Laboratories

Regional laboratory for Champlain hospitals

OTTAWA – The Champlain Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) is now one step closer to the implementation of a regional laboratory that will see hospitals pooling their collective laboratory services. A regional lab means higher quality, more timely, and better integrated health-service delivery for local residents.

“This is the most advanced laboratory project in the province,” said Dr. Robert Cushman, CEO of the Champlain LHIN, which plans, coordinates and funds health services for a population of more than 1 million. “Patients at any hospital in the LHIN – for example, a toddler in Barry’s Bay or a senior in Hawkesbury, will have closer-to-home access to the best laboratory services in the region.”

Hospital laboratories conduct important work, such as testing blood and urine for chemical abnormalities and infectious disease, mostly for inpatients. The hospitals have collaborated for years to achieve a regionalized lab system in the Champlain region. The result is the Eastern Ontario Regional Laboratory Association (EORLA). A third-party review of EORLA’s plans has just been released.

Based on this review, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has endorsed EORLA’s business plan and strongly supports its aim to integrate hospital lab services in the Champlain region. In fact, the provincial government is providing funding to move the project forward. In addition to improving access to healthcare, such integration will support clinical programs at every hospital, standardize testing, and help curb costs.


EORLA List of Participants

• Almonte General Hospital
• Arnprior and District Memorial Hospital
• Carleton Place and District Memorial Hospital
• Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario
• Cornwall Community Hospital
• Deep River and District Hospital Corporation
• Glengarry Memorial Hospital
• Hawkesbury and District General Hospital
• Hôpital Montfort
• Kemptville District Hospital
• Pembroke Regional Hospital
• Queensway-Carleton Hospital
• Renfrew Victoria Hospital
• Royal Ottawa Health Care Group
• Sisters of Charity of Ottawa Hospital
• St. Francis Memorial Hospital
• The Ottawa Hospital
• The Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph Health Centre of Cornwall
• Hotel Dieu
• University of Ottawa Heart Institute
• Winchester District Memorial Hospital