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Stevenson Memorial Hospital is proving that bigger isn't always better.
The Alliston hospital was recognized recently for the outstanding performance of the busy emergency department.
Although the facility was built over 50 years ago to accommodate just 7,000 ER visits, that number has eclipsed 30,000 in recent years, including 2015.
Despite the challenges of an aging and insufficient building, average wait time for ER patients at Stevenson was 4.7 hours, far less than the overall average of 6.6 hours. With the exception of a brief 3-month period, staff has maintained this ranking for the past three years.
Hospital president and CEO Jody Levac shared a letter from the Assistant Deputy Minister of the Health System Quality and Funding Division, commending Stevenson for maintaining the lowest emergency length of stay for all patients.
He credits the accomplishment to teamwork and innovation.
“Stevenson Memorial is extremely proud to receive recognition from the Ministry of Health,” said Levac.
“This success is only possible due to the efficient hospital-wide systems we’ve implemented and the amazing teamwork of our entire hospital staff, which creates a positive patient experience while ensuring optimal patient flow through the ED to all other hospital units. The whole hospital shares in—and is an integral part of—this recognition."
Stevenson Memorial is planning a redevelopment that will include an expanded emergency department and many other needed infrastructure improvements that will "ensure we are able meet the needs of our growing community without sacrificing wait times or quality," he concluded
"This ranking brings implicit recognition to the innovative systems that have been implemented hospital-wide through all departments which enhance patient flow," Levac said.
It's an accomplishment that is also being noticed by the Central Local Health Integration Network (LHIN).
LHIN Performance Lead Mark Revore will meet with Stevenson staff to learn more about the hospital's "best practices, so as to assist other hospitals across the province in improving their emergency department performance."
