This is an opinion column written by President and CEO Lynn Guerriero published in the St. Catharines Standard, Niagara Falls Review and Welland Tribune.
Niagara Health recently earned national recognition for the high-quality stroke care delivered at our Niagara Falls Hospital — receiving Stroke Distinction from Accreditation Canada.
This designation is the gold standard in stroke care. It means patients in Niagara are receiving some of the best stroke care in the country — from prevention and emergency treatment through to rehabilitation and home. It means we’re meeting the highest standards in every part of the stroke journey. And it reflects the expertise, compassion and coordination of the teams who deliver that care every day.
This recognition is a proud moment for our organization — and it’s also a sign of where we’re going. In 2028, Niagara Health will open the new South Niagara Hospital, which will include a Centre of Excellence in Stroke Care. This dedicated centre will bring together rapid stroke assessment, treatment, neurology clinics, and prevention services under one roof — helping patients recover faster, with fewer complications and better long-term outcomes.
If you’ve driven by the site, you’ve seen the progress. The concrete structure now reaches the tenth floor, and we’re nearly halfway through construction.
We’re investing in that future. Niagara Health is the first hospital system in Canada to begin installing a new fleet of next-generation CT scanners — offering faster, safer and more accurate imaging. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and the Niagara Health Foundation, this upgrade is bringing state-of-the-art technology to patients across the region.
And we’re focused on improving care today, especially where patients feel it most.
At our Marotta Family Hospital, we recently piloted a new Emergency Department Ambassador program. This role adds a trained support staff member in the waiting room to provide updates, assist with navigation and monitor patients for changes in their condition. The goal is to reduce stress, improve safety and offer clearer communication at one of the most difficult points in the care journey. Early results have been promising, and we’re looking at how to expand this to other sites.
We’re also reimagining ED waiting spaces to be more supportive — exploring options like softer lighting, patient recliners, family-friendly zones and calming visuals to help ease the strain of a difficult visit.
We're strengthening connections with primary care as well. Through SCOPE Niagara, family doctors can directly access specialists, nurse navigators and hospital-based resources to manage complex cases — often avoiding an ED visit altogether. More than 1,100 consults have taken place through SCOPE since April alone, with over 90% helping patients avoid unnecessary emergency care.
Of course, no part of the hospital system operates in isolation. One of the biggest barriers to improving flow is the number of patients who no longer need hospital care but can’t be discharged safely. At times, we’ve had more than 170 of these patients, sometimes referred to as Alternate Level of Care (ALC), in hospital beds — people who are ready to move on to long-term care, rehab, mental health or home care, but can’t because those supports simply aren’t available. When those beds stay full, it backs up every part of the system, especially Emergency Departments.
That’s why Niagara Health has introduced a new approach that’s already showing results. Our Niagara Health at Home program is designed to help eligible patients — particularly those with restorative or rehabilitative potential — to return home safely or, if in the Emergency Department, avoid a hospital admission altogether, with enhanced supports. It’s different from traditional home care because it begins in hospital, with a navigator working directly with patients to plan discharge, build trust in the care team, and establish a personalized plan. From there, patients are enrolled in a program of up to 16 weeks, depending on their needs. Since launching in December, the program has helped more than 300 patients return home or avoid a hospital admission and has contributed to a noticeable drop in ALC rates. It’s a reflection of our belief that people do better at home — and that the hospital should be a place for healing, not waiting.
We know the system is strained, but every step we take — through innovation, collaboration and an unwavering commitment to better care — is strengthening healthcare in Niagara today and for the future.
