CEO Blog - Staying afloat through the pandemic's 'tidal wave'

April 1 marks the start of a new fiscal year for Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare and a new operating budget for 2022-2023.  Through additional government financial support, the organization’s financial health has never been better.  At the same time, hospital operations have never been more challenged from the human resources perspective.

As the COVID-19 virus continues to circulate in our communities even as we see restrictions and public health mandates being lifted, our staff are getting sick or must isolate at home because of a potential exposure.  Members of our communities continue to require hospital care, and inpatient occupancy consistently remains above 100%.  In addition, since March 29 we have been grappling with a COVID outbreak within one of our sites.  This is not only concerning but also puts immense strain on our staff.

In life we are being encouraged to get back to the way things used to be in many ways, however the impact of the pandemic on the health care system has only grown more taxing and challenging with wave after wave fatiguing those on the front line of care.  As COVID surges in the community, experts are calling this latest stage a “tidal wave” with estimates that Ontario is seeing 100,000 to 120,000 new daily cases.  Read more…