The Ontario government is connecting more people to the care they need by enhancing the rehabilitation and recovery services available to patients and their families close to home. Announced on August 1st, 2024, the province is bringing Durham Region’s first stand-alone Post-Acute Rehabilitation Centre to Pickering as part of Lakeridge Health’s master redevelopment plan.
“It is an amazing day for our community with the announcement of a new Post-Acute Rehabilitation Centre in Pickering, which will provide the specialized care and support patients need to recover and thrive,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, MPP for Pickering-Uxbridge. “This facility represents our commitment to enhancing healthcare services by investing in a brighter, healthier future for all residents of Pickering and Durham Region.”
What it means
Post-acute care services offer additional support to individuals who have been discharged from acute care hospitals. If complications arise, these services make it easier to provide the necessary assistance before issues escalate. This approach can prevent hospital readmissions, promoting faster healing and allowing patients to be closer to their families and caregivers during their recovery period.
Mayor Ashe appreciative of new facility
“As one of the fastest-growing municipalities in Durham Region, Pickering will greatly benefit from the addition of this new, first stand-alone Post-Acute Rehabilitation Centre,” said Kevin Ashe, Mayor of the City of Pickering. “This facility will significantly expand local health services for our residents, providing essential care during the critical recovery phase and reinforcing Pickering’s commitment to a healthier and stronger community. I’d like to thank Premier Ford, Minister Bethlenfalvy, and the Ontario government for their commitment to enhancing healthcare services in Pickering.”
Services provided by the new Rehabilitation Centre
Pickering’s Post-Acute Rehabilitation Centre will be designed to provide a seamless connection between acute hospital care and home-based recovery as patients transition from hospital to home, offering comprehensive support tailored to meet diverse recovery needs. By focusing on personalized care, the facility will address the gap in services that many patients and families face during the critical recovery phase and improve outcomes for patients.
“We are thrilled that the Province of Ontario is investing in health infrastructure at Lakeridge Health campuses across Durham Region,” said John Henry, Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer for The Regional Municipality of Durham. “In Pickering, a new post-acute care centre will provide residents with a continuum of care through greater access to recovery and rehabilitation services and supports closer to home following a hospital discharge. This new centre will help patients—and their families—transition back into their daily lives, while alleviating pressures in Durham Region’s hospital network.”
Professionals available with the service
A multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and specialized nursing staff, will collaborate to deliver a holistic approach to rehabilitation, focusing on both the physical and emotional aspects of recovery. Each patient will receive a customized care plan designed to maximize their recovery potential. By receiving specialized care and rehabilitation services, seniors in our community are more likely to experience better recovery outcomes.
“Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is making record investments to build a health care system that lasts, connecting more people in Durham Region and across Ontario to the care they need, when they need it,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “In Pickering, the new Post Acute Rehabilitation Centre will ensure people of all ages can access convenient care, close to home on their journey to recovery.”
“On behalf of the Board of Trustees at Lakeridge Health, we want to thank our government partners for their transformative investment,” said Cordelia Clarke Julien, Chair, Lakeridge Health Board of Trustees. “At Lakeridge Health, we have a vision of One System. Best Health. and we work every day to deliver this through an integrated health system. The new post-acute care centre aligns with this vision and our efforts to expand access to excellent patient care beyond the walls of our hospitals to reach more people, in all their diversity.”
“We are profoundly grateful for the inclusion of the new post-acute care centre as part of the Ontario government’s generous support of Lakeridge Health,” said Cynthia Davis, President and CEO, Lakeridge Health. “We stand on the brink of a new era in health care for Durham Region. As part of this historic investment in Lakeridge Health, the post-acute care centre will be a crucial part of our planning to ensure the region’s rapidly growing and diverse population receives exceptional and specialized care close to home in a safe and timely manner.”
Lakeridge Health will determine the precise location of the facility in Pickering as part of the planning stage. This site will be a large part of the integrated health system across the Durham Region, supporting acute care in hospitals across the community. Pickering will be a key location to host post-acute patients and their families.
Quick Facts
- To date, the Ontario government has provided more than $12 million in capital planning grants to support Lakeridge Health’s master redevelopment plan, which includes Pickering’s Post-Acute Rehabilitation Centre.
- Acute care is a type of secondary health care that provides active, short-term treatment for patients with severe injuries, sudden illnesses, urgent medical conditions, or those recovering from surgery.
- Post-Acute Rehabilitation Centres help avoid hospital readmissions through the additional supports in place, promoting faster recovery.
- Returning to normal life as planned, or even sooner, aids individuals in smoothly transitioning back to home.
