Research labratory inside the Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning. (Photo credit: Tom Arban)

The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) recently opened its new research tower, the Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning. The new $400-million tower will house 2,000 researchers, trainees and staff that are currently spread out between six buildings.

"The opening of the Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning is our bold and demonstrable commitment to the vital importance of research as the foundation to exemplary paediatric care," said Mary Jo Haddad, President and CEO, The Hospital for Sick Children. "This building, and the activities that will take place within these walls, symbolize our promise to continue the strong legacy of science, discovery, innovation and learning at SickKids."

Designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects, the 21-storey building is believed to be the largest child health research tower in the world. The building has been divided into research neighbourhoods where scientists and trainees from different disciplines can work side-by-side. Each space, from the state-of-the-art laboratories to the multi-level common areas, has been designed to enhance collaboration.

The new building has been designed to meet LEED Gold Certification. The sustainable design measures include 75 per cent of waste being diverted from landfills, 50 per cent reduction in water use, 38 per cent reduction in energy use, and the use of low VOC-emitting products to improve indoor environmental quality.

A new American study in JAMA Internal Medicine has found decreasing hospital acquired infections (HAIs) will save lives and reduce the costs associated with treating infections each year.

According to the study, the costs associated with health care-linked infections is nearly $10 billion U.S. each year. Based on population numbers, the five HAIs mentioned in the study cost Ontario about $400 million a year. The study mentions that at least half of these infections are preventable.The Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU), the hospital division of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) has been urging the provincial government to invest health care funding in decreasing HAIs at Ontario hospitals for the last decade.

Superbug rates in Ontario hospitals have not declined significantly. While the province's main strategy to reduce superbugs, hand-washing, has improved, OCHU President Michael Hurley says, "Clearly more needs to be done."

"Now we have the findings of an expansive medical study that shows HAI prevention also saves hospitals considerable costs associated with treating infections," Hurley says. "It would be good medicine and fiscally responsible for our provincial health minister to invest in the necessary system changes to decrease HAI rates."

Prince Edward Island's Minister of Health and Wellness, Doug Currie, announced the Province's donation of $165,000 to the Community Hospital O'Leary equipment fund.

"Community Hospital O'Leary plays an integral role in our health-care system providing extended care support to Islanders who still need hospital care after surgery or illness, as well as palliative care," said Currie.

In 2010, the provincial government invested approximately $3 million in the 14,700 square foot O'Leary health centre.

The centre houses 16 exam rooms, an ambulatory care room, and offices and meeting rooms for physicians, nurses and staff. Services include walk-in, ambulatory care, diabetes programs and community mental health programs.

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre has achieved 91 per cent Hand Hygiene compliance, doubling its rate since the implementation of Ontario's Just Clean Your Hands (JCYH) initative in 2007.

"Hand Hygiene is a priority at Sunnybrook. Our Infection Prevention and Control team has done a tremendous job in propelling this priority across the organization," said Dr. Barry McLellan, Sunnybrook's President and CEO. "Our high rates of good practice are testament to staff and physicians across all disciplines who have literally had a hand in our achievement thus far."

Hand Hygiene compliance is one of the Ministry Publicly Reported Safety Indicators for hospitals. Sunnybrook has included Hand Hygiene compliance in its Quality Improvement Plan for 2013/2014.

Southeastern Manitoba will benefit from the completed $14-million expansion and renovation of the Hôpital Ste. Anne Hospital.

"The Ste. Anne Hospital plays a critical role in providing services to the ever-growing population of the southeast area including a large francophone community and other residents from diverse cultural backgrounds," said Premier Greg Selinger, at the hospital's ribbon-cutting ceremony. "This expansion will ensure the facility can deliver more health services closer to home for patients and families in these communities."

The redevelopment of the acute-care facility included a 17,000 square foot addition. Included in the expansion was two operating rooms, a post-anesthesia care unit, a family waiting room and new electrical/mechanical rooms. The expansion increased the hospital's square footage by 60 per cent.

The redevelopment will increase the hospital's operating capacity and double the number of operations and diagnostic tests performed each year.