‘Partnerships and Progress’ in focus at Lakeridge Health sites from Ajax to Port Perry

Partnerships and progress was the theme at Lakeridge Health’s annual general meeting Thursday as staff and local residents at the Whitby Hospital to celebrate the 2022/2023 fiscal year.

“Over the last year, even in the face of adversity, Lakeridge Health harnessed the power of partnerships to fuel progress, innovation, and success,” said Cordelia Clarke Julien, who chairs the Board of Trustees. “I am confident that through our collective drive and determination, we will continue to deliver the best care and person-centred experience to the residents of Durham Region.”

A few of the notable accomplishments in 2022/2023 include:

• The mobilization of a Regional Response Team during the sixth wave of the pandemic with the Durham Ontario Health Team, primary care, public health, paramedicine, and community care partners. Together, the group launched a regional network of Cold, Flu, and COVID-19 Care Clinics, a COVID-19 Therapeutic Clinic, a Virtual Urgent Care Clinic, and coordinated rapid vaccine rollouts.
• The launch of the multi-year mental health and substance use strategy, Together, Best Mental Health,which sets a course for an integrated system of mental health and substance use care throughout Durham Region.
• Advancing our inclusion, diversity, equity, accessibility, and anti-racism (IDEAA) efforts, including continuing to build IDEAA capabilities across our Board of Trustees, leaders, and team members through mutual learning, inclusive leadership training, and team-focused education, as well as developing an IDEAA Multi-Year Action Plan.
• A new Emergency Department (ED) Patient Passport and the launch of a personalized predicted wait time range for people arriving at any Lakeridge Health ED.
• The development of the first-of-its-kind in Canada Queen’s-Lakeridge Health MD Family Medicine program, which will see the first cohort of students in September 2023. This integrated program will graduate 20 new primary care/family doctors within six years and then each year thereafter.

“I am so proud of everything our teams have achieved this year,” said Cynthia Davis, President and CEO, Lakeridge Health. “We have so much to celebrate and look forward to as we continue to push the boundaries of our vision, One System. Best Health. We are creating connections and developing collaborations to link together the services and supports that people need within and beyond the walls of our facilities; and we continue to drive innovation forward.”