck disorders....
/ENT, Plastics, UrologyUrologyUrology is the medical and surgical specialty that focuses on the urinary tracts of males and females, and on the reproductive system of males. Medical professionals specializing in the field of urology are called urologists and are trained to diagnose, treat, and manage patients with urological...
, VascularVascular surgeryVascular surgery is a specialty of surgery in which diseases of the vascular system, or arteries and veins, are managed by medical therapy, minimally-invasive catheter procedures, and surgical reconstruction. The specialty evolved from general and cardiac surgery...
)
Statistics 2007 - 2008
- Births 1,387
- Diagnostic Imaging Procedures 111,593
- Emergency DepartmentEmergency departmentAn emergency department , also known as accident & emergency , emergency room , emergency ward , or casualty department is a medical treatment facility specialising in acute care of patients who present without prior appointment, either by their own means or by ambulance...
Visits 73,537 - Inpatient Discharges 14,159
- Ontario Breast Cancer Screening Program 2,902
- Women's Health Care Centre Contacts 20,081
- Surgery 24,037
Controversy
In April 2010 the Central East Ontario Local Health Integration NetworkLocal Health Integration Network
A Local Health Integration Network is a type of health organisation in Ontario, Canada.Across the province of Ontario there are 14 LHINs. The LHINs have been given the mandate for planning, integrating and funding health care services at a local level...
(LHIN) conducted a "peer review" of the entire operations of the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) with the explicit goal of finding permanent financial savings to address a chronic budget shortfall which PRHC has experienced for many years now. The review team filed their final report in late April, and that report stated that it was the teams opinion that PRHC is "over built" for the population the facility serves, and it is recommended that 151 staff and 71 beds (12 of them critical care beds) be eliminated.
Immediately upon release of the report there was a tremendous public backlash against what most people view as an inaccurate and distorted report: For example, the review determined that PRHC has too many bed/staff based on a service population of 80,000 when, in fact, PRHC serves a greater region covering a huge geographic area in Central East Ontario, with an estimated population of around 300,000. There is also concern regarding the impact that such cuts would have on the future of PRHC and whether it would even be able to continue in its role as a regional referral hospital, and the impact on the Peterborough and region economy.
As of May 2010 there is constant daily pressure on the LHIN and the Government of Ontario
Government of Ontario
The Government of Ontario refers to the provincial government of the province of Ontario, Canada. Its powers and structure are set out in the Constitution Act, 1867....
Ministry of Health to dismiss the reports recommendations, and instead to move more quickly on expanding the regional services provided at PRHC (e.g., introducing cardiac surgery, neurosurgery, and other programs). It is felt that if there are, in fact excess beds and staff, then they should be re-deployed to provide new services that are needed, rather than being cut. A blog forum has been established to share the latest information and opinions on this topic, and to act as a forum for protesting any cuts to health services in Peterborough.