Endorsements from doctors and staff are nice, but no viable plan to raise funds is being presented by MAHC

Today yet another “yay, this plan is the best” press release from MAHC came out.

This time it was title Physician Leaders Support Transformative Regional Healthcare Plan for Muskoka (which is way too long, but what does a person with over two decades in the media know?).

And it the press release it states that the Medical Advisory Committee (MAC) of Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC), has provided a strong strong endorsement through a consensus statement in support of the proposed health system plan designed to transform regional healthcare delivery.

As well, the press release states that the committee’s endorsement comes after rigorous assessment and comprehensive feedback from care-providers and community stakeholders and is based on the potential of the plan to maintain and enhance healthcare quality across Muskoka and surrounding areas.

The endorsement is in italics as follows:

“We, the members of the MAC, fully support the updated plan for our regional healthcare system as presented by the Project Team. This plan, improved through valuable community feedback, serves as a strong foundation for enhancing healthcare across Muskoka and surrounding areas. It aims to effectively expand our system and ensure each community sees improvements.

The strategy is carefully designed to maintain fiscal responsibility, reflecting our commitment to responsible use of public funds. This financial stewardship is apparent in managing initial construction costs and ensuring sustainable operational expenses.

We are committed to actively collaborating with the Project Team to address any issues that arise as we implement this plan. Together, we aim to develop a forward-thinking healthcare system that meets current demands and is prepared for future healthcare challenges. Our support for this plan shows our belief in its potential to improve healthcare delivery in our region.”

The release goes on to state that the MAC calls on the medical community and local politicians to support this vital project, which represents a significant investment from the province in healthcare development for the region. And that the collaboration of all stakeholders is essential, particularly considering the tight timeline and existing financial and governmental constraints.

The endorsed plan signifies a strategic transition from operating two independent small hospitals to adopting a cohesive regional healthcare approach, where two interdependent hospital sites complement each other and the broader local health system. This strategy aims to improve and expand services, benefiting each community in the region. It includes thorough risk mitigation strategies and a commitment to ongoing collaboration with healthcare providers to effectively adapt and respond to operational needs.

Other non-essential information and self-congratulatory wording was used, as to be expected in a media release.

The MAC members are Chief of Staff Dr. Khaled Abdel-Razek; Chief & Director of Emergency Medicine Dr. John Simpson; Chief & Director of Diagnostic Imaging Dr. Jason Blaichman; Chief of Obstetrical Services Dr. Sheena Branigan; Chief of Surgical Services Dr. Hector Roldan; Chief of Internal Medicine Dr. Khaled Salem; Chief of Family Medicine Dr. Kristen Jones; Chief of Family Medicine Dr. Melanie Mar; Quality Lead Physician Dr. Keith Cross; Quality Lead Physician Dr. Caroline Correia; Chief Medical Information Officer Dr. Nick Biasutti; Chair of Pharmacy & Therapeutics Dr. David Johnstone; President of Credentialed Staff Association Dr. Allison Small; Vice President of Credentialed Staff Association Dr. Joseph Gleeson.

Now, it must be noted I have a lot of respect and admiration for several people on this list – specifically Dr. Simpson, Dr. Branigan, Dr. Roldan, Dr. Correia, and Dr. Biasutti – so keep that in mind as this piece continues, as I do not enjoy having to write the next parts.

It’s all well and good that these intelligent and talented people support a plan that stands to cost the taxpayers over a billion dollars but where does the money actually come from and shouldn’t we consider the better plan that was presented back in 2019.

There is no hiding the fact that the plan as it stands calls for every financial commitment being made to go to the same well time and again: the taxpayers of Muskoka.

I know, I know, I keep harping on this point – you know the one that has still not been addressed – about the dollars and cents of it all – and where the money is going to come from.

The proponents of the plan will tell you about municipal commitments, hospital foundation commitments, and provincial commitments, all while ignoring the elephant in the room . . . every government and health organization commitment is requiring all of us – in one form or another – to foot this bill.

No one in healthcare is taking a pay cut to make it happen (nor should they as I believe they deserve raises for their efforts) and they’re not dipping into their children’s college funds to pay for this.

Yet, they all expect us already over-taxed, underpaid and fed up citizens to find ways to pay for this unnecessarily huge project.

There are other options they are ignoring. They will tell us the province won’t pony up funds for a phased-in redevelopment of the existing sites – but they are not making any firm commitments to the two full service hospitals we were originally promised either.

And while all this wasting of time and money is taking place – seriously a waste of time and money every time there is a press release written, another inconsequential meeting held, or website made – we could have had shovels in the ground by now with a plan to renovate, rejuvenate and add to the existing sites.

Learn more about that background in this article: A Better Hospital Proposal Exists

Or by listening to The Chris O Show with guest Tim Withey.

I will conclude by stating this: If they can find a way to pay for this all that doesn’t bleed us dry of every last penny and create unbearable taxes in Muskoka, I’ll gladly put my full support behind this project.

Until they do: I’ll keep demanding that they Show Us The Money!