Erie Shores HealthCare presents balanced budget

Hospital positioned for recovery

LEAMINGTON – Despite the most challenging year in the history of the hospital, Erie Shores HealthCare reported a balanced budget at its Annual General Meeting on June 29.

“We are very appreciative of the support we have received from the province,” said Kristin Kennedy, President and CEO of ESHC. “I also believe this outcome demonstrates the value and flexibility community hospitals provide to Ontario’s health care system. Everyone at Erie Shores should be proud of this achievement and how it positions us strongly to continue providing exemplary care moving forward in a post-pandemic recovery.”

A series of cost improvement plans rolled out at ESHC throughout the 2020- 21 fiscal year contributed to the balanced budget presented in the audited financial statements.

Along with the current financial statements, Annual Report 2020-21 also outlines some of the hard work on the frontlines during the pandemic.

Milestones include:

• Implementing a digital hospital information system to connect hospital records with other facilities in the region, improving patient care.

• Launching the community’s only COVID Assessment Centre, testing over 45,000 people to date.

• Spearheading the Community Response and Stabilization Team to go into community areas like long-term care homes and agri-sector housing to perform testing, health assessments, and vaccinations.

• Taking part in several research initiatives, including COVID-related studies looking at the effectiveness of testing.

• Moving a Nurse Practitioner to Emergency Department (ED) triage, allowing patients to receive assessments, laboratory tests, and diagnostic imaging while waiting for an ED bed, reducing wait times.