The new $27-million medical innovation centre has been opened at Health Sciences North (HSN) in Sudbury.
The Labelle Innovation and Learning Centre is a world-class facility where existing and future health-care professionals will be able to train and learn new and innovative medical procedures.
The 28,000-square-foot facility is built onto the existing HSN complex. The facility is named after Marcel and Frances Labelle, of Cochrane, Ont., who donated $5 million toward the project three years ago.
The Labelle family are pioneers of Canadian industry and owners of M.J. Labelle Co. Ltd., specialty trade contractors who have contributed to building up Northern Ontario communities from Thunder Bay to Moosonee to New Liskeard.
Dominic Giroux, HSN's president and CEO, said the facility will provide training for up to 2,000 learners from 70 postsecondary institutions each year.
“This will have immediate and long-term benefits for patients of northeastern Ontario,” said Giroux.
“These future doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, technicians and paramedics will train on some of the most medically advanced equipment before moving on to their professional careers.
"There will be immediate benefits to patients as our current roster of HSN employees and physicians will also train in the simulation lab, while learners will help provide care to patients as they learn," Giroux explained.
Cambrian College president Bill Best was pleased with the opening.
“The Labelle Innovation and Learning Centre has been a project in the making for the past 10 years for a network of northern stakeholders, donors and community leaders, as well as HSN’s academic partners, including NOSM (Northern Ontario School of Medicine), Laurentian University, Cambrian College, and Collège Boréal,” said Best.
Similar sentiments came from Dr. Sarita Verma, the president and CEO at NOSM.
"Our strategic partnership with HSN is a key element in changing population health outcomes in Northern Ontario," said Verma.
"The opening of the new Labelle Centre will help drive innovation in health education. The next generation of NOSM-educated physicians and health professionals will greatly benefit thanks to the generosity of the Marcel and Frances Labelle Foundation."
For the hospital and the Health Sciences North Research Institute (HSNRI), the new centre will only strengthen the culture of continuous learning and research, said Dr. Greg Ross, vice-president of academic and research impact at HSNRI and HSN.
“We can bring all of our learners into one hub, closer to clinical activity. It means learners from all disciplines can work together to build confidence and problem-solving skills to optimize real world outcomes,” said Ross.
The hospital said the Labelle Centre features a simulation lab that includes three sim suites, three debriefing rooms, a multi-skills lab, and a classroom where learners train on the latest technology as they develop skills to care for patients.
The Learners’ Centre also includes a learner lounge, flexible classrooms that can accommodate up to 40 participants, offices that learners can use as quiet study spaces, for meetings with their preceptors, or to complete clinical work. The facility includes 10 sleep rooms for learners to rest as per accreditation requirements, said the hospital.
The total cost of the new centre was $27.9 million, with $22,826,100 in funding announced in 2018 by the Ontario Ministry of Health.
“The board of HSN also wants to acknowledge the support of the province, as well as from the HSN Foundation and from our generous donors,” said Giroux.
“We are excited about finally having one central location at the Ramsey Lake Health Centre for all learner activities.”
In addition to the Labelle family’s naming gift of $5 million, HSN acknowledged contributions from Crosstown Chevrolet ($500,000), BMO Bank of Montreal ($400,000), and TD Bank ($250,000), among other donors.
— Sudbury.com
