Montfort Hospital

Hôpital Montfort - Facts and Figures (2013-2014)

Services

Montfort offers a wide range of care and services, including emergency services, surgery, a mental health program and a Family Birthing Centre.

History

Originally named Saint-Louis-Marie-de-Montfort, the hospital was founded in 1953. It was managed by the Daughters of Wisdom, a Catholic order, until 1969. At the time considered one of the most advanced hospitals in existence, it opened with emergency, surgical and radiology departments, a laboratory, 200 adult beds and 50 children’s beds. Its humanist approach quickly cemented the hospital’s important place in the community.

The hospital became non-denominational and public in 1970. Various projects over the ensuing years helped modernize the hospital and expand its range of services. The psychiatry and orthopedics departments, intensive care unit, cardio-pulmonary and electroencephalography services were introduced in the 1970s. The Montfort Long-Term Care Centre (formerly the Pavillon de la Sagesse), located behind the hospital, took it its first residents in 1978. The palliative care department was created a few years later. In 1992 the South Wing (currently Wing A) opened. It housed a number of departments, including the emergency department, the surgical unit and a new nursing care unit.

In the same year, the hospital signed an agreement with the University of Ottawa. The affiliation between the Faculty of Medicine and Montfort brought the clinical teaching of family medicine into a Francophone setting.

SOS Montfort

In 1997 the Health Services Restructuring Commission recommended closing the hospital. The public responded with immediate action and created the SOS Montfort movement led by Gisèle Lalonde. Below are a few important dates from the SOS Montfort period.

1997: The Health Services Restructuring Commission recommends the hospital’s closure (February 24)

1997: Creation of the SOS Montfort Movement (February 25)

1997: Public rally at the Ottawa Civic Centre attended by 10,000 demonstrators

1998: SOS Montfort and the hospital announce their intention to take legal action to overturn the instructions of the Ontario Health Services Restructuring Commission to close the hospital (July 28)

1999: The Ontario Divisional Court ordered the hospital to remain open (November 29)

2001: The hospital wins a victory in the Court of Appeal for Ontario against the Ontario Health Services Restructuring Commission; the hospital was to remain open (December 7)

The New Montfort

Three new wings have been incorporated into Hôpital Montfort since 2010 in addition to the two original wings, which have been completely renovated. The hospital’s total floor space has more than doubled, from 300,000 to 750,000 square feet. This project made it possible to deliver more care and services to a greater number of patients. The New Montfort officially opened on June 11, 2010.

Important dates

Here are a few key dates in Montfort’s history.

1953: Opening and official inauguration of the hospital and birth of the first baby (October 11)

1954: First residents and clerks from the University of Ottawa are assigned to the hospital

1956: Creation of the Ladies’ Auxiliary Committee (dissolved in the early 1970s)

1956: Opening of the Montfort School of Nursing (September); closed in 1971

1961: First affiliation contract with the University of Ottawa (December 28)

1974: Creation of the Auxiliaries/Volunteers Association

1986: Creation of the Montfort Hospital Foundation (April 1)

1989: Designation of the hospital under the French Language Services Act (November 19)

1990: First Health Sciences students from Cité collégiale are assigned to the hospital

1992: Affiliation agreement with the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, for instruction in French

1999: Creation of the Consortium national de formation en santé (CNFS) in partnership with the University of Ottawa

2010: Official opening of the New Montfort (June 11)

2012: Official opening of the Institut de recherche de l’Hôpital Montfort (IRHM) (March 7)

2013: Provincial designation as a Group A university teaching hospital (June 13)

2016: Launch of the Institut du savoir Montfort (January 4)

Foundation

As a partner of the hospital since 1986, the Montfort Hospital Foundation supports the hospital’s strategic development policies to more effectively meet the needs of its patients. Over the years, various major campaigns have taken place: “Sincerely Yours”, the SOS Montfort Resistance Fund and “Building a Unique Institution Together”. The Foundation also has many donors: the general public, community organizations, companies, charitable foundations and religious groups. The Montfort Angels program, the Newborn Club and the direct mail solicitation program are but a few of the Foundation’s programs.

Volunteers

The Volunteers Association has over 300 members. Each year they contribute over 60,000 hours of volunteer time to the hospital. Volunteers are a part of the hospital and contribute significantly to improving the quality of patient service.

Research

The Institut de recherche de l'Hôpital Montfort (IRHM) is a Francophone, interdisciplinary health research institute affiliated with the University of Ottawa. Founded in March 2012, the Institute’s purpose is to develop and implement innovative research programs that endeavour to help improve the quality of health care, especially among Francophone populations in minority settings. IRHM research priorities centre on the fields of mental health, primary care, nutrition and metabolism as well as family health.

Education

Hôpital Montfort is the only health institution in Ontario that provides clinical training in a Francophone setting. Affiliated with the University of Ottawa, the hospital’s educational activities encompass placements and teaching activities organized through numerous college and university programs, including medicine, nursing and rehabilitation. It also includes continuous training for health care professionals delivered in French.