(L-R) Mike Heenan, president, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Deputy Mayor Ted McMeekin, Dr. Andrew Healey, Chief of Emergency Medicine, Sera Filice, president & CEO, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation, MPP Monica Ciriello and MP Aslam Rana
Ontario Construction News staff writer
Renovations to the emergency department at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton are now complete, with upgrades aimed at modernizing the space, improving patient privacy and experience and enhancing security.
Ira McDonald Construction Ltd. was the general contractor on the project.
“Yesterday, our team had the pleasure of attending the Ribbon Cutting of one of our latest projects,” the company said on social media. “This project represents more than just construction – it’s a meaningful investment in the health, safety, and well-being of our local community.
“Congratulations to St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton and thank you not only to the entire project team, trades, and partners who helped bring this vital space to life, but the generous donors whose contributions made this renovation possible.”
Originally built more than 20 years ago, the emergency department renovations will help improve the delivery of high-quality, compassionate care at the city’s busiest emergency department.
“The reopening of our renovated emergency department highlights our commitment to ongoing and needed improvements throughout our hospital that support the exceptional, patient-centred care our teams provide,” said Mike Heenan, president, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. “Every change was made with purpose, to enhance safety, improve efficiency and ensure a more respectful and compassionate experience for our patients, their families and our dedicated care teams.”
The renovations include:
- A larger waiting area to accommodate more patients and families
- A new triage area to streamline assessments and protect the privacy and dignity of our patients
- More patient assessment bays to expedite the time between arrival and diagnosis and reduce wait times
- A redesigned security station that will enable the emergency department to be safer for patients, families, physicians, staff and learners
- A specialized EMS offloading area that will allow for direct patient transfers which will help with patient flow
“As someone who comes from an engineering background, I can truly appreciate the thought, coordination and effort that’s gone into delivering this expanded facility in a way that balances both urgency and quality,” said Hamilton Centre MP Aslam Rana. “From the redesigned triage areas to the new care bays and waiting rooms, this is more than just a renovation—it’s a reinvestment in dignity, efficiency and timely care.”
The $1.5 million renovation project was primarily funded by donations from our generous community of grateful patients and friends through the work of St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation.
The renovated emergency department opens to patients on August 6.
