A $100,000 feasibility study aimed at bringing a clinical campus of Northern Ontario School of Medicine University to Sault Ste. Marie has identified three potential locations for the specialized facility.
"Three options for a location were identified and include Algoma Public Health, Group Health Centre, and Sault Area Hospital," says Tom Vair, the city's chief administrative officer.
"Based on the team's analysis and decision-making framework, Algoma Public Health and Sault Area Hospital represent the two most viable options for a new facility," Vair said in a report presented this week to Mayor Matthew Shoemaker and ward councillors.
"This was directly attributed to Algoma Public Health offering the least capital-intensive construction/renovation process and a quicker implementation plan, and Sault Area Hospital providing access to other hospital facilities with greater potential for future expansion."
The feasibility study was funded with $75,000 from the city and $25,000 from Sault Area Hospital.
A local clinical campus is being sought to help address Sault Ste. Marie's physician shortages and to improve access to health care in northern Ontario.
A primary care teaching clinic (PCTC) is considered the Sault's best bet for starting to address local health care issues.
It's a specialized facility within a health-care setting, providing medical students, residents and health-care professionals with hands-on training.
"This model has emerged as the most appealing option through our investigations and discussions with NOSM U, due to its ability to maximize the residents-to-physician ratio and generate a multiplicative effect," the feasibility study's authors conclude.
"The primary advantage of this model is its capacity to train multiple residents simultaneously in a supervised clinical environment, enhancing hands-on experience and accelerating the learning process. Training within an PCTC directly contributes to improved patient care by producing highly skilled physicians who enter the workforce more effectively.
"This boosts access to care, improves health care quality, addresses physician shortages, and leads to better patient outcomes. By adopting this model and consistently producing qualified physicians, the health-care system becomes more self-sustaining, ensuring long-term stability and growth in physician count both on a gross basis and relative to corresponding growth in undergraduate learner intake."
Now that the feasibility study is done, Vair says Shoemaker and city staff will work with NOSM U and local stakeholders "to advocate with the provincial government to advance this promising concept."
The Toronto office of BDP Quadrangle was lead consultant on the project, assisted by Avison Young, Human Space, and Hanscomb.
The following are remarks made by the feasibility study authors about the three possible locations in Sault Ste. Marie:
Algoma Public Health
The first opportunity explores the potential of the existing Algoma Public Health building, which offers approximately 8,000 to 10,000 square feet of available space for sublease.
The proposed vision for this option involves the renovation of these existing spaces, transforming them from traditional office settings to medical office facilities.
This approach would allow for the establishment of a teaching facility within a relatively short timeframe, particularly when compared to other alternatives, while integrating it into a modern, clinical campus environment within a well-maintained building.
A key advantage of this option is the strong support from Algoma Public Health, who is eager to maximize the utilization of its facilities.
Additionally, the capital expenditure requirements for this project are comparatively low. This opportunity would provide space for a single pod primary care teaching clinic, with potential for future expansion of an additional pod on the second floor.
A potential challenge could be the co-location requirements, depending on NOSM U's specific preferences.
This option offers several configurations within the existing floorplate that can accommodate the space requirements on both the first and second floors. After discussions with the Algoma Public Health team, it appears that a current vacancy on the first floor is the most suitable space.
Group Health Centre
The vision for the Group Health Centre property entails the potential demolition of the existing structure and the construction of a new, purpose-built facility.
This facility would not only replace the current building but also provide dedicated space for NOSM U’s programming.
One of the key advantages of this option is its unparalleled flexibility. The available building lot is larger than required, allowing for a design that can accommodate both immediate needs and future expansion.
Additionally, in alignment with the Group Health Centre’s strategic goals, the new facility could be integrated into a mixed-use development, incorporating residential spaces for staff and the broader community.
The inclusion of residential units or other complementary spaces offers the opportunity to generate income streams, which could be leveraged to offset both development costs and the required investment.
This approach would ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the project while enhancing the facility’s role within the community.
It is important to note that, while the Group Health Centre has a master plan vision for the site, this property can be developed independently and situated in the parking lot between the existing buildings
Sault Area Hospital
The proposed vision for the Sault Area Hospital option involves the construction of an extension at the south end of the existing facility.
This new, purpose-built structure would be designed specifically to accommodate the teaching and operational requirements of NOSM U's programming.
A significant advantage of this option is its seamless integration with the hospital, allowing direct access to its extensive resources and enabling the new facility to leverage existing hospital infrastructure, such as medical equipment, support services, and personnel.
However, a key consideration for this option is its alignment with the hospital's overarching master plan. The need for coordination with this broader framework introduces a longer timeline due to the additional planning, approvals, and logistical considerations involved.
Furthermore, hospital-imposed restrictions may limit the design flexibility and scale of the proposed facility, which could influence its final configuration. The adjacent graphic presents a preliminary layout for a four-pod PCTC, highlighting the relative floorplate dimensions required for development at ground level.
Alternatively, the space could be constructed as either a two-pod or four-pod configuration with a two-pod footprint by utilizing vertical construction.
It is also worth noting that this building could be developed as a stand-alone structure at a different location on the property, independent of the hospital. This approach may help streamline the planning process and facilitate faster project timelines.
If construction started in 2028, the escalated construction cost for a clinical campus at Algoma Public Health is estimated at $15.9 million.
A clinic based at Group Health Centre would cost $42.2 million.
If established at Sault Area Hospital, the cost would be $43.8 million.
The study's authors sought input from NOSM, Algoma University, Sault College, Garden River First Nation, Batchewana First Nation, Maamweysing North Shore Community Health Services, Sault Area Hospital, Sault Ste. Marie Academic Medical Association, Algoma Public Health, Algoma Ontario Health Team, Algoma West Academy of Medicine, Group Health Centre, Superior Family Health Team, Lady Dunn Health Centre, and the North Shore Health Network.
"The completion of the feasibility study is an important first step to advance the development of a clinical campus in Sault Ste. Marie," Vair said.