Our history
Nipigon District Memorial Hospital's Mission . . .
is to provide excellent health care and wellness promotion services in order to improve the health of the population and the quality of life for all residents in our communities.
Yesterday . . .
In January 1949, the Red Cross Outpost Hospital was officially opened. From 1949 to 1956 the Hospital was effectively administered by the Ontario branch of the Canadian Red Cross Society. The 20 bed facility also accommodated a public health wing for outpatient treatment, two operating rooms and x-ray facilities.
In 1956 the Hospital institution went from being a Red Cross affiliate to becoming a corporation administered by a Board of Directors.
Due to insufficient space, two wood frame wings, with crawl spaces were added in 1968 and be came operational in 1969. The Hospital now had 33 beds with 15 beds allocated for chronic/extended care.
With technological advances and legislative requirements, the existing building could no longer meet the requirements and further renovations had been judged unfeasible. Limitations of the existing building had become so severe that the only alternative was to move. This meant a new building, on a new site.
On March 27, 1989, the Nipigon District Memorial Hospital received approval from the Ministry of Health to build a new 40 bed hospital including 18 acute care and 22 chronic/extended care beds with a medical clinic, ambulance garage and heliport all centralized on one site.
Ground breaking ceremonies were held on September 22, 1989. On December 4, 1992 residents of the surrounding communities, stakeholders, medical and hospital staff together with the Board of Directors celebrated the official opening of the new health care facility.
Today . . .
Nipigon District Memorial Hospital is a 37 bed facility providing health care and wellness promotion services to the residents of the Nipigon catchment area. The Hospital provides services through in-patient and out-patient programs originating from its central site in the town of Nipigon. The Hospital site has 15 acute care beds, 15 long term care beds, and 7 chronic care beds – one of which is a short-stay respite bed. The Beardmore Regional Health Centre is administered by the Hospital and provides primary care to residents of the Beardmore area, approximately one hour from the town of Nipigon.
The Hospital provides -
- Inpatient acute care, long term and chronic care services;
- 24 hour emergency department services;
- Cardiac care – including telemetry, cardiac rehabilitation and stress testing;
- Palliative care;
- Medical Day Care program;
- Emergency labour and delivery services;
- Diagnostic services (laboratory, radiography, ultrasonography, pulmonary function testing);
- Rehabilitative services [physiotherapy, occupational therapy (contract), dietician (contract)];
- Diabetes outreach services (supported by the Northern Diabetes Health Network), foot care;
- Cancer care (in partnership with the Regional Cancer Program); and
- Specialist clinics and services – both on-site and via videoconference
Significant changes in the communities and in the health care landscape over the past three years directed the need to develop a plan that reflected the current population and patient demographic of the Nipigon district. In 2006-07 the region lost two major employers with the closure of the Norampac mill in Red Rock and the loss of the Multiply plant in Nipigon. Labour force out-migration following the loss of these major employers has resulted in a higher population of those aged 45 and older remaining in the communities.
Tomorrow . . .
Small hospitals in rural areas have a role beyond simply caring for the sick. Opportunities to expand health care services beyond the traditional Hospital role are facilitated through integrative and collaborative partnerships with local and regional health care providers, stakeholders, the communities and the public. Primary care, health promotion, chronic disease management, and specialty care services can be provided through innovative service delivery methods developed through partnerships.
Our Strategic Plan outlines the vision, mission, values and strategic directions that will guide our decisions moving forward. It describes at a high level our current initiatives and the plans we will put in place to build a sustainable, high quality, health system. The Plan was developed with input from many individuals and groups. It also reflects the knowledge gained through ongoing monitoring of the external environment, including the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care and the North West Local Health Integration Network priorities.
