For Immediate Release
Grand River and St. Mary’s complete due diligence in voluntary merger process
Kitchener, ON – July 4, 2024 – St. Mary’s General Hospital and Grand River Hospital have completed the due diligence process of their proposal to voluntarily merge into a single new hospital corporation.
In April, the boards of both Hospitals announced they had independently voted in favour of coming together. The new, merged organization would replace existing organizations and oversee current Hospital sites, services, and ongoing capital redevelopment projects.
On June 26, 2024, both Boards approved the legal and corporate due diligence process, agreeing to proceed with developing and submitting a proposal for integration to the Ministry of Health. The St. Joseph’s Health System Board of Directors also passed the motion and is supportive of the Hospitals moving to the next step in the merger process.
“Completing the due diligence phase marks a significant milestone in advancing our long partnership, signalling our entry into the next phase of our journey towards a new future as a single Hospital organization,” says St. Mary’s Board Chair Tim Rollins.
“After going through the due diligence process over the past two months, we are even more confident that integrating and maximizing our collective and unique strengths will put us in the best position to navigate the changing health care landscape and meet the needs of the rapidly growing communities of Waterloo-Wellington and beyond,” says Grand River Board Chair Sandra Hanmer.
In the weeks ahead, Grand River and St. Mary’s will focus on developing a merger business case for the Ministry of Health’s consideration, including asking the community to provide input on the new Hospital organization’s brand identity. The Hospitals will concurrently advance the joint capital redevelopment projects, including the proposed new acute care hospital in Waterloo Region. During the next decade of planning and building, the current Hospital sites will remain operational, with no impact on patient care. In the fall, St. Joseph’s Health System will partner with the St. Mary’s Board to engage communities on future opportunities for the St. Mary’s site. The goal is to support community needs while advancing Catholic healthcare in Waterloo Region.
The planned merger, expected to take place in spring 2025, builds on a decades-long history of partnership and collaboration between the Hospital organizations that has included a joint medical staff, shared clinical support services, collaborative COVID-19 responses, a shared health information system, and joint fundraising campaigns.
The Hospitals will continue to provide opportunities for members of the public to shape what this new Hospital organization will look like and how it will best serve the communities’ current and emerging healthcare needs. All are invited to complete the community survey, open until August 31, 2024, to share your thoughts on how we can care for you better, together. The survey has been translated to six languages and is available on request through futureofcaretogether.ca.
##
Contacts
Victoria Ott
Integrated Director, Strategic Engagement Grand River Hospital and St. Mary’s General Hospital
519-588-4687
Nicole Vaillancourt
Senior Communications and Engagement Officer
St. Joseph’s Health System
289-259-5080
About Building the Future of Care Together
Grand River Hospital and St. Mary’s General Hospital have been partners for over 20 years sharing services such as labs, a health information system, pharmacy, a 690-person medical staff, and leadership in KW4 OHT.
Between our two organizations, we offer a regional cardiac centre, a regional cancer centre, a stroke centre, a chest program, a renal program, and specialized ophthalmology. We accommodate 335,000 patient visits, 101,110 emergency department visits, 31,570 surgical procedures, and 4,130 births. Together, we provide 82% of patient care services in Waterloo Region.
We are supported by our foundation partners – the Grand River Hospital Foundation and St. Mary’s General Hospital Foundation – in Building the Future of Care Together.
Stay connected and sign-up to receive updates and learn more about the project at futureofcaretogether.ca.
Grand River Hospital
Grand River Hospital is building a world class health system for all in the communities we serve. One of Ontario’s largest community hospitals, we’re delivering exceptional, patient-focused quality care by a team of dedicated health care workers and volunteers. Situated in one of the province’s most diverse and rapidly growing regions, we provide services and support to more than 840,000 residents of Waterloo Region and Guelph Wellington at our two campuses (KW and Freeport) and satellite locations. Driven by innovation, we’re proud of our partnerships and collaborations with health system partners, our region’s academic and innovation communities, and diverse community stakeholders.
Learn more about our Mission, Vision & Values, and review our Aiming High Strategic Plan.
grhosp.on.ca | Twitter and Instagram @GRHospitalKW | YouTube: griverhosp | Facebook and Linkedin: Grand River Hospital
St. Mary’s General Hospital
Located in the heart of Kitchener, St. Mary’s is home to the Regional Cardiac Centre, Regional Chest Program and Regional Eye Program. As leaders in our field recognized globally for world-class, innovative healthcare, our vision of “Inspiring Excellence. Healthier Together” is not just about our approach to patient-centred care, it’s also about our commitment to our staff.
Celebrating a century of care this year, St. Mary’s provides compassionate care to our community serving over 1.4 residents locally and beyond each year. We are the second-largest acute care hospital in the St. Joseph’s Health System with a team of over 2,000 staff, physicians and volunteers dedicated to ensuring patients receive the highest-quality care possible.
Learn more about Our Mission, Values & History
St. Joseph’s Health System
St. Joseph’s Health System is one of Canada’s largest healthcare corporations serving more than two million Canadians. Our six-member organizations bring unique strengths and services, from acute care, long-term care, home and community care, to rehabilitation, hospice and community support services. We are home to a number of regional and provincial programs, including mental health and addictions, cardiac care and renal care, and are one of the largest providers of not-for-profit long-term care in Ontario with more than 1,000 long-term care beds.
Rooted in the 172-year legacy of the Sisters of St. Joseph, we believe in the transformative power of mission-based healthcare. Through a system-wide commitment to caring for the whole person — body, mind and spirit — we are advancing our shared mission of compassionate care, faith and discovery.
Together, our 10,000 healthcare workers are leading the future of integrated care to Advance Care Beyond Boundaries, Amplify our Impact, and Invest in the Teams of Today and Tomorrow.
Click here to learn more about St. Joseph’s Health System.