Western Updates and Pictures The Neuroscience Program at Toronto Western Hospital is at the forefront of providing the most advanced care for patients with neurological disease and disability. The new building, which will house the Neuroscience Centre, will be an impressive physical structure to heighten the profile of an already world renowned program. The Neuroscience program serves as a major referral base for patients across Canada and internationally, and provides treatment for some of the most complex cases on a daily basis. It is also a leading training centre for Canada's top neurosurgeons and neurologists. Neuroscience research is focused on numerous investigations, including: stroke prevention for those at risk, movement restoration post spinal cord injury, improvement of the neurological deficits caused by Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Tourette's syndrome, relief of chronic pain resulting from damage to the nervous system, vision restoration post stroke or brain tumor and development of novel therapies for patients with brain tumors to lead normal lives. The staff, patients, physicians, and researchers at the Toronto Western Hospital are looking forward to the new and exciting changes. Everyone is eagerly awaiting completion of the new West Wing. The new building allows the Neuroscience Program to aggregate the neurology and surgery components into one area. The West Wing will house ambulatory services, and provide direct access to inpatient areas. These changes will serve to improve the continuity of care provided at the hospital.
	North face view of the New Bathurst Centre and the West Wing at Toronto Western Hospital.
What We've Done So Far Located on the south side of the campus, the newly renovated Toronto Western Hospital Emergency department was opened on March 19, 2001. This bright space is approximately 20,000 square feet and will improve efficiency in patient care, and allow for growth in patient visits. At full capacity, the new Emergency department has 39 beds. It is anticipated that the facilities will treat approximately 43,000 patients per year. The new space accommodates three "care streams" that will ultimately expedite patients through the system. Upon arrival, a patient will be assessed to determine the level of care required and admitted to fast track, subacute or acute area where a patient will be treated by health professionals. Highly sophisticated technology will be housed in the new Emergency department. Staff are anticipating the implementation of the patient tracking system. This system will keep precise and detailed information about every patient. It also tracks what tests have been ordered, what the results are, and how long a patient has been waiting in Emergency. It promises to provide comprehensive information that will expedite the process in the Emergency and ultimately enhance patient care. In other exciting areas at the Western, the West Wing that is being constructed will also be the new home of the Healthy Connections program. Healthy Connections is community-based, family oriented programming that provides culturally sensitive health services such as seniors' health, pediatrics, diabetic education and programs for people with chronic pain, addictions, and mental health problems. The new facilities to house these programs will serve to improve the continuity of care at Toronto Western Hospital.
This photo depicts a nurse station in the emergency department at TWH. Back to top	This is a view of the new emergency room patient area near reception.