» Being professionals in medicine, My Canadian Pharmacy www.mycanadianpharmacypro.com is permanently involved in studies of the market of medical services to be aware what is happening in the field. Having collected a lot of information, here we would like to share with you our considerations on the most prominent hospitals in Canada but after a brief introduction to the issue.
After launching in 2013 the famous initiative by CBC-TV’s fifth estate – Rate My Hospitals, which is a ranking website including information on 240 Canadian hospitals based on the CIHI’s data, you may think it is now easy to find out what is the best health facility in Canada. But the matter is that almost four years later the data is still the same and sometimes lack of necessary information, as many hospitals have rejected to support the project and complete a survey.
That was the reason why we have explored many sources to figure out, if any of important medical facilities slipped from our sight. Here you find our ranking of Canadian hospitals offering both comprehensive and highly specialized healthcare services. Please note, our evaluation does not include Canadian branches of international healthcare networks with foreign administration.
1. St. Joseph’s Health Care, London, Ontario
Although small facility, St. Joseph’s Health Care in London is one of the most outstanding country’s research and teaching hospitals. Together with London Health Sciences Center, it was ranked #7 in Canada’s Top 40 Research Hospitals 2016 by Research Infosource Inc. The main research base of the hospital, Lawson Health Research Institute aims primarily not only obtaining theoretical knowledge but finding practical ways to improve quality of patients’ care.
St. Joseph’s Hospital was founded as far as in 1869 and, since that time, takes care of patients in South Ontario. With 70 beds only, the Hospital has more than 4,500 physicians and staff, serving about 400,000 patients a year.
The key specializations of St. Joseph’s are:
- Acute/ambulatory treatment;
- Rehabilitation and long-term care;
- Veterans care programs;
- Special geriatric care;
- Specialized mental health care (forensic).
According to the fifth estate St. Joseph’s has A+ grade in 4 of 5 main evaluating indicators as mortality rate after surgery, readmission after surgery and nursing care level. My Canadian Pharmacy will hardly overestimate this respectable institution with almost 150 years of experience saying it is a top choice in Southwestern Ontario.
Visit official website: www.sjhc.london.on.ca
2. The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario
The Ottawa Hospital in the capital is another reputable medical facility involved in research activities. The Hospital fluctuated between 5th, 6th and 7th positions in Research Infosource Inc ratings based on the data of 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 with $133,688 spent for researches in 2015.
The Ottawa Hospital is one of the largest medical enterprises in Canada with 1122 beds, 10 research facilities, 6 scientific labs and 677 active clinical trials according to their website.
The hospital has three sites in Ottawa:
- Civic Campus including: Emergency Department, Trauma Services, Surgery Clinic, Spinal Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Cardiology, Neurosciences, Breast Health Centre, Family Health Care, Geriatric Centre, Weight Management Clinic
- Riverside Campus including: Eye Care Centre, Arthritis Centre, Endocrine and Diabetes Centre, Women's Health Centre, Nephrology, Family Health Team
- General Campus including: Regional Cancer Program, Bone Marrow Transplant, Chest Diseases Centre, Thoracic Surgery, Robotic Surgery, Joint Replacement, Emergency Department, Rehabilitation
The Ottawa Hospital is recommended for those who need complex examination and treatment in multidisciplinary centre.
Visit official website: www.ottawahospital.on.ca
3. Upper River Valley Hospital (URVH), Waterville, New Brunswick
Upper River Valley in Waterville is a brand new medical facility opened in 2007 but it has already earned the reputation of the most technologically advanced hospital in Canada according to Top Master's in Healthcare. It is the only Canadian hospital in the ranking of Top 30 World’s hospitals and a first medical facility in Canada got LEED certification, which is environmental standard.
Run by Horizon Health Network, URVH serves an area with 45,000 populations and offers 52 beds for inpatients. The annual budget of the facility is about $70 millions.
There are approximately 800 employee, including 50 physicians in URVH providing comprehensive service in the following clinics:
- Asthma Clinic;
- Blood Transfusions;
- Chronic Wound Clinic;
- Diabetes Clinics;
- Dialysis (Hemodialysis);
- Eye Clinic;
- Facture/Orthopedic Clinic Prenatal Assessment Clinic;
- Geriatric Assessment Clinic/Healthy Aging;
- Lipid Lowering Clinic;
- Pediatrics Clinic;
- Oncology Clinic;
- Obstetrics Clinic;
- Vital Cardiac Triage Clinic.
There are also advanced Diagnostic Center on site with new medical equipment for complex diagnostics. URVH is a participant of Publics Health Programs supporting overall health in the population, as pediatrics programs, immunization programs, sexual health care, HIV testing etc.
4. Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Ontario
Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, which is a part of University Health Network, Toronto is the biggest out-and-outer oncology center in Canada, and one of the best in the World. Top Master's in Healthcare has ranked the Center #7 in Top 30 of the most advanced cancer centers in the World. A huge number of scientific papers Princess Margaret published in a period from 2013 to 2015 keeps it #4 among the 5 most published and cited research centers in the World.
The focus of Princess Margaret is not only theoretical aspects of oncologic researches, but, in the first place, clinical approach. The scientific labs are closely related to clinics and inpatient units to have cooperation with practicing oncologists, radiologist and other specialists.
There are both inpatients and outpatient programs in the Center, including treatment using latest scientific advances in the field of microbiology as stem cell researches, cell signaling, genomics, proteomics and bioinformatics.
Princess Margaret has outstanding modern facilities and amenities offering high level of comfort to the patients, as well as psychological and spiritual care for patients. Totally, there are 26 specialized clinics at the Center with more than 3000 employees that are able to provide services for approximately 400,000 patients annually. Having treatment at the Center often means successful cure.
Visit official website: www.uhn.ca
5. Chaleur Regional Hospital, Bathurst, New Brunswick
Chaleur Regional Hospital is the largest medical care facility of New Brunswick based under authority of the Acadie Bathurst Health Authority. The hospital offers comprehensive services for people of the province.
Athough Chaleur Regional Hospital is not as famous as those named above, it is ranked among the best medical enterprises if Canada in Rate My Hospitals ranking by the fifth estate. It has only A+ and A grades in all of the categories with striking low indicators in mortality rate after major surgery as 2,36 against 8,62 national average and rather high indicators of nursing care level, which is one of the most sensitive categories of evaluation tough to comply for many hospitals. The Chaleur Regional Hospital is a partner in the nursing programs at the Université de Moncton and the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton.
There are 215 beds in Chaleur Regional Hospital and about 120 physicians.
The Hospital offers the following specialized services:
- Obstetrics/ Gynecology;
- Pediatrics;
- General therapy including;
- Internal medicine including kidney dialysis, gastroenterology, nephrology;
- Surgery including orthopedics, gynecology, plastic, thoracic and other;
- Dental Services;
- Eye center and surgery;
- Deaf people care program;
- Psychiatry;
- Palliative Medicine;
- Intensive Care Unit.
Together with rehabilitation services in partnership with the Shriners, Chaleur Regional Hospital covers all branches of medicine and gives comprehensive solutions to the patients.
Visit official website: www.vitalitenb.ca/en/points-service/chaleur-regional-hospital
6. Sturgeon Community Hospital Foundation, St. Albert, Alberta
Sturgeon Community Hospital Foundation in St. Albert, which is one of the best according to the fifth estates’s ranking, does not involve in advertizing much whilst it plays an important role in the life of Sturgeon Community. The facility was opened in 1970 and offers 167 beds for the patients and 24/7 emergency care.
Among the services provided by the hospital team you will find:
- Cardiac Rehabilitation, including Coronary Care Unit (CCU);
- General surgery;
- Radiology services;
- Pediatrics, obstetrics;
- Addiction and mental health care.
The Hospital is also involved in a Sexual assault response program offering help to those, who suffered from physical violence. In 2015 the Hospital Administration announced future investments to Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, program of surgical equipment enhancement and researches with a focus on orthopedics. The Sturgeon is going to become a centre of excellence in upper extremities orthopedics surgery, Wally Monson, the Chair said.
Visit official website: www.sturgeonhospitalfoundation.org
7. The Credit Valley Hospital (Trillium Health Partners), Mississauga, Ontario
Opened in 1985, the Hospital is a part of Trillium Health Partners and now ranked as the best medical facility in the Greater Toronto Area.
The Credit Valley offers 382 beds and specializes in the services as following:
- clinical genetics;
- obstetrics and gynecology;
- maternal and child care;
- general medicine;
- cardiac services;
- renal care;
- oncology;
- surgery.
There is 24-hours emergency unit in the Hospital and 2 neonatal intensive care units; Credit Valley is the best in the province in terms of reducing ER wait time. The Hospital is the member of satellite program of the Hospital for Sick Children in pediatric oncology.
Visit official website: trilliumhealthpartners.ca/Pages/default.aspx
8. The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario
The Hospital for Sick Children, or SickKids, is internationally recognized medical facility which claims being the second largest pediatric research hospital in the world. SickKids is affiliated with the University of Toronto as a teaching hospital and contributes into researches in children’s diseases; the most known achievement in the field was studies on the cystic fibrosis gene discovered in 1989.
From the long list of the SickKids specialties we would like to mention the following:
- Cancer Genetics;
- Clinical and Metabolic Genetics;
- Cardiac medicine including cardiac transplantation and vascular surgery;
- Immunology and Allergy;
- Tele-medicine;
- Mental Health Program;
- Occupational medicine and art therapy.
Everyone wants to be in SickKids and, undoubtedly, they are the best choice you can make taking care of your child. The Hospital for Sick Children is the top pick of My Canadian Pharmacy Mycanadianpharmacypro.com in pediatrics not only through their medical services but also because of their philosophy of compassionate care with individual approach to every small patient.
Visit official website: www.sickkids.ca
9. Shouldice Hospital, Thornhill, Canada
Shouldice Hospital in Thornhill is a recognized country centre in abdominal wall hernia surgery. The surgeons of the Shouldice perform more than 7000 hernia repair annually with a 99.5% success rate, which is impressive. A complication rate of 0.5% is the lowest indicator of the kind in the world.
Shouldice Hospital was founded in 1945 and now it has 89 beds that is, probably, not enough as with its growing popularity not only between Canadians but also abroad the hospital is often fully booked. Hospital inner statistic says that patients from 115 have undertaken a trip to the Shouldice for hernia repair. The clinic works on a walk-in basis (non-appointment) and sometimes you may wait for a long to see a physician.
The service includes not only surgery itself but also preparation and recovery programs. The patients, who recommended losing the weight before surgery, are suggested a specially designed course under supervising of hospital dieticians. As well as the patients are offered rehabilitation follow-up programs with monitoring of the recovery.
An on the top of that, the Shouldice Hospital is situated in a beautiful estate-like property near Toronto with all the facilities for a comfortable stay. If you tend to be trendy and, at the same time, wish to have quality treatment, the Shouldice is your choice.
Visit official website: www.shouldice.com
10. Cambie Surgery Centre, Vancouver, British Colombia
My Canadian Pharmacy mycanadianpharmacypro.com takes the risk to include in our survey the only private hospital in this list and one of the few in the country. We are not here to view Canadian legislation, but we are concerned seeing how one of the first-class Canadian private hospitals experiences difficulties staying in British Colombia on the legal base. Dr. Brian Day, the owner of the Cambie Surgical Centre, seems is in permanent opposition with local administration, as offering private hospital stay to the citizens considered a nearly illegal action.
The Cambie Surgical Centre was founded in 1996 as an alternative to national Health Care system involving people in the long waiting for the services. Private facility offers sport medicine and orthopedic surgery services and is recognized as one of the most technically advanced medical centers in Canada with patients coming not only from all over the country but also from abroad. In 2003 the Centre opened an extension and offers now 6 operating rooms, and 3 of them equipped with digital systems.
Orthopedics is not the only specialization of the Centre, the full list of Cambie’s surgical services includes:
- Orthopedics;
- Plastic and Cosmetic surgery;
- General surgery;
- Gynecology;
- Ophthalmology;
- Urology;
- Ear, Nose and Throat;
- Pediatric Dentistry.
Patient safety and comfort is the first priority of the staff in Cambie. Nationally and internationally renowned surgeons work here ensuring the high safety of the surgery. The Cambie Surgical Centre is a reasonable option for those who want to skip waiting lists and have surgery with comfort and personal attention.
Visit official website: www.cambiesurgery.com
» Hope you our list of the best Canadian hospitals will benefit you in familiarizing a number of trusted medical facilities. For sure, it may be longer, if you start your own research. Good luck to you.