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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, September 9, 2016 | 8 New OTMH opening highlight of year: annual report by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff Halton Healthcare's recently released annual report reflects on 2015-16 as a year of significant achievement -- one marked by the opening of the new Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital (OTMH) and rapid work on the Milton District Hospital expansion. Denise Hardenne, Halton Healthcare president and CEO, dubbed 2015-16 a lesson in the value of careful preparation. "A decade's worth of planning, four years of construction and many months of operational readiness and transition planning culminated in an intense 12 short hours, during which we safely moved more than 270 patients from legacy Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital to the new one, saw our first emergency department patient, and delivered the first baby at the new hospital," stated Hardenne in the annual report. "Similar groundwork has enabled us to proceed rapidly with the modernization of Milton District Hospital, which is on track for completion next year. Like Oakville, Milton will have carefully designed workspaces to enable our healthcare professionals to deliver exemplary patient experiences." Halton Healthcare staff called the opening of the new Oakville hospital one of the most significant events in the organization's history. The $2.7-billion facility, which opened to patients Dec. 13, 2015, featured 457 inpatient beds Denise Hardenne ing 80 per cent single-patient rooms. Besides medical facility data, the report featured the touching story of Jason Laughlin. Laughlin is an OTMH patient with GuillainBarre Syndrome (GBS), a rare disorder in which the body's immune system attacks its nerves. In Laughlin's case, the sudden onset of the disorder left the 41-year-old paralyzed from the neck down. In a video link found in the report, Laughlin, who was initially admitted to the previous hospital, talks about being part of the move to the new OTMH. see Halton on p.10 Halton Healthcare opened the new Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital on Dec. 13, 2015 -- one of the most significant events in the organization's history. | Metroland file photos on opening day. This represented an increase of 135 beds from the previous hospital. Other features include a full range of health services, including maternal and child care, criti- cal care, emergency care, surgery, complex continuing care, rehabilitation, diagnostics, ambulatory care and a variety of support services. The facility also boasts enhanced patient privacy and infection-prevention measures, includ- EXPLORE AUTHENTIC TASTES E-A-T MORTGAGES We have a pool of private money available at great rates. Instant Approval, Fast, Reliable Service by your bank? Turned down Serving you for over 30 years. www.tmdc.ca Licence # 10585 Call: Jim Panasiuk · 9053382222 Mortgage Broker, M08000232 REAL ESTATE Providing professional real estate services from start to finish. Whether you're a First time buyer, Interested in Upsizing or Downsizing, Relocating, New to the Area, or simply looking for a second opinion, we are here for you. STAGinG Julie is a Certified Staging Professional and Full staging is Always FREE Julie Panasiuk Sales Representative Sales Representative ROYAL LEPAGE REAL ESTATE SERVICES LTD., BROKERAGE Jim Panasiuk Direct: (905) 484 4447 Bus: (905) 338 3737 Fax: (905) 338 7351 juliepanasiuk@royallepage.ca 251 North Service Road West Oakville, ON L6M 3E7 www.firstchoicehomes.ca Direct: (905) 467 4447 Bus: (905) 338 3737 Fax: (905) 338 7351 jim@tmdc.ca