Guelph General Hospital (GGH) has announced plans to expand access to care with a new medical centre at the Guelph campus of Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning.
Fully managed and operated by GGH, the centre is expected to open in December 2025 and will initially provide diagnostic imaging services.
The population in Guelph-Wellington is growing at a rapid rate, as is the level of support required to care for the community. With challenges in GGH's physical space to accommodate the growing demand for service and a commitment from the Ontario government to fund the operations of a second MRI machine, the centre will provide capacity that will allow for quality care closer to home.
Guelph General Hospital is partnering with Conestoga to advance health-care education and training while expanding access to care. Employees from the hospital and college gathered in the courtyard of the Guelph campus to celebrate the partnership.
For Conestoga, this collaboration presents an opportunity to further its commitment to supporting the health-care sector by training in-demand professionals in areas of critical need. Leveraging its expertise in health education and state-of-the-art learning infrastructure, Conestoga will play a vital role in addressing the growing skills shortages in health care. The partnership will also offer new avenues for professional development, allowing Conestoga to provide continuing education for GGH's clinical staff, helping to ensure they stay at the forefront of medical advancements.
For GGH, this partnership allows for expansion of clinical services to meet the demands of the growing Guelph-Wellington population. Patients will benefit from the added convenience of accessing community-based diagnostic imaging services, including breast imaging, ultrasound, X-ray, MRI and bone mineral density tests, all while maintaining the high standard of care they expect from GGH. Diagnostic imaging services will also continue to be available at the hospital to ensure a seamless patient experience.
In the coming years, the offering at the centre will expand to include ambulatory care services. While these services are not yet defined, this expansion will create a much-needed increase in capacity both at the hospital and in the community.
This partnership also demonstrates a shared commitment to solving the health-care crisis in diagnostic imaging through innovative approaches and the creation of a welcoming, accessible clinical space for patients in the community. As Conestoga continues to explore new programs in areas of skills shortages, such as diagnostic imaging, the existing collaboration with GGH and their expertise will help develop future programs and training facilities.
GGH is also working closely with The Foundation of Guelph General Hospital to secure the funds needed to support the equipment and associated construction costs to establish the centre, which is one of several projects underway. The ultimate goal is enhancing care for the community now, while working to secure a planning grant from the Ministry of Health that will see the development of a new hospital in Guelph in the future.
Quotations:
"While we have maintained leadership in the delivery of care throughout our 150 year history, our buildings have been unable to keep pace. The new centre provides us with a necessary bridge so we can continue to deliver exceptional care while we plan for the future with our community." Mark Walton, President & CEO at Guelph General Hospital
"We are proud to partner with GGH to expand access to critical healthcare services at our Guelph campus. This new medical centre will enhance the availability of diagnostic services in our community, which is essential for early detection and prevention of medical conditions. It will also play a key role in enriching clinical learning experiences for our students, giving them the opportunity to work alongside healthcare professionals and gain hands-on experience in a real-world setting." John Tibbits, President, Conestoga College
"We are thrilled to expand our educational partnerships and be part of empowering the many disciplines that support the health care sector; from nurses, medical laboratory and diagnostic imaging technologists and pharmacy to mention just a few. It is inspiring to watch our students grow and be part of their journey to success, and hopefully see many of them stay in community." Karen Suk-Patrick, Vice President, People, Strategy & Community
"The professional staff team (physicians, midwives, and dentists), is excited about the opportunity to innovate and grow our programs using the space at the new medical centre. It will not only create options in the hospital to better support our patients, families, and caregivers but also address the increased demand for service in the community." Dr. Alex Ferguson, Chief of Staff at Guelph General Hospital
"While the hospital has the operating funding it needs to support the new centre, The Foundation of Guelph General Hospital has been asked to raise funds for start-up costs including the purchase and associated construction of the additional MRI, mammogram and x-ray machines. This is a game-changing initiative for our community, and our donors are excited to play a catalyzing role in transforming how care is being delivered." Julie Byczynski, CEO at The Foundation of Guelph General Hospital
For more information
299 Doon Valley Drive
Kitchener Ontario
Canada N2G 4M4
www.conestogac.on.ca/
