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Frequently Asked Questions
 Why is the Brant Community Healthcare System closing the Willett Hospital?
There have never been any plans to close the Willett Hospital. The Willett Board of Directors and the Brantford General Board of Directors have combined in the Brant Community Healthcare System. The Board is working with other partnerts to improve the health of all members of the community. To accomplish this all programs are being looked at for their optimum location within the System.
Our community has lost its beds. How can this be a good thing?
No beds have been lost. The beds have been transferred to the Brantford General site of the Brant Community Healthcare System. Patient care plans remain exactly the same.
How can the Willett be a hospital without any beds?
While hospitals are usually thought of as places with beds, hospital care has changed dramatically in the last 20 years. Most procedures are now done on an outpatient basis and less than 1% of healthcare services are delivered at a hospital.
The Willett has been classified by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care as a “Group G” hospital (Chronic, less than 200 beds). The hospital will now become a “Group V” hospital (Ambulatory Care Centre)
The pairing of an Ambulatory Care hospital and an Acute Care hospital is a common model across Ontario:
Ottawa Hospital
Acute Care – Ottawa General, Ambulatory - Riverside site
North York General Hospital
Acute Care - General site, Ambulatory - Branson site
James Bay General
Acute Care – James Bay General, Ambulatory – Moosonee Health
Why has the Complex Continuing Care program moved to BGH?
Primarily, patient care is improved. In the case of an emergency, acute care services are available immediately 24 hours a day. At the Willett patients would have a 15 minute ambulance ride to receive emergency, acute care services.
24 hour care with all of its associated support costs is extremely expensive to provide and by locating 24 hour hospital care at an acute care hospital, there is a more efficient use of resources. (The Willett cost per patient day was $409 as compared to the provincial average of $331. 90% of Ontario hospitals provide care at less cost.) Funding for the Willett can now be used to bring more of a focus on primary care, outpatient services, and wellness programs that can address some of the serious health problems in our community, before they become acute.
The Willett has been a leader in Palliative Care. Why move those beds?
Prior to the program's temporary transfer to the Willett, there were only two palliative care beds located at the Willett. The rest were transferred temporarily to the Willett as part of the Complex Continuing Care program from St. Joseph's Hospital. Palliative Care is one of the three streams of Complex Continuing Care which current practice says are best located in an acute care setting. At the BGH there is access to acute care services, providing for a better and more comfortable quality of end-stage life for patients. (Pastoral Care is an important aspect of Palliative Care. Recently, pastoral services moved into a newly renovated chapel at the BGH.)
If the Willett is less busy then the possibility of it being closed looms again.
No. The Willett is not slated for closure and there are no plans for its closure. The government of Ontario has clearly given direction for it "to continue to develop a pilot model for primary care reform in Paris and the surrounding rural community."
If the BGH has trouble getting new doctors, what chance will the Willett have?
It is precisely because the two organizations are interconnected through a single system that it can attract doctors and provide an available "pool" of physicians. By having access to advanced technology and support services, such as PACS and turnkey offices, the Willett will be able to attract doctors. When emergencies arise, such as the recent difficulties faced by local doctors attempting to staff the Urgent Care Centre, the resources of a larger system can re-direct physicians to where they are needed most. (A team of more than 20 emergency physicians and family physicians were brought together to maintain Urgent Care when the 5 Paris physicians could no longer cover its shifts)
Why is Rehab Health Inc., a private company, running the physiotherapy services in the Brant Community Healthcare System?
There are a number of reasons for using a private contractor for physiotherapy services. Most organizations now use a service such as Rehab Health Inc.. It is an award winning company, known for its efficiency. Currently there is a major shortage of licensed physiotherapists. Rehab Health Inc. employs a large "pool" of these professionals and can access these health care workers when they are needed most such as vacations and sick time, providing continuing coverage.
What are the new hours for the Willett?
The Willett site of BCHS remains open to the public:
Monday to Friday - 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday - 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Have the hours for the Urgent Care Centre changed?
No. The hours for Urgent Care remain the same:
Monday to Friday - 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday - 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Now that the patients have been transferred, what programs does the Willett have?
Programs that are continuing include :
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Geriatric Assessment
• Nutrition Counselling
• Diabetes Outreach
• Paediatric Counselling
• Dermatology Clinic
• Plastics/Procedures
• Volunteer Driving
• Volunteer Services & Volunteer Association
• Driver's Assessment
• Supportive Counselling Program
• Bereavement Support Program
• Men Making Meals
• Physiotherapy (Acute Outpatient)
• Recreational Therapy Fitness (Never Too Late)
• Rehab Health Inc. Satellite physiotherapy Clinic
There are also existing partnerships / alliances that will continue :
• Eating Disorder Clinic Eating Disorders Services of Brant,
• Sexual Health Clinic Brant County Health Unit
• Well-being Teams Paris , St. George, Princeton , Burford, Oakland/Scotland, Onondaga ,
• Ministry of Health Health Cards,
• CPR classes RNs from the community,
• Paris Counselling Services T. Clemens- M.S.W ,R.S.W.,
• Allergy Clinic - Dr. S. Waserman.
What are some of the new programs being planned for the Willett?
The Willett Board of Directors have approved a number of new transition programs that will begin by late spring or early summer 2006. These programs include:
Pain Self-Management – enables clients with chronic pain to self-manage their pain and its impact on their functioning and quality of life. A combination of education, exercise & hydrotherapy will be provided by specialized healthcare professionals.
Active at Any Size – comprehensive assistance to obese individuals to improve health status and quality of life. This unique program includes 38 weeks of physical fitness training plus 12 weeks of nutritional, leisure and psychosocial education and counseling.
Ever Active – empowering seniors who suffer from complex medical/physical conditions with ongoing fitness and education to optimize health, wellness and independence. Twice a week for 38 weeks each year.
Respiratory Clinic – a 7-week education and exercise program for individuals with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (or at high risk for COPD). Supportive follow-up appointments to monitor physical status & life-style changes will work to help patients self-manage their condition.
Rehabilitation Private Clinic – to increase physiotherapy access, Rehab Health Inc. will provide a complete range of rehab. services for outpatient clients who have extended health insurance and those injured in industrial or motor vehicle accidents or through sports.
REEACH - (Rehab Exercise & Education Achieves Health) – goals include promoting independence and maintaining optimal functioning for patients with special needs related to chronic conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson's disease. Time-limited, but recurring, education and exercise sessions will enhance quality of life by helping maintain level of functioning & ability to remain at home.
In addition, plans are underway to enhance the Urgent Care Centre to better meet growing needs of our community. For example, the waiting room, vending and triage areas will be improved.
Will there be more new programs?
Yes. The New Willett Implementation Team is currently looking at various programs, community services and leasehold opportunities with respect to how they fit with our overall focus as a multi-service healthcare center. This Implementation Team is also investigating the potential of locating some of the outpatient services/programs at the Willett that are currently sited at the Brantford General site. These end-state plans have a target date of April 2006 with implementation to follow.
Plans for the Willett will be evolutionary in nature; working to address the known health and wellness needs of the community we serve. What will happen to the items that have been donated to the Willett Hospital over the years?
Nothing donated to the hospital will leave the facility.
The public information sessions prior to Board meetings only include 20 people. Why is that?
Having held large public meetings previously, the smaller groups allow for a more focused question period letting everyone who wishes to speak, be heard. The question period also allows for more time to be given to answers.
“According to the World Health Organization, much of the world's future health burden will be a result of lifestyle practice.” Roy Romanow, 2002
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