Several programs currently operating at Hôtel Dieu Grace Healthcare’s 744 Ouellet St. location will be relocated to a new downtown campus to help people struggling with mental health issues and addictions, the hospital announced Wednesday.
The move to 500 Ouellette Ave. is expected to take place between June 17-22, the hospital said.
Bill Mara, the hospital’s president and CEO, told CBC News it’s a “transformative move” that will allow Hôtel Dieu Grace Healthcare to “offer much better options” for people in mental illness or addiction crisis seeking medical care.
“So if you’re over 16 and you don’t have access to primary care and you don’t have any other options, instead of going to the emergency department, we can support our friends at Windsor Regional Hospital from the emergency department and provide more specialized care as it relates to mental health and addiction crises.”
Mara said the service will be available seven days a week from 8am to 8pm.
Bill Mara, the hospital’s president and CEO, told CBC News it’s a “transformative move” that will allow Hôtel Dieu Grace Healthcare to “offer much better options” for people who need medical care during a mental illness or addiction crisis. (Dale Molnar/CBC)
“Relocating our range of mental health and addiction treatment services to our state-of-the-art downtown campus will bring us even closer to the downtown core,” Marra said.
“In addition, opening a dedicated Mental Health and Addiction Urgent Crisis Centre space adjacent to the Windsor Regional Hospital Ouellette Campus Emergency Department is critical to helping those in urgent need of assistance.”
The Mental Health and Addiction Emergency Crisis Center opened during the COVID-19 pandemic and serves individuals ages 16 and older who cannot safely wait for community mental health and addictions supports.
“By providing specialist care and interventions, we aim to keep patients out of the emergency department and get them the right support in a timely manner,” Mara said.
According to Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, services offered at 500 Ouellette include:
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Injection clinic.
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General psychiatric clinic.
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Transitional Youth Clinic.
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Evaluation and referral.
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Wellness programs.
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Community withdrawal management.
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CMHA — Coordinated Access.
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Assertive Community Treatment — Date TBD.
‘Great initiative’: WRH CEO
Windsor Regional Hospital interim president and CEO Karen Riddell called the move “an incredible step to help patients get the care they need more quickly.”
She said hospital staff will be “literally working shoulder to shoulder” to ensure people receive the right care.
“Through these ongoing partnerships and efforts, we hope to continually improve location, access and customer outcomes in our region,” said Nicole Sbrocca, CEO of CMHA Windsor-Essex County.(Dale Molnar/CBC)
‘Great move’: CMHA CEO
Meanwhile, CMHA Windsor-Essex County CEO Nicole Sbrocca said it’s a “great move.”
“In this initial phase, we’re calling it Phase 1, there will be no change in terms of the client or patient experience. They will be coming in through the space right next to the emergency department on the Ouellette campus, just like they would at 744 Ouellette,” she said.
