News Release
Celebration marks the New Leon Emergency Unit at Welland Hospital
- Date of Issue: Thursday, May 2, 2002
Welland , ON - About 150 guests were on hand today to celebrate the official ribbon-cutting for the new 14,500 sq. ft. Leon Emergency Unit at the Niagara Health System's Welland Hospital Site
The Leon Emergency Unit is a state-of-the-art patient care facility housing a full spectrum of specialized treatment areas. Two fully equipped "resuscitation rooms" are located next to the ambulance entrance to ensure immediate accessibility for the most critically ill patients. A new "observation area" offers a greater level of privacy and patient confidentially, thanks to solid wall dividers rather than curtains between beds. The unit also contains a dedicated "quiet room" for families requiring bereavement counseling or a private waiting area. A satellite radiology service means patients will have x-rays and other diagnostic imaging procedures completed on the unit during peak periods. Another key feature is the "decontamination room," featuring an outside entrance and shower stall to clean off any contaminants on patients or emergency response services and hospital staff.
"The Welland community has waited for this day for the past decade," said Mark Newman, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Niagara Health System (NHS). "We are pleased to recognize the Leon family and acknowledge their $900,000 donation to this project by naming the unit in their honour. The Leon family's generosity will certainly be felt by the thousands of patients and families who are cared for every year in the Emergency Unit."
Approximately 35,500 patients annually use the Welland Emergency Department. The new department has been built to accommodate 41,000 patients per year. "Throughout the entire project, hospital staff and physicians have been instrumental in researching future emergency service needs. The result of their hard work is an Emergency Unit that is quite capable of serving the community for many years to come," said Larry Tokarchuk, NHS President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Tokarchuk noted that the former Emergency Department was last expanded in the early 1970's and was designed to handle 16,000 patients per year.
"There's no question that the new facility and equipment will greatly assist our health care team in providing quality patient care," remarks Dr. Colin Zides, NHS Interim Chief of Emergency Medicine and practicing emergency department physician.
Completion of the Leon Emergency Unit represents the first phase of facility changes at Welland Hospital Site. Once all construction details on the new Unit are finalized, the facility will open for patients later in May. The second phase of construction encompasses the redevelopment of the former Emergency area and surrounding space to accommodate a new 12,000 sq. ft. Ambulatory Care Centre. The Ambulatory Care Centre will house the Ontario Breast Screening Centre, a wide variety of outpatient clinics, and outpatient tests and treatments and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2002.
Mrs. Cheryl White, Site Administrator for the Welland Hospital commended the public, hospital staff, physicians and volunteers for their ongoing cooperation and support through the construction of the new emergency unit. "People have been very accommodating and understanding as we've worked our way from the ground breaking a year ago to today."
From 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. today the doors to the new Leon Emergency Unit will open to the public for a Community Open House, offering guided tours by Emergency Unit staff and a Teddy Bear clinic for children. Parking is free and visitors are asked to use the outside entrance to the Leon Emergency Unit to take part in the Open House.
FACT SHEET
Leon Emergency Unit
- Comprises 14,500 sq. ft. of new construction located north east of the existing Emergency area (Existing Emergency department is 6,000 sq. ft.)
- Was built to accommodate 41,000 visits annually,
- New wing will open in the next few weeks. Once it is complete, everything from the existing Emergency department will be moved into the new space and renovations can start to accommodate the new Ambulatory Care Centre.
Features of the Leon Emergency Unit include:
- Two entrances from the outside, one for Ambulances and one for walk-in patients,
- Open, modern and well-designed space,
- X-Ray suite will be located in the Emergency area to serve patients during peak periods,
- Play area for children in the waiting room,
- Facilities for infant changing,
- An alcove for breastfeeding, and
- An exam room decorated for children.
Services of the Leon Emergency Unit include:
- Triage nurse for initial assessment, physician and treatment nurses on duty 24 hours.
- Other staff provide clinical and support services as required: pharmacists, respiratory therapists, laboratory technologists, imaging technologists, social workers, spiritual care workers, educator, rehabilitation therapist, clerical staff, and other support staff and volunteers. Case manager in department to support emergency and critical care.
- Major and minor trauma.
- Stabilization and facilitation of transfer of patients to specialty hospitals.
- Examination and treatment for a variety of medical, surgical cardio-respiratory, obstetrical and gynaecological conditions.
- Observation of adult and paediatric patients prior to release or admission to an inpatient unit.
- Mental health crisis intervention.
- Fast-track service for non-urgent patients.
- Counselling for mental health, sexual assault and child abuse issues.
- Health teaching
- Discharge planning, and
- Grief counselling.
New Ambulatory Care Centre:
- Will be located main floor of hospital covering about 12,000 sq. ft. using 6,000 sq. ft. from existing Emergency Department, the Minor Operating Room and other areas.
- Renovation will start when new Emergency Unit is open for patients. The new centre is expected to open near the end of 2002.
Welland Hospital Foundation:
- Incorporated in 1979
- Governed by independent Board of Directors
- Raised $16.2 million since 1979 for medical equipment, renovations and construction at Niagara Health System - Welland Hospital Site
- Foundation agreed to raise $3.2 million for the Emergency Department and Ambulatory Care Centre project
- $2.6 million in commitments so far from 4,600 donors – businesses, organizations, foundations and individuals through the Housecalls Telefundraising program
- All money raised locally supports Welland Hospital Site
Niagara Health System:
- The Niagara Health System was amalgamated on March 8, 2000 resulting from the amalgamation of the former Douglas Memorial Hospital (Fort Erie), Greater Niagara General Hospital (Niagara Falls), Niagara-on-the-Lake Hospital, Niagara Rehabilitation Centre (St. Catharines), Port Colborne General Hospital, The St. Catharines General Hospital, Shaver Hospital (St. Catharines) and the Welland County General Hospital.
- With an annual operating budget of $230 million across its eight sites, the Niagara Health System:
- employs approximately 3,800 employees;
- has a medical staff with more than 500 physician members; and,
- is supported by more than 1,000 active volunteers.