Creating a sustainable future for the organization and those we serve

Strategic Planning at Sunnybrook

Strategic Planning at SunnybrookCreating a sustainable future for the organization and those we serve

Our Service Area

Chapter Eight

These hospitals have many types of specialists, and receive patients from a large geographical area and referral base as

these types of specialized services are not available at patients' nearby community hospitals.

So You Need to Visit the Hospital…

In Canada, there are different types of hospitals that are distinguished by the level

and complexity of care they provide.

Most community hospitals provide emergency, general medical and surgical services to patients

living geographically close to the hospital.

Tertiary and quaternary hospitals are generally academic hospitals with a focus on teaching and research. 

Sunnybrook Offers Specialized Care

We have several partnerships with surrounding community hospitals to ensure that patients receive the care they need

when it matters most.

Examples of this include our trauma care, care of babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and our work caring for patients with

prostate, breast and colorectal cancer.

Sunnybrook provides specialized or complex care for patients across the province

and sometimes even across Canada.

A Map Tells the Story

• Sarnia• Windsor• Owen Sound• Ingersoll• St. Thomas• Guelph• Burlington• Grimsby• Orangeville• Mississauga• Oakville• Alliston• Markham• Cobourg• Oshawa• Belleville

• Smiths Falls• Cornwall • Renfrew• Barrie• Midland• Elliot Lake• Sault Ste Marie• Timmins• Wawa• Kenora• Red Lake• Siouz Lookout• Thunder Bay

Community Hospitals:

There are over 90 community hospitals in Ontario, here are examples of just a handful.

Sunnybrook

Patients often travel distances to get very specialized care. But they also often see their local family doctor close to home and live fairly

close to their local community hospital.

John was recently referred to Sunnybrook at the request of his doctor and was quickly diagnosed with prostate cancer through

the Rapid Results Biopsy Clinic at the Odette Cancer Centre (one of a few centres in Ontario able to do that).

Patient John Smith (example)

For example, John Smith, 68 years old, lives in Barrie where he sees his Family Physician regularly. John has also been having problems with his hips and his family physician has said he needs a hip replacement.  

Luckily, his local hospital is one of a number of organizations that provides hip replacements and he was able to see a specialist

close to home, and have his surgery at his local hospital.

He was treated, and now travels to Sunnybrook a few times a year to meet with his cancer care team to monitor his progress.  

We are also a Local Hospital

Like all hospitals, Sunnybrook is also proud to care for patients living close to us and have some services that

are commonly available through other hospitals.

We define our local area through what is known as a "catchment". We often say that "our catchment" area for primary care is framed by Bathurst Street, the Don Valley

Parkway, Sheppard Avenue, and St. Clair Avenue.

Patients within our catchment often have their family doctor nearby as well. For example, our Family Practice Unit provides a

broad range of primary care services to patients. In addition, Sunnybrook is also part of our local health system of health care

providers like many community hospitals.

Your Thoughts

Given Sunnybrook's dual role as a community hospital and an academic or 'tertiary' care

centre (and the limited funds available to be both), does it make sense for the hospital to provide a well-defined 'catchment' or service

area for procedures that are available in other communities across the province, while at the same time have a province-wide service area

for more specialized services?

Question:

So, in our example, John would come to Sunnybrook from Barrie for

the care of his complex prostate cancer, but he and others like him,

would go to a hospital closer to home for more routine services.