Expanded ICU Possible Because of YOU!

In September 2023 the provincial government approved Brightshores Owen Sound Hospital for two additional Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds. Which meant that the hospital would now have eight spaces instead of six.

The government announcement meant that the province would support the staff to look after those patients. It meant donors would need to step up and take care of the rest. The physical rooms and spaces needed to be created. New beds needed to be purchased. Additional equipment to ensure that eight patients could all have their needs met at any given time.

A single patient can need up to 12 IV pumps, a ventilator, and a heart monitor. Not to mention any specialized equipment for more rare situations.

Amazingly and without question you stepped up. You responded. You gave during our Spring Mail campaign in 2024 that asked “a fully equipped ICU in Owen Sound is essential. Will you help?” Without question you did.

The ICU has grown. Walls were moved. Doors were changed. Spaces became patient rooms. A wall intersected the area that’s now ICU room 3701. In a building that’s now almost 40 years old creating functional useful spaces can be as big a boost to care as adding new equipment.

On top of preparing the physical space new equipment has been added to ensure that eight patients can receive care at one time. We’ve featured a lot of these devices before (you can find articles on ventilators and continuous renal replacement therapy in past issues of Support Report available our website) so we thought we’d highlight something new.

The Stryker Altrix Temperature Management System uses temperature controlled water flow through close contact body wraps to raise or lower a patient’s temperature depending on what the situation calls for. After the recent expansion your donations allowed the ICU to get a second unit knowing that with more patients situations will arise where multiple patients need this treatment at one time.

During critical situations time matters. Being close to home matters. Having more ICU beds in Owen Sound matters. They’re fully equipped to care because of you and that matters. Our community has an expanded ICU because of you and that matters.

Update (03/2026): the government has approved a further expansion of the ICU to 12 beds.

If you want to read more stories like this check out the latest issue of the Support Report