Hospital's focus remains on new facility, not renovations
CEO Jeff Hohenkerk responds to my story about an earlier proposal to renovate the emergency department, inpatient rooms
This is a follow-up to my story on Wednesday, June 19 about Campbellford Memorial Hospital’s request health ministry 16 months ago for approval to spend $15.6 million on urgently needed renovations to improve service and safety for inpatients and in the emergency department.
As I mentioned in that story, several weeks ago I had requested comment from the hospital on the proposal that I had obtained from the ministry through a freedom of information request, but it had not responded. Since the ministry confirmed that it was still considering the proposal, I decided to go ahead and do the story without the hospital’s comments.
First, some context: The renovation proposal was drafted and submitted by Interim President and CEO Eric Hanna shortly before he stepped down to be replaced by new President and CEO Jeff Hohenkerk.
During his 16 months as Interim President and CEO, Hanna, who had previously been President and CEO of Arnprior Regional Health for 12 years, had taken a stronger, more assertive role toward the health ministry than the hospital had in the past. He was vocal about its severe short-comings and the need for repairs.
From the outside, it seemed that Hanna’s approach did resonate with the ministry, but he was clear that any decision on a new hospital would ultimately be a political one and so far there has been no concrete action there.
Since taking over, at least publicly, Hohenkerk has taken a more conciliatory approach and is hoping it will soon pay off.
Hanna had positioned the renovations as something needed immediately that were worth doing even if we do get a new hospital in several years, because they would allow better care in the interval. In his response below, Hohenkerk’s focus is on the new facility and his hopes for a decision on it. He acknowledges that renovations will be imperative if the ministry rejects a new facility.
The real question is what happens if the decision is delayed and/or construction drags on for years, which seems likely to me. In 2034 will we wish that the aging hospital on the hill had been renovated?
Hohenkerk’s response in full:
“As you know, CMH remains fully committed to our redevelopment project, which we believe will significantly enhance healthcare delivery for our community. At present, our proposal for the redevelopment of Campbellford Memorial Hospital as part of a Campus of Care remains under review with the Ministry of Health.
“However, while we pursue our goal of building a new hospital, we must simultaneously ensure that our current facility remains capable of providing the highest quality of care possible, both now and in the future. In the absence of redevelopment approval, this necessitates the planning of substantial renovations to our existing infrastructure, including our Emergency Department, and preliminary discussions with the Ministry of Health about potential renovations have occurred. These upgrades are essential to maintain operational standards and ensure patient safety and comfort in the absence of a new facility.
“We firmly believe that investing taxpayer dollars in a new hospital is the most prudent course of action. A new hospital would not only better meet the healthcare needs of our community, but also address the critical issue of capacity, which cannot be adequately resolved through renovations alone. No amount of renovations, while beneficial, can expand our capacity to the extent required to meet the growing demands of our community.
“It is imperative though that we prepare for all potential outcomes. If our redevelopment proposal is rejected by the government, we need to be ready to address the long term needs of our existing facility. This will ensure that Campbellford Memorial Hospital remains a cornerstone of healthcare in our region for years to come.”