News & stories

In 2018, as Grand River Hospital prepared to turn off our old systems and move to a new health information system (HIS) that would transform the way we deliver care, hospital leadership wondered, “Where are we going to store 30 years of data and what can we do with it?” The result is a first-in-Canada approach to storing and using our data through the Amazon Web Services (AWS) data lake cloud solution.

On November 2, 2010, the Specialized Mental Health Unit at Grand River Hospital's Freeport Campus was officially opened. Ten years later, the team is pausing for few moments to reflect on an incredible journey so far: To learn from the lessons of the past, to honor those that have made a lasting impact, and just as important, to share a laugh.

October is OT month! Occupational therapists (OT) are integral to the interprofessional team and work in a variety of GRH programs. We asked a few of our OTs about their experience as an OT at GRH, and particularly about being an OT during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s what they had to share.

Through careful conservation and preservation, including innovative practices like reprocessing N95 masks for future use, and through generous donations from our community, GRH made it through the first wave with the right equipment to support safe care. Today, GRH is managing a PPE and supply warehouse for our region and beyond.

This summer we asked our community to participate in a COVID-19 Lessons Learned Survey to help us better understand the hospital’s initial response to the pandemic. We promised we would get back to you with results, and we are pleased to share them with you. Click here to learn more.

The development of our 5-year strategic plan is back underway after a pause required to respond to COVID-19. Now more than ever, paving a strong path forward is vital to ensuring we continue providing exceptional care to our community.

When Guelph resident Mike MacPherson was diagnosed with pneumonia in early July 2020, he followed doctor’s orders and waited to feel better. When he was still very ill almost 3 weeks later, a cat scan confirmed the culprit; a mass on his lung, and he was referred to Grand River Hospital’s lung diagnostic assessment program (DAP) to find out if it was cancer.

When Waterloo Region’s first COVID patient came through GRH’s emergency department, the hospital responded by making COVID our priority. Through the uncertainty of the early weeks of the pandemic, GRH came together to protect and care for our community. As the pandemic continued, our community was there for us. Through generous donations, words of encouragement, and actions of support, our community has shined throughout COVID. Today we are pausing to thank our community for being the light that has, and continues, to inspire us to shine.

How do you offer group therapy, when you can’t gather as a group? GRH staff Mary and Rondi, and their team at our Mount Hope Day Program moved therapy online and discovered some unexpected benefits of ‘going virtual’.

When Forest Heights long-term care resident, 85-year old Bob Charters, was transferred to GRH's Freeport Campus to recover from COVID-19, our no visitors guidelines meant face-to-face visits weren't possible. With support from our staff, Bob stayed connected with his daughters daily by phone, allowing the family to be together while staying apart.