News Release
Date: October 16, 2020
Providence Transitional Care Centre will improve access to care in region
Providence Care is continuously looking at new and innovative ways to help enhance the quality of life for people across the Southeast region. Our region has a significant gap in the availability of restorative programs and other specialized services for aging, mental health and rehabilitation. To help address those needs, Providence Care will be opening a new transitional care centre in 2021.
Working with our partners at Queen’s University, the Providence Transitional Care Centre will be located at 340 Union Street, the former St. Mary’s of the Lake Hospital site.
The centre aligns perfectly with our vision to redefine care in aging, mental health and rehabilitation, and will feature up to 64 transitional care beds. It will also:
- Provide increased capacity to meet the needs of vulnerable, older adults and those living with dementia
- Reduce the use and length of stay in regional hospitals and allow us to better support patient flow (right patient, right place, right time)
- Work closely with primary care partners in the new Ontario Health Team model, to provide older adults the care they need
- Enable older adults to age in their community by promoting and preserving wellness and functionality through access to timely assessment, care navigation and care delivery
- Improve health outcomes and quality of life for patients and families
“This is an innovative approach and something the Southeast region desperately needs to help care for individuals and their families,” explained Cathy Szabo, Providence Care President & CEO. “By opening Providence Transitional Care Centre, we’re working to ensure people have access to the care they need in their own region, when they need it.”
“Queen’s University is pleased to be able to partner with Providence Care and provide the space needed to allow them to develop new transitional care beds for the Kingston community and surrounding region,” said Patrick Deane, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Queen’s University. “This project will have a direct and positive impact in the provision of care to some of our region’s most vulnerable patients, and is an excellent example of how public institutions can work together to deliver positive results for our community.”
Queen’s University owns the building at 340 Union Street and will be leasing the Gibson Wing to Providence Care for the transitional care centre. Providence Care’s Redevelopment and Planning team is engaging consultants to begin the necessary work to restore the Gibson Wing for this new model of care. Construction is slated to begin as soon as possible, once details have been finalized.
The university bought the former Saint Mary’s of the Lake Hospital site from Providence Care when it was offered for sale in 2017. It is seen as an ideal site for future campus development. In the near-term the university is utilizing some of the existing buildings and was approached by Providence Care and the provincial government to lease unallocated space in another of its existing buildings for a fixed term to respond to immediate community needs.
We’re still in the early days of planning but more information on the Providence Transitional Care Centre including construction timelines and opening will be released soon.
Quick Facts
- Providence Transitional Care Centre will feature up to 64 transitional care beds.
- Queen’s University currently owns the property located at 340 Union Street. Queen’s has agreed to lease the Gibson Wing to Providence Care to create the Providence Transitional Care Centre.
- The Providence Transitional Care Centre is part of the provincial government’s plan to add more transitional care beds across Ontario.
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About Providence Care:
Providence Care is Southeastern Ontario’s leading provider of specialized care in aging, mental health and rehabilitation. The organization operates Providence Care Hospital, long-term care home Providence Manor and more than 20 community-based rehabilitation and mental health services across the region. To find out more about Providence Care, visit ProvidenceCare.ca or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
For more information, contact:
Julie White
Interim Director, Communications
Phone: 613-544-4900 ext. 53374
Email: whitej3@providencecare.ca or info@providencecare.ca
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