Provincial Prolonged-Ventilation Weaning Centre of Excellence and Long-term Ventilation

Michael Garron Hospital (MGH) is home to both the Provincial Prolonged-Ventilation Weaning Centre of Excellence (PWC) and the Long-Term Ventilation (LTV) Program within the hospital’s Complex Continuing Care Services.

MGH is working with the Ministry of Health and several other hospitals on a three-year pilot to improve the quality of life for patients who require ventilation. This Pilot will:

  • Help keep ICU beds available for those who need them the most.
  • Improve the quality of life for people requiring long-term ventilation by allowing these individuals to receive specialized care closer to home. 
  • Reduce unnecessary emergency department visits.
  • Coordinate long-term vent expertise from across the province and make it available for all Ontarians closer to where they live.
  • Coordinate existing resources from across the province to support better patient care. 

The pilot builds on the expertise of four hospitals that specialize in the support and care of people requiring long-term ventilation and those with complex respiratory needs.  These hospitals will support specialized providers that exist within their geographies to form three hub and spoke structures. 

More information about the hub and spoke model and participating specialized providers can be found below. 


Provincial Prolonged-Ventilation Weaning Centre of Excellence (PWC)

Michael Garron Hospital’s Provincial Prolonged-Ventilation Weaning Centre of Excellence (PWC) holds a mandate from the Ministry of Health as a Provincial Weaning Centre of Excellence. 

For many years, MGH’s PWC and Long-term Ventilation Program beds have been part of an informal network in Ontario that actively seeks to improve the care of prolonged and long-term ventilation patients through our clinical research program, partnerships and advocacy at all levels of the healthcare system.

MGH’s PWC is a specialized program for adult Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients who have stabilized from their acute ICU illness, but remain on a mechanical ventilator for more than 14 days and wish to try to breathe on their own. We are an eight bed inpatient acute care program comprised of a medical, nursing and inter-professional team that specializes in the care of patients with prolonged ventilation and persistent/chronic critical illness.

Our inter-professional team includes respirologists, nurse practitioners, nurses, personal care workers, respiratory therapists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, dietitians, pharmacists, social workers, psychiatrist, inter-faith chaplains, bioethicist and volunteers.

RM&R application is now available.For more information about the PWC for patients and families and for healthcare providers, please see the buttons below. 

PWC: Information for Patients and Families

PWC: Information for Healthcare Providers


Long-Term Ventilation (LTV) Program

Michael Garron Hospital’s Long-Term Ventilation (LTV) Program is a part of the hospital’s Complex Care Unit located on the 5th floor.

This LTV program provides a stimulating environment that enhances quality of life for ventilator-dependent patients. An interdisciplinary team of care professionals work collaboratively to support the care of individuals admitted to this program who require mechanical ventilation for all or part of a 24-hour period. 


Hub and Spoke Model

As a part of the Ministry pilot, MGH is part of a hub and spoke model acting as one of two Central hubs.

A hub and spoke model works like a wheel with the hub being the central point – in this case a hospital leading the pilot project regionally, and the spokes, being the community hospitals delivering the services. This structure will enable patients who previously required ventilation support in a select hospital to safely transition to a hospital or an alternate care setting within their community.  

Below is a list of hospitals currently linked to a hub site.  Additional hospitals will be added as the strategy expands. 

WEST HUB | London Health Sciences Centre

Spokes:

Region:

Alexandra Hospital

West

Alexandra Marine and General Hospital

West

Cambridge Memorial Hospital

West

Grey Bruce Health Services – Owen Sound Site

West

Guelph General Hospital

West

London Health Sciences Centre – University Hospital

West

London Health Sciences Centre – Victoria Hospital

West

North Bay Regional Health Centre – North Bay Site

North

St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital

West

Stratford General Hospital

West

Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital

West

Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital

West

Windsor Regional Hospital – Metropolitan Campus

West

Windsor Regional Hospital – Ouellette Campus

West

Woodstock General Hospital

West

CENTRAL HUB | West Park Healthcare Centre & Michael Garron Hospital

Spokes:

Region:

Grand River Hospital Corporation – Kitchener Waterloo Hospital

West

Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation – West Lincoln Memorial Hospital

West

Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation – General Hospital

West

Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation – Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre

West

Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation – McMaster University Medical Centre

West

Humber River Hospital – Wilson Site

Central

Lakeridge Health – Bowmanville

East

Lakeridge Health – Oshawa

East

Lakeridge Health – Ajax

East

Mackenzie Health – Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital

Central

Mackenzie Health – Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital

Central

North York General Hospital – General Site

Central

Oak Valley Health – Markham Stouffville Site

Central

Scarborough Health Network – Centenary Site

East

Scarborough Health Network – Birchmount Site

East

Sinai Health System – Mount Sinai Hospital

Toronto

Southlake Regional Health Centre

Central

Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre

North

Trillium Health Partners – Credit Valley Hospital

Central

Trillium Health Partners – Mississauga Hospital

Central

William Osler Health System – Brampton Civic Hospital

Central

William Osler Health System – Etobicoke General

Central

EAST HUB | The Ottawa Hospital

Spokes:

Region:

Blanche River Health – Kirkland

North

Brockville General Hospital – Charles St. Site

East

Hawkesbury and District General Hospital

East

Hopital Montfort

East

Kingston Health Sciences Centre – Kingston General

East

Lennox and Addington County General Hospital

East

Pembroke Regional Hospital

East

Queensway – Carleton Hospital

East

Quinte Healthcare Corporation – Belleville

East

St. Joseph’s General Hospital

North

The Ottawa Hospital – Civic Site

East

Contact & Referrals - Prolonged Ventilation
Phone
416 469 6580 x 6841
Fax
416-469-6670
Contact & Referrals - Long-term ventilation
Phone
416 469 6580 x 6104
Fax
416-469-6864
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