Women's College to build Ontario's only ambulatory hospital focused on women's health

Women's College responds with new state-of-the-art facility and stands as Ontario's only ambulatory hospital focused on women's health

Women's College Hospital together with The Honourable Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, and women representing Ontario's diverse communities, today announced Women's College Hospital is building Ontario's only ambulatory hospital focused on meeting the unique health care needs and priorities of women.

In announcing its new building, Women's College Hospital was responding to research it conducted and is contained in its report "A Thousand Voices For Women's Health". The research looked at what women in the province of Ontario want from their health care experience. The study, (involving 1,000 interviews with women from all walks of life, along with an omnibus survey of Ontario women), demonstrates that women seek a place of healing that goes beyond fixing bodily symptoms, and want help in preventing and managing their conditions while continuing to live a normal life at home, without inpatient hospitalization.  

"Today's event is a positive step forward in realizing the vision our government has for meeting the health care needs of women in this province," says Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care in Ontario. "I'm thrilled to see Women's College Hospital moving forward in preparing for its new role as an ambulatory care centre, and a provincial leader in women's health care, education and research."

Women's College Hospital is advancing women's health with an ambulatory hospital.  It will enable women of every age who are living with a complex array of health issues - like diabetes, cancer, heart disease, arthritis, osteoporosis, migraine and mental illness - to live healthier and more independent lives. It will deliver care without inpatient hospital stays that is proactive and preventative, respecting their individual needs due to their age, race, ability, religion, sexual orientation or life circumstance.

A Thousand Voices For Women's Health

According to Women's College Hospital's A Thousand Voices For Women's Health report, women are not satisfied with the care they receive and are often disappointed by it. In fact, 65 per cent of women say they often feel treated as a number rather than as an individual, and 70 per cent say they feel there is more of a focus on moving them through as quickly as possible instead of hearing what they have to say about their life circumstances and needs. Eighty-eight per cent of women say it is vital that health care facilities provide a holistic approach to health that treats the whole person, not merely parts of the body.  But only 43 per cent feel hospitals and health care facilities are successful at it.

In addition, 90 per cent say they want to be treated as an outpatient instead of being admitted.  They do not want to have to exit their life during ongoing treatment for complex conditions.  And 80 per cent of women surveyed want an organization that is knowledgeable about the sensitivities of women from diverse cultures and one that has put practices in place to help address these sensitivities.

"After 100 years, Women's College Hospital continues to be at the forefront of health care for women," says Marilyn Emery, President and CEO of Women's College Hospital. "Two years in the making, the report A Thousand Voices For Women's Health is informing the very design of our new state-of-the-art facility and will directly influence the way we deliver services and care. The report underscores that women are ready for and want the kind of care that Women's College Hospital is already delivering."