Bed closures and job cuts are part of the balanced budget plan at Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital (OSMH) this year.
The decision to close 16 beds and cut 35 full-time staff positions and save $5.9 million was announced by the board of directors on Wednesday afternoon, along with more than 80 different budget initiatives.
“On the heels of a four-year funding freeze and only a modest increase to base funding for 2016/17, it’s increasingly difficult,” said Pat Campbell, OSMH President and CEO.
Being called a "major restructuring plan," OSMH will withdraw from the regional Complex Continuing Care (CCC) program, and relocate other beds within the hospital to a new unit to be established on the fourth floor.
Aligned closely with the hospital’s commitment to quality and safety, the plan includes investments in a long-awaited electronic medical record (EMR) that will go-live in June, an enhanced orthopaedics program, and renovations to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit(NICU).
“We regret making changes that impact people’s jobs but as a result of today’s announcement, we can begin the process of mitigating those impacts through offers of early retirement and exploring the potential for internal transfers or filling current vacancies,” said Campbell.
A new program will enhance care for patients requiring post-acute rehabilitation services and medical care. It will phased in over several months and is scheduled for completion in 2017.
The hospital will withdraw from the regional Complex Continuing Care (CCC) program, and relocating other beds within the hospital to the new unit to be established on the fourth floor.
“We regret making changes that impact people’s jobs but as a result of today’s announcement, we can begin the process of mitigating those impacts through offers of early retirement and exploring the potential for internal transfers or filling current vacancies,” said Campbell.
