The view from the parking lot of the Prince Edward County Community Arena in Picton, of the new hospital being built behind the existing one in Picton. Photo by Lindsey Harren.
The excitement continues to build around the new Picton hospital.
Quinte Health staff, community and construction partners, welcomed over 60 people to the Prince Edward County Community Centre on Wednesday, to hear first hand how the project is going.
The in-person community update follows several virtual open houses over the last year.
Visitors were able to talk with Quinte Health staff directly who were located at a variety of stations, which highlighted various aspects of the project, from the 3D model of the new building, to materials used, the focus on care, and how the incoming CT scanner will transform care closer to home.
Stacey Daub, who has been the President and CEO of Quinte Health for five years, noted in her address to the crowd, that she is pleased with the pride people take in the Picton hospital and the interest in the future.
“This isn’t simply a hospital being built for the community. This is a hospital that is being built with the community,” said Daub.
She highlighted some of the early work that was done with community members writing letters to the Ministry of Health in support of the hospital. She also noted the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary team, who volunteer at the hospital, help raise funds through the Second Time Around Thrift Shop, and host events including the Festival of Trees.
“When I think about the new hospital. I don’t simply think about the new building. I think about the people coming through the doors. The older adult who can now receive diagnostic imaging like a CT scan closer to home without having to travel outside the community. The patient who is close to the end of their life in a private room with family close by. Our nurses, physicians, housekeeping, diagnostic imaging team, food services team, working in a modern environment designed to support the excellent care they do everyday,” said Daub.
The amount of people living longer, has also informed decisions, and has staff thinking about new programs and services.
“One thing that we have been talking about as an organization is that in our community is going to see an 83% increase in the number of people who are 75 years of age and older, over the next 20 years. There will be a 158% increase in people who are 85 years of age and older,” said Daub.
She added that it is both an alarming and amazing statistic. While folks will be able to live longer it also points to the growing need for more programs and services in someone’s life beyond the hospital and primary care, so people can live and age well.
Speaking to InQuinte.ca, Daub shared that Quinte Health is currently in the midst of a clinical service plan process. She added that they have three areas they want to focus on, as they have looked a projections for the community. The first area is about how people can have better experiences in the health care system, beyond just the need for primary care and hospitals. Secondly, what would that care look like outside of hospitals, and could that be in people’s homes or done virtually. The last item is using innovation and technology.
“There is no way with our current models that we are going to be able to support the future. So we have to think differently,” said Daub.
Layout of the first floor of the new Picton Hospital / Photo of the Quinte Health image by Lindsey Harren.
Layout of the second floor of the new Picton Hospital / Photo of the Quinte Health image by Lindsey Harren.
Key Facts about the new Picton Hospital:
-The building will be ready in 2028.
-Once the keys are handed over the Quinte Health, and inspections are done, the team will need 4-6 months to bring all the departments up to speed, trained, and get comfortable with the new building.
-Move in day for the patients is expected to go along the schedule of having breakfast in the old hospital, and the next meal in the new hospital, all within one day.
-When the new hospital is welcoming the community, and the old hospital is still standing, parking will be a challenge due to the lack of space at the start.
-The new hospital will feature 23 private inpatient rooms, around the clock emergency department, acute inpatient unit supported by doctors within the Prince Edward County Family Health Team, inpatient pharmacy, dialysis unit, ambulance area, medical day care, endoscopy, medical device reprocessing, diagnostic imaging including ultrasound, x-ray, lab, and a new helipad,
-The new hospital will be the first unencapsulated mass timber hospital built in North America. The site will have solar panels on the roof, with geothermal.
-Architect is HDR Inc., and the contractor is M.Sullivan & Son Limited.
-The new site does have some capacity to grow a bit. 400 trees and shrubs will be planted on the property, with an emphasis on bringing natural light inside.
-Quinte Health has chosen to carefully demolish the old Picton hospital. Daub added that they had experts in to look at possible ways to repurpose the site, but the building is ultimately too old. She added that it is already a challenge on the maintenance side to keep it going, as it can not support the needs of modern health care.
Illustration of the new Picton Hospital / Lindsey Harren.
Kingston based architect Jason-Emery Groen of HDR Inc sharing the story behind the design with the 3D model.
Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation:
Executive Director Shannon Coull revealed to the crowd that they have just over $600,000 left to raise for the Back The Build Campaign. The campaign goal was to raise $30 million for the new Picton Hospital. The currently matching campaign of $250,000 by a donor has put them to the $600,000. The money has already been secured for the new CT Scanner, which will mark the first time Prince Edward County has ever had a machine.
“This is more than a construction project, it is an extraordinary community achievement. It is a lasting legacy of care, compassion, and commitment to one another,” said Coull.
She added that from the start, her and her team called the new hospital project a beacon of hope for the community. The new atrium going in the hospital has also been referred to as a beacon by Jason-Emery Groen, the architect.
Daub and Coull continue to encourage the community to keep donating to the Back The Build Campaign, consider volunteering at local hospital, and stay up to date on social media for project updates.
Layout of the various materials that will be used at the new site / Lindsey Harren.
