Media Releases 2025

Monday, January 27, 2025

Woodstock, ON— The Oxford Ontario Health Team (OHT), Woodstock Hospital, and our community partners are thrilled to announce that the Ministry of Health has officially approved our joint Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub application. This milestone represents a significant step forward in enhancing integrated care and support for individuals facing homelessness, mental health, and addictions in Woodstock and Oxford County.

The HART Hub will provide evidence-based, multifaceted programs and services that address locally identified needs and will provide the appropriate services along the HART Hub client’s journey. The journey has four main components: Visit to the Hub, Safety, Support, and Stability & Recovery. Please click here for the Ministry’s client journey pathway.

As part of the Oxford HART Hub model, Woodstock Hospital has purchased a building intended to focus on the support, stability, and recovery components of the client’s journey. After a thorough review of potential sites, 16 Graham Street, the former PUC building in Woodstock, was selected for its proximity to the downtown core, which makes services accessible. This location is also close to many community service providers. These partnerships will be crucial in delivering an integrated care approach to help clients achieve long-term stability.

With today’s announcement, we are one step closer to having this vital resource to serve residents in Woodstock and Oxford County.

“Woodstock Hospital is proud to collaborate with our Oxford OHT partners to bring the vision of the HART Hub to life,” said Perry Lang, President & CEO of Woodstock Hospital. “We look forward to working with our community partners to offer comprehensive wraparound care to support our most complex populations through their treatment and recovery journey.”

“The Board of Trust is thrilled to support this important initiative, with Woodstock Hospital purchasing a building to bring mental health, addictions, and human service providers under one roof in downtown Woodstock,” shared Patrice Hilderley, Chair of the Board of Trust. “Members of the Board live and work in our community and are deeply aware of the current challenges and needs. We are proud to support the hospital’s leadership in this initiative.”

“The Oxford OHT’s mission is to work together to build a stronger, healthier community for all,” said Teresa Martins, Executive Director of the Oxford OHT. “This HART Hub funding announcement is a significant milestone in achieving that mission. By working together to offer access to the right care, by the right team, and in the right setting, we can reduce system fragmentation and help individuals right when they need it.”

We look forward to keeping the community engaged and informed throughout this process to ensure the success of our local HART Hub. Together with our community partners, we are committed to building a brighter future for everyone in Woodstock and Oxford County.

Thursday January 9, 2025

Woodstock, ON – Woodstock Hospital (WH) has successfully completed its Accreditation assessment through Accreditation Canada, demonstrating its commitment to providing safe, high-quality, and people-centred care.

The on-site Accreditation survey on December 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th evaluated the hospital against nationally recognized standards of excellence. Over these three days, the Accreditation team, which included a patient surveyor, engaged with our staff and toured departments to assess hospital programs, policies, and processes.

On December 20, 2024, Accreditation Canada released Woodstock Hospital’s accreditation decision – ACCREDITATION WITH EXEMPLARY STANDING – the highest accreditation award issued by Accreditation Canada.

“Achieving Accreditation with Exemplary Standing is a tremendous accomplishment for Woodstock Hospital,” said Perry Lang, President and CEO. “Staff’s enthusiasm and dedication throughout the Accreditation survey was apparent. Several surveyors commented on how passionate and excited our team was to share their knowledge and answer questions. This demonstrates our staff’s readiness and their pride in the exceptional care we provide to our patients, families, and community.”

The Accreditation surveyors recognized several key strengths at Woodstock Hospital, including:

• Commitment to People-Centred Care: WH’s Patient & Family Advisory Council was highlighted as an excellent example of partnership and collaboration. Patients and families actively participate in committees throughout the hospital, including having a patient advisor as a voting member on the Board of Trust.
• Exceptional Teamwork: The surveyors emphasized that the hospital’s greatest strength is its people. Staff demonstrated a deep sense of solidarity, always supporting one another without being asked.
• Exemplary Use of Metrics and Data: The surveyors praised the hospital’s strategic use of metrics to guide quality improvement initiatives.
• Community Collaboration: Lead Accreditation Surveyor Ron Noble noted that the community partner session was the largest group he has interviewed over his years of surveying with Accreditation Canada. This demonstrates the hospital’s strong local partnerships.

“Our staff’s commitment to one another and to our patients is what sets Woodstock Hospital apart,” added Patrice Hilderley, Chair of the Board of Trust. “As a Board, we are very much aware of the great things that are happening at Woodstock Hospital. There is something special about hearing it from the Accreditation Team, as they validate our strong feelings of pride for our community hospital.”

“We invite the community to join us in celebrating this achievement,” said Cindy Smart, Vice President of Patient Care and Chief Nursing Officer. “Several initiatives impressed the Accreditation team, and they encouraged us to submit some of them as leading practices. This recognition means Woodstock Hospital has implemented innovative, quality improvement measures that could serve as a model for other healthcare organizations across Ontario.”

One initiative recognized as a leading practice by Accreditation Canada is our Clinical Coaches Program. A clinical coach is a senior nursing staff member responsible for mentoring novice nurses to the organization and supporting seasoned nurses. This initiative has enhanced patient safety and increased staff confidence and retention.

The survey team also highlighted the hospital’s patient flow processes and commended the Information Technology team for implementing I-Drive and I-Flow. I-Drive is an Emergency Department electronic data tool that provides staff with information to drive decision-making for efficient patient flow and Diagnostic Imaging turnaround times, while I-Flow is an electronic patient census that helps staff manage bed capacity, aiding admission and discharge planning.

“Preparing for Accreditation requires a thorough review of every process across the organization, ensuring we meet or exceed national standards for patient safety and best practices. Achieving Exemplary Standing is a testament to our team’s commitment to excellence and reassurance to our patients and community of the high-quality care we provide,” said Chuan Yong, Director of Staff Development Practice and Accreditation Coordinator.

Woodstock Hospital looks forward to building on this success as we continue to prioritize safe, high-quality, and people-centred care for the residents of Woodstock and Oxford County.