PARTNERS IN
HEALTH CARE

Sault Ste. Marie has a “healthy” health care system that includes support personnel, equipment, diagnostics, support groups and health organizations.

SAULT AREA HOSPITAL


Sault Area Hospital (SAH) is an amalgamation of the former Plummer Memorial Public Hospital and the Sault Ste. Marie General Hospital Inc. The provincial government has announced its support for construction of a new hospital on the Davey Home site and plans are progressing for construction to begin in 2007.

The two main hospital sites are located adjacent to each other on the waterfront. SAH is a 289-bed facility, serving a total catchment population of approximately 120,000 across the Algoma District.

The hospital's comprehensive cancer treatment program includes chemotherapy, biotherapy and full supportive care via the Algoma Regional Cancer Program, located at the Plummer site. Eight dedicated palliative beds are located adjacent to the Oncology unit. Plans call for a satellite radiation centre at the new hospital.

A CT scanner and MRI are included among the hospital's diagnostic equipment. Other diagnostic services include nuclear medicine and a state-of-the-art Cardiac Angiography Suite. The Health Sciences Library is professionally staffed and is a part of the Northern Ontario Virtual Library (NOVL) Program. SAHViL, the Hospital's customized web portal, can be accessed via the SAH website.

There are also two satellite hospital sites - Matthews Memorial Hospital, an emergency and outpatient hospital on St. Joseph Island (30 minutes east) and Thessalon Hospital, a four-bed hospital in Thessalon (one hour east). An active and successful foundation, Sault Area Hospital Foundation, fundraises on the Hospital's behalf.
www.sah.on.ca

GROUP HEALTH CENTRE

The Group Health Centre is Ontario’s largest and longest-established, membership-based health organization. They are a consumer-sponsored, prepaid, not-for-profit health care organization and an independent, multi-specialty medical group.

The GHC is home to more than 60 multi-specialty physicians with a support staff of over 300. The Centre provides leading programs in multi-disciplinary patient care, screening, chronic disease management and research - all supported by a comprehensive Electronic Medical Record System. Physicians who work there receive furnished office space while retaining hospital privileges. Remuneration, at this site, is comparable to a private practice and partnership is an option after just three years. 
www.ghc.on.ca

ALGOMA DISTRICT MEDICAL GROUP (ADMG)
The ADMG is a large, well-established, multi-specialty, independent medical group. It works in partnership with the Sault Ste. Marie & District Group Health Association in operating the Group Health Centre.
Group Health Centre


ALGOMA WEST ACADEMY OF MEDICINE(AWAM)
Physicians in Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma District are members of the Algoma West Academy of Medicine. Some members are in private practice, some work at the Sault Area Hospital and others are under the Algoma District Medical Group (ADMG) at the Group Health Centre.

HEALTH UNITS
ALGOMA HEALTH UNIT
The AHU is committed to supporting healthy communities by providing a continuum of quality health services throughout the Algoma District. The goals of this organization are to: aid people in attaining an optimal level of physical, mental, emotional and social health; to reduce communicable diseases; and to protect the public from adverse health consequence of exposure to toxic substances and conditions in the home, public place or workplace.
www.ahu.on.ca/

COMCARE HEALTH SERVICES
Comcare provides services in nursing, physiotherapy, home support, social work, speech language pathology and occupational therapy. Comcare is a community-based resource which is able to formulate, initiate, execute and document the health care strategy that best suits their clients’ needs.
www.comcarehealthnetwork.ca

ALGOMA COMMUNITY CARE ACCESS CENTRE
In Algoma, people of all ages, in homes, schools, long-term care facilities and places of work may access information, support and health care services from the Algoma Community Care Access Centre. The services we provide include: nursing, personal support, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, social work, speech and language therapy, nutrition therapy and placement services. These services are based on needs and are provided on a visitation basis. The services are provided at no cost to the client, as the Access Centre is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. For further information please visit us at
www.accac.on.ca

CHILDREN'S REHABILITATION CENTRE - ALGOMA
The Centre is dedicated to working with families in aiding children and youth with special long-term physical, perceptual or communication disorders or diseases.


NORTHERN ONTARIO SCHOOL OF MEDICINE(NORMED)
Opened in September 2005, the Northern Ontario Medical School is a joint venture of Laurentian University, Sudbury and Lakehead University, Thunder Bay. The main campuses are located in those cities with multiple teaching and research sties distributed across Northern Ontario.

In December of 2006, the School announced its support for the creation of a clinical research institute in Sault Ste Marie.  This institute will provide the infrastructure and a central gathering place for the network of research initiatives taking place all across Northern Ontario.  It will be a vital component for any scientist doing research in this part of the province.
www.normed.ca