Durham Region’s first post-acute rehabilitation centre coming to Pickering

The news about Durham Region’s first stand-alone Post-Acute Rehabilitation Centre coming to Pickering got lost in the chatter about the Province finally agreeing to build the region’s next full-service hospital built but Pickering’s mayor wants it known that the announcement is a really big deal.

“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. “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.”

The news about the centre was part of Lakeridge Health’s master redevelopment plan delivered by Ontario Premier Doug Ford earlier this week, with the media picking out the hospital news first, as Ford had been on-again, off-again about building the hospital in Whitby (despite Lakeridge Health approving the site more than two years ago) and engaging in a war of words with Whitby Mayor Elizabeth Roy over the site selection in the interim.

Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy, who is also the MPP for Pickering-Uxbridge, wanted to ensure the announcement of the Post-Acute Rehabilitation Centre coming to Pickering got the attention it deserved.

“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 Bethlenfalvy. “This facility represents our commitment to enhancing healthcare services by investing in a brighter, healthier future for all residents of Pickering and Durham Region.”

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.

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 while improving outcomes for patients.

“We are thrilled that the Province of Ontario is investing in health infrastructure at Lakeridge Health campuses across Durham Region,” said Regional Chair John Henry. “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.”

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 are also more likely to experience better recovery outcomes.

Lakeridge Health Board of Trustees Chair Cordelia Clarke Julien thanked her government partners for the “transformative” investment. “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.”

Lakeridge Health CEO even waxed poetic on the news. “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.”

The location of the facility in Pickering will be determined by Lakeridge Health during the planning stage.

The announcement is part of more than $12 million in capital planning grants to support Lakeridge Health’s master redevelopment plan, which includes the Post-Acute Rehabilitation Centre in Pickering.