Bluewater Health

Bluewater Health is a hospital in Sarnia, Ontario. It was opened October 3, 1896 as Sarnia General Hospital and was the community's first public hospital.[1] In 2010, with extensive renovations to the two existing buildings and construction of a third, it was renamed Bluewater Health. With construction and redevelopment completed at a cost of $319 million, the hospital now encompasses about 600,000 square feet (56,000 m2).[2] It employs almost 1,800 staff and physicians, along with over 700 volunteers, and is Sarnia—Lambton's largest public sector employer.[3][4] It is funded primarily by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, with additional fundraising by Bluewater Health Foundation and Charlotte Eleanor Englehart Hospital foundation.[4][5] It has 326 beds, 8 operating rooms, an emergency department, and a full spectrum of programs to serve the approximately 125,000 people in the Sarnia-Lambton area.

Bluewater Health
Geography
Location89 Norman St
Sarnia, Lambton County, Ontario, Canada
Coordinates42.976802°N 82.390299°W / 42.976802; -82.390299
Organization
Care systemMedicare
FundingPublic hospital
TypeGeneral
NetworkErie St. Clair Local Health Integration Network
Services
Emergency departmentYes
Beds326
HelipadNo
History
Opened1896
Links
Websitewww.bluewaterhealth.ca

History

There were several doctors in the Sarnia community in 1880, but because there was no hospital in the area, serious medical help had to be sought in London, 100 kilometres (62 mi) to the east. On July 7, 1890, a public meeting was held to canvas for subscriptions for a hospital. By 1895, $13,000 had been raised. A three-story hospital with 26 beds was opened on October 3, 1896 at a cost of about $25,000.[6]

The hospital was operated by a trust until 1920 when it was given to the City and became a municipally-operated hospital. Stress on the hospital became severe with an admission of about 800 patients a year. In 1929, about 80 beds were added, which met the needs of the community until 1952. In January 1953, the hospital doors were closed while construction of a new five-story building took place. The new hospital opened in March 1954 at a cost of about $2.7 million, and had enough beds for 266 adults and 50 newborns.

By November 1963, expansion of the facility led to a capacity of 315 beds at a cost of about $1.5 million.[6]

Programs and services

Statistics
Babies born: 969[lower-roman 2][5]
Number of beds: 326
Dialysis treatments: 8,453
Emergency room visits: 83,690
Hospitalizations: 12,025
Laboratory procedures: 2,719,894
MRIs: 7,943
Surgeries: 10,680

Community engagement

Bluewater Health has two advisory panels composed of residents of the surrounding community, including students from local secondary and post-secondary schools. The panels meet four times yearly to gather and share input into hospital planning and decision-making. The CEO attends the meetings along with a representative of the Board of Directors.[8]

The hospital welcomes presentations from diverse cultural perspectives. It has met with representatives from the local Muslim association regarding Islamic customs, dietary concerns, etc.; and with a local Aboriginal patient representative with regards to cultural implications for healthcare.[9]

Awards and recognition

Accreditation Canada awarded Bluewater Health the distinction of "Accreditation with Exemplary Standing" for 2015-2019, with a score of 99.3%.[10][11]:6 In 2012, it became the first acute care hospital in Ontario to achieve LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).[12] In 2016, Bluewater Health achieved a 97% patient satisfaction rate.[13]

Other awards:

  • Bridging Excellence Award (2015)[14]
  • Ontario's Best Practice Spotlight Organization (2015)[15]
  • Bill Wilson Patient Safety Award (2014)[16]
  • Quality Healthcare Workplace Award (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014)[17]
  • Ontario Accessibility Award (2012)[18]
  • Outstanding Business Achievement (2011)[19]

Notes
  1. Not an exhaustive list; see ref for full list of services
  2. Statistics for the 2013-2014 year

References
  1. "General Hospital Cost $25,000 to Build in 1895". Sarnia Gazette. 1978. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  2. "See Sarnia's new hospital". Sarnia Observer. Archived from the original on 18 November 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  3. "Volunteering at Bluewater Health". Bluewater Health. Archived from the original on 30 September 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  4. "Bluewater Health - About Us Top 10 List". Bluewater Health. Archived from the original on 13 July 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  5. "Programs and Services". Bluewater Health Foundation. Archived from the original on 18 November 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  6. "General Hospital Cost $25,000 to Build in 1895". Sarnia Gazette. 1978. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  7. "Bluewater Health - Our Services". Bluewater Health. Archived from the original on 18 November 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  8. "Bluewater Health Community Advisory Panel - Terms of Reference" (PDF). Bluewater Health. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 November 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  9. "Annual Report Highlights". Bluewater Health. Archived from the original on 3 November 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  10. "Accreditation". Bluewater Health. Archived from the original on 18 November 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  11. "Accreditation Report - Bluewater Health" (PDF). Accreditation Canada. 7 July 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 November 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  12. "Bluewater Health Awarded Prestigious LEED Green Building Certification". Longwoods Publishing Corporation. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  13. "Improved Patient Satisfaction At Bluewater Health". Blackburn News. 28 June 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  14. "Bridging Excellence Awards ceremony held". Sarnia Observer. 29 May 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  15. "Best Practice Spotlight Organizations". Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  16. "2014 Award Recipients". Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  17. "Past Quality Healthcare Workplace Awards". Ontario Hospital Association. Archived from the original on 18 November 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  18. "Excellence Canada - Ontario Accessibility Award 2012 Recipients". Excellence Canada. 8 March 2013. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  19. "Outstanding Business Achievement Awards". Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on 18 November 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
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