MEDIA RELEASE
Renovations to begin at Headwaters Health Care Centre to provide a safer and more accessible design including a one-stop-shop to patient registration and bill payment.
HN Construction Company awarded construction contract
ORANGEVILLE, ON – August 26, 2019 – In response to the needs of our growing population and to maintain a safe and up to date facility, construction will begin in early September to renovate all aspects of Headwaters Health Care Centre’s main entrance, lobby, main staircase and improve the overall patient experience.
HHCC developed a plan to renovate our main hospital lobby to make it safe and accessible and offer a more efficient design where patients and visitors will be welcomed and access a streamlined registration process, supported by technology through the expansion of self-service registration kiosks as well as a new centralized registration and bill payment space, immediately available as patients enter the main lobby. The plan includes removing the spiral staircase and replacing it with one that meets current structural and safety requirements.
“The time is right to tackle this work and we are fortunate to have such incredibly caring community members who can help make these safety improvements to our aging facility,” said HHCC President and CEO, Stacey Daub.
Many people were involved to support the architects in the design including patients, families, staff, physicians, volunteers and donors to ensure all aspects of the lay-out were considered.
The Headwaters Health Care Foundation and Headwaters Health Care Auxiliary are funding these renovations.
Dora Boylen-Pabst, HHCC Foundation Executive Director said, “Traditionally we focus on fundraising for priority medical equipment, but these renovations also have a direct effect on our patient’s overall experience at Headwaters. This project will contribute directly to improved safety and quality. This is an important project, and we are looking to our community to help us raise the funds required.”
“We want to send a clear message to all our volunteers that we still need them perhaps now more than ever,” says Susan Fletcher, Auxiliary President, “The construction will give some of our volunteers an opportunity to try different roles or job-share with others. We are being creative and flexible to meet the needs of patients and the hospital.”
HN Construction Limited (HN) has been hired to do the renovations. With an over 37-year track record in completing capital improvement projects in various provincial and municipal buildings including hospitals, schools and civic centres, while they are occupied and running the regular business.
‘We are extremely excited at HN to begin working with such a reputable health care centre and happy to be a part of contributing to a safer environment for patients,” said George Banyasz, President & CEO, HN Construction Limited.
What Can You Expect at the Hospital Site
§ All activities with respect to patient care will continue during construction.
§ Parking will remain the same. Short term drop-off will only be permitted near the Ambulatory Care Wing Entrance.
§ Emergency Department access will remain the same.
§ Anyone coming to the Hospital, except for Emergency Department visits, will need to enter through the Ambulatory Care Wing as the main hospital access will be closed for the duration of the renovation.
§ Access to the main level will be via the elevator or staircase, near the Emergency Department Entrance. New directional signage will assist people.
§ Volunteers will help guide people, with the use of temporary directional signage.
§ The Gift Shop will be closed during renovations.
§ The lobby Café will be moved temporarily to a different area of the front of the lobby, offering a small selection of items, during construction.
§ Information desk volunteers will be relocated to the corridor near the Ambulatory Care Wing.
§ Volunteer porters and wheelchairs will be based in a section of the Ambulatory Care Wing.
§ The Foundation Office will remain open in its current location along the Ambulatory Care hallway.
Key Aspects of the Renovation
§ Main Hospital Staircase: We will rebuild a staircase that meets today’s structural, safety and access standards. This will significantly reduce the risk to all who use our facility and will result in a significant improvement of “how safe” people feel in our facility.
§ Main Lobby Renovation (Self-Service Registration Kiosks, Waiting areas, Café & Gift Shop): The main lobby is a shared space where our patients and families as well as all our teams intersect including staff, physicians, Foundation and Auxiliary. Renovating the main hospital lobby will address safety concerns, improve patient care and experience, provide areas of respite, provide a modern and accessible gift shop and café, re-ignite pride in our facility and incorporate the use of new technologies. It will be a modern, comfortable, accessible and engaging space that promotes high quality, compassionate care.
§ Central Registration for all patients & Bill Payment: Centralization of registration, admitting, appointment booking, and the use of self-service registration kiosks will result in improved services and experience for patients and families. Staff will be cross-trained to the registration and booking process for all services. Bill payments will also be done in this shared space.
- Patio Renovation Project: The patio adjacent to the lobby will be designed to provide a sanctuary for patients, visitors and staff, much like the patient space near the Ambulatory Care Wing.
About Headwaters Health Care Centre (HHCC)
HHCC, is an innovative, community centred medium-size hospital located in Orangeville, in beautiful Dufferin County. Headwaters offers acute and complex continuing care with 24/7 Emergency Department coverage as well as extensive outpatient services in a newly built Ambulatory Care Centre and is accredited with Exemplary Standing by Accreditation Canada. Visit our award-winning Friendship Gardens, while at the hospital. Please visit www.headwatershealth.ca for more information and a full list of services.