Caption: Barbara Beaudoin, Chair of the St. Joseph's Hamilton Joint Boards of Governors; Tracey MacArthur, President and CEO Hamilton Health Sciences; Sylvia Jones Deputy Premier and Minister of Health; Mike Heenan, President, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton; John Woods, President, St. Joseph's Healthcare Guelph, Interim President, St. Joseph's Villa Dundas; Mieke Ewen, Chief Operating Officer, St. Joseph's Villa.
St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton (St. Joe's) has started work on a new centre that will provide much-needed support to alternate level of care (ALC) patients who are waiting for community-based care, a move that will free up more acute care beds in the hospital.
The new Reactivation Care Centre will provide 57 beds for ALC patients who no longer require acute care services, but are waiting for space in a long-term care home or for other community supports. The centre will be housed on several unused floors at St. Joseph's Villa Dundas and, when complete, will accept patients from St. Joe's as well as Hamilton Health Sciences.
The Reactivation Care Centre is an example of the type of innovation being used to help alleviate the immense pressure faced by health care institutions across the country.
The Province is investing $16.7 million to make the new centre a reality. Health Minister Sylvia Jones and St. Joe's President Mike Heenan announced the development of the new centre in August, along with St. Joseph's Villa Dundas and Hamilton Health Sciences.
“The new Reactivation Care Centre will ensure more patients and their families in the Hamilton area are connected to the care and support they need, for years to come," Jones said.
The RCC is one of several ways that partners — led by St. Joe's are working together to provide community-based solutions.
“This Reactivation Care Centre offers a unique opportunity to provide a continuity of care to patients who need more time to recover, while freeing up much-needed space in our hospital to provide acute care to more patients, faster," said Mike Heenan, President, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton. “We are so grateful to the Province for recognizing this need and for their investment into our community."
Once opened, the 28,000 square-foot centre located at St. Joseph's Villa Dundas will include 57 transitional care beds across three units to connect people to a variety of reactivation care needs, including complex care, dementia care services and behavioural support services. The new facility will also have four rooms with dialysis services, allowing more patients to access convenient, on-site hemodialysis treatment.
“Our community needs more options for patients who require supportive care. This remarkable investment and partnership will add beds to our community where patients can regain their strength to safely return home or back to their community," said John Woods, Interim President of St. Joseph's Villa Dundas.
By moving patients out of hospitals into the Reactivation Care Centre, they can continue their recovery in a home-like setting with supports and appropriate care. The care team will focus on supporting patients in resuming their routines, restoring their functional abilities and independence, preventing deconditioning and facilitating return home or to a different supportive care setting.
“Healthcare in our region will be more accessible for all because of this initiative. More capacity in our region to transition patients out of hospital helps our services and teams function more effectively. Hamilton Health Sciences is proud to be a partner in this vital project," said Tracey MacArthur, President and CEO, Hamilton Health Sciences.
The Reactivation Care Centre is expected to open in the spring of 2026.