Published on Dec 11, 2024

A New Vision for Integrated Seniors’ Care

St. Joseph’s Health System is making bold changes to create more connected care experiences across three campuses of care.

This fall, St. Joseph’s Health System (SJHS) announced new integrated leadership across its three campuses of care. This signals a new era of innovation at SJHS aimed at transforming health services beyond traditional boundaries, creating more connected care experiences, and ensuring a sustainable, thriving health system for future generations.

"We are making bold changes to advance health beyond boundaries and reimagine connected care to support individuals to live and thrive in our communities,” said Elizabeth Buller, President and CEO of St. Joseph’s Health System. "Not only does this advance our mission of compassionate care, faith, and discovery, it’s a necessary change for Ontario’s health system.”

St. Joseph’s Health System is one of Ontario’s largest not-for-profit long-term care providers with more than 1,000 beds across three campuses of care in Brantford, Guelph and Dundas. As a campus of care, each site is home to local and regional programs and services that support holistic care for patients, clients, residents, and families. Services include long-term care, complex care, rehabilitation, hospice and palliative care, community support and outreach services, respite and day programs, seniors housing, and behavioral support programs. There’s also more than 500 seniors’ housing units across SJHS, including low income, affordable, and market rate seniors’ housing — with room to expand.

As leader in seniors’ care, SJHS recognizes that the needs of aging populations are evolving. By 2028, the Canadian Medical Association projects that 21 per cent of all Canadians will be seniors, approximately 3.3 million people in Ontario. Designing solutions that allow individuals to age in place supported by an integrated system of care is key. The SJHS campus of care model supports this by designing connected communities, without the need for individuals to transition from one facility to another as their needs change. This vision not only supports SJHS’ mission, it’s also critical to addressing the broader societal challenges of aging populations.

"By having an integrated approach for the three organizations, we have a stronger chance to grow and generate new opportunities for everyone we serve – our residents, patients, care partners and our staff,” said John Woods, who was named Integrated President of St. Joseph’s Health Centre Guelph, St. Joseph’s Villa Dundas and St. Joseph’s Lifecare Centre Brantford on October 3.

Woods has worked in the SJHS community for more than 30 years. Most recently, he served as President of St. Joseph’s Health Centre Guelph, Interim President of St. Joseph’s Villa Dundas and Vice President of the SJHS Nunavut Partnership. He has also served as Interim President for St. Joseph’s Home Care and St. Mary’s General Hospital. John is a Governing Council member of the Catholic Health Alliance of Canada and past chair of the Catholic Health Association of Ontario. Through this rich experience, Woods has a broad perspective on Ontario’s health and long-term care sectors.

"I always wanted to understand the whole of healthcare — community, acute and long-term care — and these experiences provided me with a window into Ontario healthcare that will help drive change in this integrated role,” said Woods.

Woods is an advocate for integrated care designed at the point of care and measured from the perspective of clients. He’s passionate about removing barriers or boundaries, allowing healthcare professionals to build different models of care that are tailored to each individual.

"Programs designed at the point-of-care are more powerful. I’ve watched front-line teams go from "that’s impossible” to making it work – all by keeping their patient, resident, or client at the centre of the model.”

Building on this integrated leadership transformation at SJHS, Woods named an Integrated Chief Operating Officer, Mieke Ewen, who will work collaboratively to provide leadership support at St. Joseph’s Villa Dundas and St. Joseph’s Lifecare Centre Brantford. Mieke joins Sandra Ramelli, who is the Integrated VP of People and Strategy at St. Joseph’s Health Centre Guelph and St. Joseph’s Lifecare Centre Brantford as well as Natalie Hovey who is Integrated VP Finance, Information Services & CFO at St. Joseph’s Lifecare Centre Brantford and St. Joseph’s Health Centre Guelph, as part of an evolving campus of care leadership team.

Creating an integrated leadership approach across three campuses of care is one way that SJHS is boldly transforming care. There’s also integration happening at the leadership and front-line levels at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton and St. Joseph’s Home Care through their hospital to home program. There’s also growing connections between St. Joe’s Hamilton and St. Joe’s Villa, such as the Reactivation Care Centre. All these connections help leaders and staff to amplify innovative seniors care solutions and advance health across the continuum of care — from acute, to home care, to long-term care ­— and beyond boundaries.

"Integrated leadership maximizes our resources and expertise to improve models of care. For example, we have a critical mass that will enable us to strengthen quality, align our strategy and finances, ultimately improving care experiences for those we serve.”

For Woods, taking on this unique integrated role advances SJHS’ mission by continuing to grow all campuses as integrated care hubs where teams of healthcare professionals help people navigate the healthcare system.

"Our campuses of care are vibrant health and social hubs where people can access not only healthcare, but things like transport options, seniors’ gyms, social supports, respite care to allow caregivers a break, personal care support with showering or getting their nails done,” said Woods. "We are already deeply embedded in and passionate about serving our communities. Now our structure better reflects that.”