LGH’s Outpatient Care Centre renamed after philanthropists Denis and Joan Creighton
Lions Gate Hospital’s recently re-opened Outpatient Care Centre (formerly known as ambulatory care services) now has its official new name: Denis & Joan Creighton Outpatient Care Centre.
Lions Gate Hospital Foundation hosted a celebration and unveiling in late September to honour loyal donors Denis and Joan Creighton, well-known North Shore philanthropists who wanted to make a difference – even after their deaths. The couple bequeathed $2.5 million to the LGH Foundation’s LGH Now campaign.
Joan passed away in 2010 and Denis passed away in 2015. Throughout their lives, Joan and Denis were known for their public service and philanthropy. Not having siblings or children, the couple dedicated much of their time and efforts to making their community a better place, including Lions Gate Hospital, where Joan passed away after a long battle with leukemia.
Dr. Paul Sabiston and Coastal COO Karin Olson at the unveiling of the Denis & Joan Creighton Outpatient Care Centre at Lions Gate Hospital.
The celebration also provided an opportunity to revisit the origins of the OCC. Speaking on the history of the centre was orthopedic surgeon Dr. Paul Sabiston, whose involvement in the project began many years ago when he and nursing instructor Chantal Canessa started a modest pilot project to see preoperative joint replacement patients in a hospital clinic setting, which we now call JRAC (Joint Replacement Access Clinic). The centre started in an unused ward, shifted around until it landed in what is now the spacious and beautiful Denis and Joan Creighton Outpatient Care Centre.
“This outpatient facility is an example of what can be achieved when nursing, medical staff, administration and the community through the LGH Foundation work towards a common vision,” Dr. Sabiston said at the event. “Early on it was decided to expand the scope of the renovation to what we see today. Why do we need these services? Demographics are the driving force. There will be a sharp increase in demand for services peaking in the year 2030. If we have any hope of meeting demand, we need to be efficient, coordinated and all working together to provide quality care.”
As a result of the JRAC program, hospital stays have been reduced from an average of six days to three days.
OCC services include:
- Pre-Anesthesia Clinic
- Joint Replacement Access Clinic (JRAC)
- Rapid Access Spinal Clinic (RASC)
- Medical Daycare Infusion Clinic
- Respiratory Services
- Rapid Access Neurology
The OCC project is part of LGH Foundation’s $8.5 LGH Now campaign, which also includes the new Sacred Space, Foundation offices and Atrium Renewal Project.