Ground broken for McMaster Health Campus
Supporters from across Hamilton helped McMaster break ground on the McMaster Health Campus Monday in downtown Hamilton. Pictured at the construction site from left to right are: Jason Farr, city councillor, Elizabeth Richardson, medical officer of health, John Kelton, vice-president and dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Patrick Deane, University President, Kim Wilms, patient, McMaster Family Practice, Senator David Braley, David Price, chair of Family Medicine, Mayor Bob Bratina, Mary Williams, vice-president of McMaster University Advancement, and Roger Couldrey, McMaster's vice-president administration.
A new era of healthcare for Hamiltonians began this morning as ground was broken on McMaster University’s new downtown Health Campus which, when complete, will see 54,000 patient visits as well as 4,000 McMaster students each year at a state-of-the-art facility at Main and Bay streets.
The $84.6-million landmark project is a partnership between the University, the City of Hamilton, and the Province of Ontario.
“The McMaster Health Campus enhances our learning environment while simultaneously serving our community. It enriches our health care options in critical urban neighbourhoods, and accelerates renewal of our city’s downtown core,” said Patrick Deane, president of McMaster University. “McMaster thanks our partners who have allowed us to capture this unique opportunity for the university and our community, including the City of Hamilton, the Province of Ontario, and Senator David Braley.”
Hamilton Mayor Bob Bratina said: “This project was created in part to help transform Hamilton’s downtown. Later generations will look back to this time as the catalyst of our City’s rejuvenation.”
“This very substantial development will boost both the physical and economic health of downtown Hamilton,” said Ted McMeekin, MPP for Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale.
John Kelton, dean and vice-president of the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster said: “This landmark will establish McMaster and Hamilton as the centre for innovative primary care in Canada. This will lead to great future.”
Details about one of the Campus’ most significant features – the Family Health Centre – were also released. The Family Health Centre will be located on the third floor of the Campus and will provide primary health care to 15,000 Hamiltonians. It will feature:
- Teams of family doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, occupational therapists and physiotherapists all located under one centrally-located roof
- These teams will provide integrated health care to Hamiltonians, with a focus on serving those from the lower city
- A patient-focused design is aimed at ensuring comfort and high quality care
- McMaster students will work side-by-side with health care providers treating patients
“As health care becomes increasingly delivered in the community, it is ever more important that all aspects of the primary health-care system work together,” added David Price, chair of the Department of Family Medicine for the medical school. “This downtown location and integration of public health, nursing and family medicine is a huge step towards accomplishing this goal.”
The LEED-certified building will be opened in 2014.
McMaster Health Campus Fast Facts:
- A 195,000-square-foot LEED certified building
- Home to a large family health clinic for 15,000 patients
- Base for the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine’s Department of Family Medicine; the McMaster University School of Nursing’s nurse practitioner program; the McMaster Continuing Health Sciences Education Program and other research program.
- Headquarters for the City of Hamilton’s Public Health Services and public health clinics
- Location for the Maternity Centre of Hamilton and the Shelter Health Network
- Besides 54,000 patient visits a year to the clinic and 4,000 McMaster students at the site for classes and clinical learning, there will be about 450 employees based there.
