Lakeridge Health Celebrates 2023-2024, a Year of Improving Access to Care through Innovation, at its Annual General Meeting

(Durham Region) – June 14, 2024, Lakeridge Health staff, physicians, and community members gathered at Lakeridge Gardens Long-Term Care Home for the 2023-2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM). This year, Lakeridge Health accelerated access to high-quality care and services through technology, progressing towards its vision of One System. Best Health.

"Over the last year, Lakeridge Health’s team's commitment, dedication, and innovative spirit have been remarkable," said Cordelia Clarke Julien, Chair of the Board of Trustees, Lakeridge Health. "These qualities have led to new services and increased access to care in Durham Region. We have much to celebrate.”

"We take great pride in our achievements, advancing our vision of One System. Best Health,” said Cynthia Davis, President and CEO, Lakeridge Health. “This year we improved access to care using innovative technology and models of care and education. And together with our partners we continued to ensure Durham Region residents have access to care when and where they need it most.”

Chief of Staff, Dr. Randy Wax, also acknowledged that “our hospital staff have been tackling significant challenges during 2023-2024, such as longer than usual wait times in the Emergency Departments and high volumes of admitted patients.” He continued, “We’re inspired by the dedication, collaboration, and innovation demonstrated by our Lakeridge Health teams while improving care for the residents of Durham Region. We’re not just delivering health care; we’re empowering people to live their best health.”

A few of the notable accomplishments in 2023-2024 include:

• The launch of our new streamlined referral model for mental health and substance use care, Central Connect.
• Welcoming the inaugural class of our groundbreaking Queens-Lakeridge Health MD Family Medicine Program.
• Opening our state-of-the-art Surgical Centre in the Jerry Coughlan Health & Wellness Centre.
• Advancing our Inclusion Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Anti-Racism (IDEAA) efforts with the launch of our Multi-Year Action Plan.
• Bringing critical services, including a new CT scanner closer to home for Port Perry residents.
• Introducing urgently needed and specialized cancer-detecting imagery through the addition of Durham Region’s first PET-CT machine.
• Opening the highly anticipated Behavioural Support Transition Unit in our long-term care home, Lakeridge Gardens.
• Implementing a Sickle Cell Disease Quality Standard pilot project at the Ajax Pickering Hospital in alignment with the principles of equity and racial justice.

The AGM was also a time to thank departing Board members, Thelson Desamour and Tom McCulloch. We also respectfully acknowledged the contributions of Kevin Baker who passed away unexpectedly in 2023. Learn more about Lakeridge Health’s Board members on our website.

In addition, the Ajax Pickering Palliative Care Community Team was celebrated as the recipient of the 2023-2024 Local Health Care Hero Award. The team, which includes Dr. John Vu, Dr. Michael Borchuk, Dr. Luigi Pedretti, Dr. Vance Tran, Dr. Natalie Wong, Dr. Christine Edwards, and Alison Riddell, nurse practitioner, provides in-home palliative care services to individuals living with an advanced progressive illness who are unable to access care outside of their home.

Introduced in 2017/2018, the Local Health Care Hero Award recognizes individuals, or groups of individuals, who are dedicated and committed to supporting, promoting, and raising awareness of the health-care needs of the communities served. This special award promotes our vision of a strong and integrated health system that supports our mission to empower people to live their best health.

To read more about the outstanding 2023-2024 year of achievements and progress, please watch this video.

About Lakeridge Health
With five hospitals, four emergency departments, three critical care units, a long-term care home, a full range of medical and surgical specialties, more than 20 community health-care locations and a state-of-the-art surgical centre within the Jerry Coughlan Health & Wellness Centre, Lakeridge Health offers some of the broadest and most comprehensive acute care, ambulatory care, and long-term care services in Ontario.

Lakeridge Health is also home to several regional specialty centres and services, including the Central East Regional Cancer Program, R.S. McLaughlin Durham Regional Cancer Centre, The Shoulder Centre, and eye care and chronic kidney disease services. Additionally, we are proud to serve our community with a full suite of inpatient, ambulatory, and community-based mental health and addictions services, and provide safe, high-quality, compassionate care in our state-of-the-art long-term care home, Lakeridge Gardens.

Guided by our vision of One System. Best Health. and supported by a dedicated team of more than 8,700 staff, physicians, and volunteers, Lakeridge Health is a proud member of the Durham Ontario Health Team (Durham OHT) and works in collaboration with the Durham OHT, as well as primary care, and community and government partners to foster a truly integrated, regional system of care. Together, we are focused on empowering people to live their best health and fostering an accessible, inclusive, and equitable environment for all.

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