A partnership for efficiency and accessibility

One year ago, The Ottawa Hospital made headlines, and received some criticism, when The Academic Orthopedic Surgical Associates of Ottawa (AOAO), a private surgeons group, began renting vacant operating rooms at the Riverside Campus on Saturdays to address a backlog of orthopedic surgeries.  

On February 28, The Ottawa Citizen published an article to mark the anniversary.  Having completed approximately 500 knee and hip surgeries in the past year, the article reports that AOAO has now doubled the number of weekend orthopedic surgeries it is performing.  Expanded to include operations on Sundays, capacity has increased for 1,000 such surgeries.   

The partnership with AOAO is proving to be a proactive approach in addressing surgical wait times and optimizing care for patients.  It also aligns with the provincial government's strategy to help hospitals focus on more complex procedures. The cost-effectiveness of surgeries performed by AOAO, which are significantly lower cost than traditional hospital surgeries, enables savings to be reinvested back into the hospital — further enhancing services. And AOAO is applying to eventually move its operations off-site, to a standalone surgical centre, working, as now, in partnership with the hospital.   

Initiatives like these demonstrate how the TOH Strategic Plan is embracing innovative solutions to address immediate needs today — and paving the way for more resilient and responsive healthcare tomorrow. 

The article cites a very positive patient testimonial.  And that’s exactly what we want to see.

Thank you, Mews family, for your leadership and generous support!

The Ottawa Business Journal has published a story on an incredible $2.5 million gift from the Myers Automotive Group to our Campaign to Create Tomorrow . An ad, featuring the gift, also ran in the Ottawa Citizen on Saturday.

For decades, Harry, Rob, and the Mews family have generously given back — they're truly a driving force in our community — and are helping lead the way to reshape the future of healthcare in our region.

You can also Read about what inspired them in the news section of our website.

‘Diagnosis by app’ and the future of healthcare

On February 26, the Winnipeg Press covered the transformative role of AI in healthcare, particularly through the lens of 'diagnosis by app'.  The author, Jordan Richard Schoenherr, received funding from the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute for his research in medical education and decision-making.

The story delves into the potential of AI-driven health solutions like Articulate Medical Intelligence Explorer (AMIE), developed by Google researchers, which delivers health advice and diagnostic services. This innovative approach promises to help facilitate enhanced healthcare delivery but it may also present challenges in patient safety and trust.

With TOH on the leading edge of AI and progressive digital solutions, funding in this area is critical to not only explore what's possible with this tech, but also to best lay down the groundwork for a more efficient, accessible, and improved healthcare future.

Seven principles guiding TOH’s new hospital campus

Don't miss our sponsored story in the Ottawa Business Journal about the seven priorities guiding TOH's ambitious plans for the new campus development.

Published on March 1, it's an excellent piece that answers many of the community's questions about our new hospital campus — and I encourage you to share it far and wide!

Getting ‘On Track’ after mental health crisis

On March 1, the Ottawa Citizen ran our sponsored story about Sean Heron. Diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2022, he’s getting his life back thanks to ‘On Track,’ an incredible TOH mental health care program and a team of highly-skilled experts. And thank you, Sean, for sharing your inspiring story.

TOH researchers spearhead the world’s most extensive eating disorder study

In research news, TOH’s Dr. Marco Solmi and his team have conducted the world's most comprehensive eating disorder study. 

Published in World Psychiatry, their research spans over four decades and involves 88,372 patients globally and emphasizes the impact of specialized care in improving patient outcomes.