Annual Report 2025

INNOVATING TO CARE

Browse Report

2024/25 Annual Report to the Community

A Message from Our Leadership

Halton Healthcare by the Numbers

Unwavering Support

Financials

Board of Directors 2024/25

Executive Leadership Team

This past year has shown us what’s possible when a community comes together with a shared purpose: to care. At Halton Healthcare, our mission to deliver compassionate, quality, and integrated community hospital care continues to be inspired and shaped by the people we serve.

Our CARE framework – Connect, Advance, Respond, Engage – guides everything we do. It reflects our deep commitment to building strong partnerships, continually improving how care is delivered, staying attuned to the evolving needs of our communities, and fostering a culture that prioritizes safety, inclusion, and collaboration.

This year, we made significant strides through One Halton Healthcare – a commitment to working as one team, across all our sites and services, to deliver seamless experiences no matter where you access care with us. Rooted in our values of compassion, accountability, and respect, this work is driven by a shared goal: to provide inclusive, accessible care to our growing and diverse population.

We are strengthening connections within our hospitals and with the broader community to ensure the care we provide is better integrated, more responsive and forward-thinking. A key focus has been reviewing and optimizing our clinical programs and making sure we have the right people, structure, services and supports in place to meet the needs of our communities both now and in the future.

Crucially, we’ve been listening. Through community engagement sessions, internal town halls and input from our patients, healthcare providers and patient family representatives, we’ve gathered valuable insights. These conversations are shaping our future and ensuring our plans reflect the voices of those we serve.

We remain deeply committed to delivering care that is timely, efficient, and centered on the needs of our patients. Throughout this report, you’ll find stories that bring our CARE framework to life: from collaborative partnerships and advances in technology, to initiatives that enhance patient experience and support our teams. These stories reflect the heart of Halton Healthcare and our unwavering commitment to those we serve.

This year, Halton Healthcare was honoured with Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Culture Award by Waterstone Human Capital. This recognition reflects our people-first culture, and a workplace rooted in compassion, teamwork, and shared purpose.

Looking ahead, we remain focused on innovation, collaboration, and continued investment in our people. We will keep evolving to meet the changing healthcare needs of our community and ensure we remain a trusted partner in care.

To our staff, physicians, midwives, dentists, learners, volunteers, board members, Foundations, donors, and community members – thank you. Your dedication, support, and belief in our mission have made everything we’ve achieved possible.

Together, we are building a healthier future for everyone in our community.

Leadership Team

Dr. Cheryl Williams, Executive Vice President Clinical Operations & Chief Nursing Executive; Samantha Horn, Board Chair; Melissa Farrell, President & CEO; Dr. David McConachie, Chief of Staff.

CONNECT

Protecting Our Youngest Patients

Protecting Our Youngest Patients: A Milestone in RSV Prevention

Halton Healthcare, in collaboration with Halton Public Health, proudly launched the region’s first and only seasonal Paediatric RSV Immunization Clinic at Milton District Hospital. The clinic was established as part of the Ministry of Health’s new universal infant Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) prevention program, which expanded the criteria for those eligible to receive the immunization. While Halton Healthcare began offering the immunization to newborns in hospital, the clinic was established to create easy access for those with infants from newborn to 12 months, and high-risk children under the age of two to receive the immunization.

RSV poses a serious health risk to infants and young children, accounting for 30 to 40 per cent of paediatric hospitalizations during the colder months at Halton Healthcare. By prioritizing early prevention, the clinic made a meaningful difference — immunizing over 500 babies in just three months.

This initiative represents a crucial step in protecting our youngest and most vulnerable community members. It also alleviates pressure on our healthcare system by helping reduce RSV-related hospitalizations. Through proactive, community-centered care, Halton Healthcare continues to strengthen the health and well-being of the patients and families we serve.

Expanding Academic Partnerships

Expanding Academic Partnerships to Shape the Future of Medicine

Halton Healthcare has taken an exciting step forward in advancing its academic mission with the signing of a new affiliation agreement with Toronto Metropolitan University’s (TMU) School of Medicine. This partnership will welcome TMU medical learners into Halton Healthcare’s hospitals, where they will gain hands-on experience alongside experienced clinicians in a supportive, community-focused setting.

TMU now joins McMaster University’s Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, Halton Healthcare’s long-standing academic partner in medical education, in training the next generation of healthcare professionals. The addition of TMU as an academic partner reflects Halton Healthcare’s continued commitment to teaching, collaboration, and innovation in patient care.

By supporting future physicians through education and real-world clinical exposure, Halton Healthcare is helping to build a stronger healthcare system across the province.

Prescribing Nature for Better Health

In a groundbreaking step toward wholistic healthcare, Halton Healthcare has become the first hospital system in Canada to partner with PaRx, an innovative program that prescribes nature as medicine. This collaboration, launched in partnership with the Connected Care Halton Ontario Health Team (CCHOHT), reflects Halton Healthcare’s ongoing commitment to community wellness and innovative approaches to care, including social prescribing

Social prescribing is an approach in healthcare that shifts the focus from simply treating an illness by asking “What is the matter with you?” - to understanding and addressing a person’s overall well-being by asking, “What matters to you?”. It supports individuals in connecting with non-medical services and activities that promote physical, mental, and emotional health.

Through this initiative, residents across the region can receive a nature prescription from their primary care provider, granting them access to ten free visits to Conservation Halton Parks. Whether it's hiking scenic trails, spotting local wildlife, or practicing nature photography, individuals are empowered to improve their mental and physical well-being by spending time outdoors.

This is just one of the initiatives driven by Halton Healthcare and CCHOHT designed to support residents in building healthy, sustainable habits. By connecting clinical care with community resources, Halton Healthcare continues to pioneer innovative, nature-based health solutions right in our own backyard. Learn more about the PaRx program here.

ADVANCE

A New Pathway to Care in Oncology

Supporting the Transition to Adulthood: TAY Program

In response to the unique challenges faced by youth transitioning into adulthood, Halton Healthcare launched the Transitional Aged Youth (TAY) Program, designed to support individuals aged 18 to 25 as they navigate post-COVID recovery, mental health needs, and life transitions.

The program helps bridge a long-standing gap between child and adolescent services and adult mental health care. With over 30 referrals to date, the TAY program has become a vital support for young adults needing help with building structure, setting goals, and re-engaging with their communities.

At its core, the program emphasizes meeting people where they’re at – whether on college campuses, in coffee shops, or other community spaces – providing outreach, supportive counseling, and connections to appropriate services. Participants work on developing routines, rebuilding self-confidence, and acquiring essential life skills such as making phone calls, writing emails, and preparing resumes.

In addition to mental health support, the program also facilitates vocational and volunteer opportunities, helping young people gain exposure to work environments and social engagement.

The TAY program is helping youth rediscover their strengths, define a meaningful life path, and take confident steps toward long-term independence, bringing value to what they’ve already accomplished while supporting their next chapter.

A New Pathway to Care in Oncology

A New Pathway to Care in Oncology – The FOCUS Clinic

Advancing cancer care means ensuring our patients have direct, timely access to support whenever treatment-related symptoms arise. In March 2025, Halton Healthcare’s Cancer Program opened the Fast Oncology Care for Urgent Symptoms (FOCUS) Clinic. This specialized clinic was established to support patients undergoing cancer treatment, or who have recently finished treatment.

The FOCUS Clinic provides a dedicated space for oncology patients experiencing treatment-related symptoms who require additional medical support. The clinic optimizes patient flow though our chemotherapy suite and cancer clinic, resulting in the reduction of emergency department visits for this patient population.

Since launching in March, the FOCUS Clinic has provided crucial, timely, and specialized care to patients with cancer. Halton Healthcare has received excellent feedback from those who have received care in the clinic, via our patient experience survey.

This initiative connects oncology patients to the right care, at the right time, in the right place – reinforcing the compassionate care that Halton Healthcare is known for.

Advancing Joint Replacement with Robotics

In December 2024, Halton Healthcare took a major step forward in surgical modernization with the launch of the ROSA® Robotic Orthopedic Surgical Assist system for total knee replacements. This cutting-edge technology is enhancing patient care by delivering greater precision and improving overall outcomes.

ROSA® supports surgeons in achieving more accurate implant placement, which can lead to smaller incisions, reduced blood loss, less post-operative pain, and quicker recoveries. Patients also benefit from fewer complications and improved implant longevity, contributing to better quality of life after surgery.

Beyond clinical benefits, the introduction of ROSA® has also helped streamline the surgical process. By reducing both the procedure time and the length of hospital stays, the system allows for more surgeries to be completed without increasing bed occupancy. As a result, patient wait times for total joint replacement surgeries have decreased significantly.

This advancement reflects Halton Healthcare’s commitment to embracing new technologies that improve access to care and deliver better outcomes for patients across the region.

A New Pathway to Care in Oncology

Enhancing Cancer Care with Next-Generation Immunotherapy

Halton Healthcare is advancing cancer care with the introduction of T-cell engaging antibodies, an immunotherapy treatment now available for several oncologic conditions. This therapy empowers the body’s own immune system by redirecting T-cells to recognize and destroy cancer cells more effectively.

Recently approved by Health Canada for clinical use, T-cell engaging antibodies are now an option for patients with myeloma, lymphoma, and lung cancer – particularly those with advanced disease who have not responded to traditional treatments. This marks a significant step forward in expanding access to new, highly effective therapies closer to home.

This initiative is a partnership between internal departments such as the ICU and externally with our Regional Cancer Program, William Osler Health System, Trillium Health Partners, Juravinski Hospital, and Ontario Health-Cancer Care Ontario.

As part of our commitment to delivering leading-edge treatment options, Halton Healthcare is proud to offer this new hope to patients and families facing complex cancer diagnoses.

RESPOND

Planning for Tomorrow’s Care, Today

In August 2024, Halton Healthcare launched an organization-wide Clinical Service Plan - a bold strategic vision for how we will meet the evolving healthcare needs of our rapidly growing communities across our three hospitals and nine community sites. The plan outlines 10 clinical programs and 41 key initiatives that will guide service delivery now and into the future.

Rooted in extensive consultation with more than 250 staff, physicians, partners, and community members, the plan began with over 100 potential initiatives, which were refined and prioritized based on patient outcomes, community needs, and long-term sustainability. The plan is guided by four principles:

Care Intensification: Enhancing existing services to provide more comprehensive care.
Care@Home: Supporting access to care in people’s homes and communities.
Care Closer to Home: Addressing care gaps to reduce the need for travel.
Care Optimization: Managing care in new, more effective ways.

This work also sets the stage for Halton Healthcare’s Master Plan - a long-term roadmap that will guide the growth, location, and implementation of services across our hospitals and community sites over the next 20 years. Building on the Clinical Service Plan, the Master Plan ensures we remain ready to adapt, expand, and respond to changing population needs.

Through this work, Halton Healthcare remains committed to fostering an equitable, diverse, and inclusive environment for all patients, families, staff, and the communities we proudly serve.

For more information about our Clinical Service Plan, click here.

Planning for Tomorrow’s Care, Today

One-Day Workup: Streamlining the Transplant Process

Halton Healthcare has introduced a One-Day Workup - a streamlined process that allows transplant patients to complete all required referral tests in a single day. This patient-centered approach was developed in response to challenges identified within this population, aiming to reduce delays, improve access, and enhance the overall care experience.

By consolidating what was once multiple appointments into a single visit, the One-Day Workup significantly reduces the number of trips patients need to make and accelerates the overall transplant process. It’s a practical, compassionate solution that supports timely care while easing the burden on patients and families navigating a complex journey.

Planning for Tomorrow’s Care, Today

Bringing Dialysis Home: Supporting Patients Where They Need It Most

In November 2023, Halton Healthcare launched the Home Dialysis Assistance Program (HDAP), an initiative designed to bring equitable dialysis care directly into patients’ homes.

Nearly one third of our dialysis patients are able to manage their treatment independently through peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis at home. Some patients require in-centre hemodialysis three times a week. HDAP changes that.

Through this program, Registered Practical Nurses now visit patients in their homes to provide dialysis care, enabling even the most vulnerable individuals to access the same level of support and treatment as independent patients, without the burden of frequent travel.

Today, we’re proud to support about 30 patients in home, improving both quality of life and continuity of care.

ENGAGE

Breaking Language Barriers

Building the Future of Care – Together

For over 25 years, Halton Healthcare has delivered exemplary care to our growing and diverse communities. As we look to the future, we are evolving to meet the rising and changing needs of our patients and families. With Halton Region’s population expected to double in the next 20 years – resulting in the highest demand for acute hospital services in Ontario – we recognize the urgency and opportunity before us.

By 2043, pediatric population is projected to rise by 46%, while our aging population will require more complex and advanced care. At the same time, our increasingly diverse community calls for more inclusive and accessible healthcare approaches.

That’s why we’ve launched One Halton Healthcare, a bold, unified vision to integrate our care, people, and spaces across three hospitals and nine community sites. With five community engagement sessions and two staff sessions already completed, we are actively listening and planning with you, for you, and for our patients. And there’s more to come. Together, as one team with one vision, we’re rethinking how and where we deliver care, ensuring a seamless, patient-centered system that is prepared for the future.

Our commitment goes beyond infrastructure. We’re learning from best practices inside and outside our organization, using data, partnerships, and service evaluations to close gaps, improve outcomes, and enhance patient and clinician experiences. Guided by our core values – compassion, accountability, and respect – and supported by a structured change management framework, we are building a system rooted in excellence and equity.

Breaking Language Barriers

Supporting Nurses, Strengthening Care

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Halton Healthcare faced one of its most pressing workforce challenges: a vacancy rate exceeding 50% in our Emergency Departments, coupled with a shortage of experienced nurses to fill the gap. Recognizing the urgent need for both immediate support and long-term sustainability, we launched the Emergency Department Nurse Clinical Mentor Program.

This innovative program pairs new nurses with experienced clinical mentors who provide dedicated, real-time guidance and support. By fostering hands-on learning and confidence-building in a fast-paced environment, the program not only ensures safer, higher-quality patient care but also empowers our next generation of emergency nurses.

The results speak for themselves: vacancy rates have dropped dramatically to below 5%, nurse retention has climbed to 85%, and the burden on our seasoned staff has eased, allowing them to focus more fully on patient care and leadership.

This is just one example of how Halton Healthcare is building a stronger, more resilient workforce.

Breaking Language Barriers

Breaking Language Barriers: Enhancing Health Equity with Voyce

At Halton Healthcare, we are committed to providing inclusive, accessible care for every patient – no matter their language or background. This year, we advanced that commitment by adopting Voyce, a real-time interpretation service that is transforming how we communicate with our diverse community.

With access to over 240 languages and dialects via audio and more than 70 through video, Voyce enables staff to quickly connect (typically in under 30 seconds) with medically-trained interpreters. While Halton Healthcare has provided interpretation services to our patients and families for many years, this new platform has significantly improved our ability to provide timely, accurate, and culturally sensitive communication, especially for patients with limited English proficiency.

Since its implementation in June 2024, an interpretation call has been made every ninety minutes on average, amounting to over 104 hours of usage per month – demonstrating just how essential this tool has become in supporting both patients and care teams.

By making interpretation more widely available, Voyce enhances the clarity of conversations in clinical settings and deepens the human connection between patients and care teams. It ensures that every patient can fully understand their care journey and make informed decisions.

As our community becomes increasingly diverse, solutions like Voyce are essential in helping us deliver on our promise of exceptional, patient-centered care equally and effectively, for all.

Research

Over the past five years, Halton Healthcare’s Clinical Research Program has made significant contributions to the advancement of medical science and continues to achieve the key milestones necessary to expand this program. From trailblazing clinical trials to growing a strong internal culture of research, our journey reflects a deep commitment to evidence-based care and improved patient outcomes.

The vision for our research program has been guided by three key priorities: engaging physicians and departments in leading studies, streamlining participation through partnerships with Clinical Trials Ontario and the Ontario Cancer Research Ethics Board, and fostering strong relationships with academic and industry sponsors. These pillars have positioned Halton Healthcare as a respected player in the clinical research landscape.

Our early efforts focused on high-impact fields like cardiology, nephrology, infectious diseases – particularly COVID-19 – and intensive care. We proudly became:

The only Canadian site to enroll patients in the international DARE-19 study. This study looked at whether the drug dapagliflozin could help people in-hospital with COVID-19, especially those with underlying conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, or kidney disease.
A pioneering Canadian site in the LOVIT ICU study, published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine. The study investigated whether high-dose intravenous vitamin C could improve outcomes for critically ill patients with sepsis.

These milestones are not just about recognition—they are about impact. Each trial represents a chance for our patients to access cutting-edge therapies and for our clinicians to lead in shaping the future of care.

Beyond international trials, Halton Healthcare is cultivating a thriving research culture internally. Our physicians and care teams are driving inquiries that translate directly into better care, including:

Exploring how to improve efficiency in hospital medicine
Reviewing and enhancing care for patients admitted during mental health crises
Assessing potential changes in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment
Investigating the use of Artificial Intelligence in radiology to predict fracture risk
Developing new methods for assessing pain in patients with dementia

A particularly exciting frontier is oncology research. Patients battling metastatic breast cancer and other malignancies now have access to promising new treatments without leaving their community.

We are committed to growing research across cardiology, critical care, neurology, nephrology, surgery, infectious disease, and mental health. As a community hospital, our diverse patient base offers valuable insights for external research partners, and our high standards of research integrity and patient safety ensure we remain a trusted collaborator.

As we look to the future, Halton Healthcare’s Clinical Research Program remains committed to bringing hope, innovation, and healing to the patients we serve, one discovery at a time.

Accolades

Celebrating a Culture of Excellence

Halton Healthcare is proud to be named one of Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures for 2024 in the Broader Public Sector category, an honour we are thrilled to receive for the second time, following our initial recognition in 2021. Presented by Waterstone Human Capital, this national award celebrates organizations that foster high-performing, values-driven cultures that contribute to long-term success.

This recognition is a testament to the dedication, passion, and collaborative spirit of our teams across Halton Healthcare. Over the past three years, our culture has been evaluated on key dimensions such as leadership, vision, organizational and individual performance, and corporate social responsibility, all of which reflect our ongoing commitment to excellence in patient care and community service.

Together, we continue to shape a workplace culture that empowers people, drives innovation, and delivers impact.

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Halton Healthcare Honoured for Innovation in Restorative Breast Cancer Care

Halton Healthcare is proud to be recognized by Ontario Health with a Quality & Innovation Award for its pioneering work through the Restore-Me After Breast Cancer Clinic. This recognition celebrates our commitment to advancing equitable, high-quality care that supports the full recovery and wellbeing of breast cancer survivors.

The Restore-Me Clinic is the first hospital-based service in Ontario to offer world-trained, physician-funded 3D nipple-areola complex (NAC) tattooing, a critical but often overlooked final step in breast reconstruction. For many survivors, the physical restoration of the breast through NAC tattooing marks a turning point in reclaiming confidence, identity, and mental health following cancer treatment.

Historically, access to high-quality NAC tattooing has been limited to costly private clinics, creating financial and geographic barriers for patients. While OHIP does fund this procedure when performed by a physician, such services are rare and inconsistently available. By embedding this service within the hospital and ensuring it is provided by a physician, Halton Healthcare has created a sustainable, equitable model that eliminates the need for out-of-pocket costs and makes comprehensive post-cancer care more accessible. Patient response has been powerful. Referrals to the Restore-Me Clinic are growing rapidly, with half initiated directly by patients, a testament to the clinic’s impact and the growing awareness of its importance. Interest from physicians across Canada further underscores the model’s potential for national adoption. Through this initiative, Halton Healthcare is not only restoring bodies, but also dignity, confidence, and hope.

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Halton Healthcare - By the Numbers

167,437 Emergency Department Visits

35,796 Inpatient Admissions

372,911 Outpatient Visits

41,410 Surgeries

368,936Diagnostic Services

5,126 Babies Born

969 Professional Staff

5,347 Staff

450 Medical Learners

1,270 Volunteers

3,655,285 Laboratory Tests

805,083 Patient Meals Served

Each of Halton Healthcare’s three hospitals is fortunate to be embraced and strengthened by the efforts of its own distinct foundation and volunteer organization.

Volunteers

We have the privilege of working with over 1,260 volunteers who donate their time and talents throughout our hospitals. They reach out to our patients and their families, as well as staff, with compassion and comfort, and add a “personal touch” that is so invaluable to enhancing the patient experience and improving our hospital’s culture of care.

Each of our three volunteer organizations are also registered charities raising much needed funds to support the purchase of equipment for their respective hospitals.

Foundations

Each Foundation actively supports its respective hospital and continues to achieve great success in fundraising. The spirit of giving is critical to supporting the innovative care provided to our patients and families.

Donations support the immediate and ongoing needs for the purchase of vital equipment, program enhancements as well as or hospital renovations or expansions. They have a significant and lasting impact on the quality of healthcare we can provide to our communities.

We are forever grateful to our volunteer organizations and foundations for their unwavering commitment and dedication to our hospitals.

For this year ended March 31, 2025

Revenue		2025
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care	$	595,800
Interest income		7,664
Other operational income		92,452
Deferred grant amortization		10,385

		706,301

EXPENSES		2025
Salaries, wages and benefits	$	502,824
Supplies and other expenses		110,054
Medical and surgical supplies		40,085
Drugs		41,206
Equipment amortization		14,314
		708,483

Excess of revenue over expenses before building Interest and amortization		(2,182)
Building interest and amortization		(2,634)
Excess of revenues over expenses • Expressed in thousands	$	(4,816)

Audited financial statements for the year-ended March 31, 2025 are available here.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2024/2025

Pankaj Arora
Bob Aziz
Sharon Barkley
David Bronicheski
Samantha Horn
Karen McClure
Ken McDermot
Stacey Nagle
Indira Naidoo-Harris
Richard Nunn
Anne Marie O’Donovan
Neetika Sathe
Riccardo Trecroce
Melissa Farrell
Dr. David McConachie
Dr. Cheryl Williams
Dr. Meghan Daly
Dr. Ausma Ahmed
Dr. Margaret Gordon

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM

Melissa Farrell, President & CEO
Dr. David McConachie, Chief of Staff

Kent Baartman, Interim Chief Financial Officer
Monica Bettazzoni, Interim Chief Operating Officer, Milton District Hospital & Georgetown Hospital
Dr. Stephen Chin, Interim Vice President, Medical Affairs
Al Coady, Senior Vice President, Redevelopment, Facilities & Retail Operations
Thomas Ferns, General Counsel & Chief Legal, Risk & Privacy Officer
Brendan Kwolek, Chief Information & Digital Officer
Michele Leroux, Chief Human Resources Officer
Janet Skupsky, Interim Chief Operating Officer, Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital
Adrienne Spafford, Chief Communications Officer & Vice President, Strategy & Partnerships
Dr. Cheryl Williams, Executive Vice President Clinical Operations & Chief Nursing Executive

Annual Report 2025

INNOVATING TO CARE

Table of Contents

A MESSAGE FROM OUR LEADERSHIP

Protecting Our Youngest Patients: A Milestone in RSV Prevention

Expanding Academic Partnerships to Shape the Future of Medicine

Prescribing Nature for Better Health

Supporting the Transition to Adulthood: TAY Program

A New Pathway to Care in Oncology – The FOCUS Clinic

Advancing Joint Replacement with Robotics

Enhancing Cancer Care with Next-Generation Immunotherapy

Planning for Tomorrow’s Care, Today

One-Day Workup: Streamlining the Transplant Process

Bringing Dialysis Home: Supporting Patients Where They Need It Most

Building the Future of Care – Together

Supporting Nurses, Strengthening Care

Breaking Language Barriers: Enhancing Health Equity with Voyce

Research

Accolades

Celebrating a Culture of Excellence

Halton Healthcare Honoured for Innovation in Restorative Breast Cancer Care

Volunteers

Foundations

We are forever grateful to our volunteer organizations and foundations for their unwavering commitment and dedication to our hospitals.

FINANCIALS

Statement of Operations (expressed in thousands)

For this year ended March 31, 2025

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2024/2025

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM