Two become one ... hospital amalgimation complete

The amalgamation of the North Bay General Hospital (NBGH) and Northeast Mental Health Centre (NEMHC) is now complete.

Officials with the North Bay Regional Health Centre celebrated the completion Friday, by introducing the board of directors and a new logo. In keeping with amalgamation the North Bay and District Hospital Foundation changed its name to the North Bay Regional Health Centre Foundation. The Foundation’s mandate will also include fundraising for specialized mental health.

NBRHC President and CEO, Mark Hurst said the two organizations have been working closely over the past decade planning, designing, and constructing the new health centre and amalgamating the two institutions was a natural step which they did willingly.

“Over the past 12 years we took advantage of many opportunities to strengthen our partnership and began to share management of departments such as Food and Nutrition Services, Facilities Services, Pharmacy, etc. Our relationship has been very successful, and late in 2009, the Boards announced they would pursue full amalgamation.”

He says while the fit is natural there is still work ahead to change the cultures of the old institutions.

“The challenge today is as of today is to say it’s not them and us it’s us ... it’s just simply us.”







Nipissing MPP Monique Smith says the fact that all parties came to the table voluntarily made the whole process that much easier.