Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital

Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital
Mackenzie Health
Wing A of Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital
Map
Geography
LocationRichmond Hill, York Region, Ontario, Canada
Coordinates43°52′11″N 79°27′00″W / 43.86972°N 79.45000°W / 43.86972; -79.45000
Organization
Care systemPublic Medicare (Canada) (OHIP)
TypeGeneral
Services
Emergency departmentYes
Beds506
History
Former name(s)York Central Hospital (1963–2012)
Opened1963
Links
Websitehttp://www.mackenziehealth.ca/
ListsHospitals in Canada

Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital (formerly York Central Hospital) is a hospital in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada and one of four in York Regional Municipality. Mackenzie Health in Richmond Hill is part of the Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) Hospital Partnerships.

History

Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital was founded in 1963 in Vaughan Township as York Central Hospital, close to the suburb of Richmond Hill, and incorporated into Richmond Hill following the amalgamation of the town in 1973. Funded by both local donations and public money, the hospital opened less than a half mile (800 metres) from the old commercial downtown of Richmond Hill. Since its inception, the hospital has undergone several expansions to cope with the rapid population growth of Richmond Hill, the latest of which was completed in 2009. In September 1974, it opened a 300-bed extension.[1] In 2012, in conjunction with managing the construction of the Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital and to grow health care services in the area, the hospital was renamed Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital; both hospitals would be administered by Mackenzie Health, a new regional healthcare services provider.[2]

2003 SARS outbreak

In 2003, hospital workers contracted Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) from a patient who had been transferred from Scarborough Grace Hospital,[3] which prompted the closing of the hospital on March 28.[4][5] The hospital's emergency room and maternity ward reopened on April 19.[6]

Inpatients were required to have their body temperature checked twice daily, and those who had SARS-related symptoms such as a fever or respiratory issues were isolated and required to have a chest X-ray.[7] All pneumonia patients were treated in isolation until a pulmonologist could assess them to eliminate SARS as a cause.[7]

2023 Gaza war

The hospital suspended Dr. Ben Thomson, a nephrologist from his job. He was threatened and had his address shared online after he posted pro-Palestinian views on social media. After protest, the hospital denied he was suspended because of his views. Mackenzie Health said in a statement on Thursday October 26 that it was an "unprecedented, temporary measure … to allow us to fully assess and address the real safety and security threats." The hospital said it's working with Thomson, York Regional Police and "independent third-party security experts" to ensure his safe return to work. The statement also includes one from Thomson, in which he said one post in particular was an attempt at correcting what he viewed as misinformation and to "oppose language that was dehumanizing to Palestinians."[8][9]

Thomson's suspension followed a number of complaints about his social media posts from colleagues who disagreed with him, according to several doctors at the hospital.[9]

Locations

The Hospital occupies four adjoining buildings in central Richmond Hill, with a total of five floors in each building.

  • A Wing - The southernmost building contains the Centre for Continuing Care and Rehabilitation (CCCR).
  • B Wing - Douglas H. Storms Memorial Wing
  • C Wing - Dr. James Langstaff Memorial Wing, Main hospital entrance
  • D Wing - The newest building is the Town of Richmond Hill Wing. This building contains the Emergency Room, the ICU and the Main Dialysis unit.

The Vaughan Satellite Dialysis Unit of Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital's Regional Dialysis Program is located at 9401 Jane Street.[10] Patients referred to this unit must be medically able to receive dialysis away from the hospital and find this location more convenient. The unit consists of 33-station renal dialysis units, including a nephrology out-patient clinic.

Services

The hospital has one of two dialysis centres in York Region, and received a new 1.5T Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) unit in 2005.[11]

References

  1. ^ "Ribbon cutting at Hillcrest Mall". The Liberal. Vol. 98, no. 7. August 14, 1974. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  2. ^ "Rebranding essential for future of health care in York". Mackenzie Health. Archived from the original on May 12, 2014. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
  3. ^ Galloway, Gloria; Abraham, Carolyn (April 4, 2003). "More Toronto medical staff in quarantine". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  4. ^ "Chronology of events for SARS outbreak" (PDF). Regional Municipality of York. June 2003. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  5. ^ Altman, Lawrence K.; Stolberg, Sheryl Gay (April 8, 2003). "Respiratory disease, thought close to being contained, is found to be spreading". The New York Times. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  6. ^ "Toronto hospital closes wards over SARS fears". CBC News. April 20, 2003. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  7. ^ a b "Chapter 2". Learning from SARS: Renewal of public health in Canada – Report of the National Advisory Committee on SARS and Public Health. Health Canada. November 8, 2004. ISBN 0-662-34984-9. H21-220/2003E. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  8. ^ Basu, Brishti (October 20, 2022). ""Ontario doctor suspended, his address published after pro-Palestinian social media posts"". CBC News. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  9. ^ a b Basu, Brishti (October 26, 2023). ""Doctor suspended after pro-Palestinian remarks will return to work when it's safe, health authority says"". CBC News. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  10. ^ "York Central Hospital, Vaughan Satellite Dialysis Unit". Bondfield Construction. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  11. ^ "Expanding MRI Services in Ontario" (PDF). Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 24, 2011.