CHEO considers new ways to free beds, reduce hospital wait times

Dr. Vera Etches talks to the Ottawa Citizen about her first weeks as head of CHEO and some of the creative ways she’s hoping to find more space to treat patients. Photo by Jean Levac /POSTMEDIAArticle content

CHEO is looking at moving paper medical records out of storage at the hospital and introducing hybrid work for some employees as part of a “creative” effort to find more desperately needed space to treat patients.

THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Exclusive articles from Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others. Plus, food reviews and event listings in the weekly newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Office.Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account.Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an Accountor

Article content

The hospital’s new president and CEO, Dr. Vera Etches, said having enough space is a growing concern at the children’s hospital, especially when it comes to moving patients from the busy emergency department to wards.

Article content

In an interview to talk about her first weeks on the job at CHEO, Etches said finding creative ways to repurpose space in the 50-year-old hospital is among her first priorities on the job.

Article content

By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.

Article content

The area currently occupied by medical records at CHEO is one example of space the hospital is looking to repurpose for clinical use, she said.

Article content

“The medical records area is currently underneath the emergency department. We are quite interested in that. We would be able to move all of the paper documents out and hopefully create space where patients could be seen.”

Article content

She also said the hospital is looking at hybrid work schedules for some employees whose work does not involve direct patient care.

Article content

“We do have roles that are not direct patient care or support services. Right now, many of those teams are partly on-site, partly off-site, and so it’s about taking a really deliberate approach to that. People need connection, they need to feel they are part of the team here, but we may not have enough space for everybody to be here all the time.”

Article content

Those plans to repurpose space for clinical and educational uses are still at the discussion stage, she said, and would have to be done without dedicated provincial funding.

Article content

CHEO is currently undergoing redevelopment, the first part of a plan that eventually includes a new tower at the hospital, which would have more beds and spaces for patient care — but that is far down the road, Etches said.

Article content

The current phase includes the construction of a new 200,000 square foot children’s treatment centre. Michael Parsa, Ontario’s minister of children, community and social services, was in Ottawa this week to break ground on the building that will be the centre of a new model of care for children and youth with developmental needs. It is expected to open in 2028.

Article content

Dr. Vera Etches talks to the Ottawa Citizen about her first weeks as head of CHEO where finding more space for patient care has been her first priority. Photo by Jean Levac /POSTMEDIAArticle content

Space, and the lack of it, has become one of Etches’ priorities in her first weeks on the job as president and CEO of CHEO. Etches took on the role at the beginning of March. She left her job as Ottawa’s medical officer of health in January. She takes over from Alex Munter who headed CHEO for more than two decades.