Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre

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Barrie, ON
Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre

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RVH is a regional health centre in Barrie, Ontario, located 80 kilometres north of Toronto For more information visit www.rvh.on.ca

As the largest hospital in the region of Simcoe Muskoka, RVH’s team of over 350 physicians, 2,500 employees and 1,000 volunteers provides exceptional care and specialty services to almost half a million residents. RVH is focused on delivering high-quality, safe care that puts patients and their families first.

10/31/2026

The scariest part of Halloween shouldn’t be a trip to the Emergency Department. 🎃

🚨 A message from RVH’s Trauma Program

Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, bringing more people onto the roads for trick-or-treating, parties and celebrations. A few simple safety measures can help prevent serious injuries.

Here’s how we can all help keep Halloween fun, safe and out of the Emergency Department:

🚗 If you’re driving:
• Never drive impaired. Plan a safe ride home before you head out.
• Slow down in residential areas and watch for trick-or-treaters.
• Put your phone away and stay focused on the road.

🎉 If you’re celebrating:
• Pace yourself if you’re drinking, and look out for your friends.
• Arrange a designated driver, taxi or rideshare before the night begins.
• Never get behind the wheel if you’ve been drinking.

👻 If you’re trick-or-treating:
• Wear bright or reflective clothing and carry a flashlight.
• Use crosswalks and stay alert around traffic.
• Make sure children are supervised and visible to drivers.

Our Trauma Program sees firsthand how quickly an ordinary night can change after a serious injury. This Halloween, look out for one another, make safe choices and help prevent injuries before they happen.

10/30/2026

You may not need a referral to get a mammogram.

Through the Ontario Breast Screening Program, eligible people can book themselves a publicly funded mammogram appointment; no referral required.

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, take a moment for yourself to see what breast screening options are available to you. Learn more online: rvh.on.ca/get-screened

10/27/2026

Breast cancer isn't limited by gender.

Most people with this diagnosis are women, but it can affect people of many genders. Men, transgender, non-binary and gender-diverse people can also develop breast cancer – hundreds or men are diagnosed each year in Canada.

Not everyone's situation is suitable for a mammogram, but everyone can pay attention to what is normal for their chest or breast tissue. If you notice something unusual, talk to a healthcare provider.

Learn more about who is eligible for a mammogram online: rvh.on.ca/get-screened

10/26/2026

A hospital stay can bring uncertainty and difficult moments for patients and families. 💙

RVH’s Spiritual Care team offers compassionate support, helping patients and families find comfort, meaning and connection during challenging times, whatever their beliefs or backgrounds.

During Spiritual Health Awareness Week, we recognize the important role this support plays in patient and family well-being.

At RVH and looking for Spiritual Care support? Call extension 46043, visit the Spiritual Care office on Level 1 across from the Fracture Clinic, or ask a member of your healthcare team for a referral.

10/21/2026

To our community,

We know that many patients and families are waiting longer than they should.
Emergency departments are crowded, hospital beds are full, and accessing care can sometimes feel frustrating and stressful. We see it every day, and we understand the impact it has on patients and families.

The reality is that our region is growing rapidly, our population is aging, and healthcare needs are becoming increasingly complex. RVH is now caring for far more people than it was originally built and funded to support. Our ED sees more than 96,000 visits each year despite being designed for approximately 67,500.

While these pressures are significant, patient safety and quality of care remain our highest priorities. Every day, our teams work tirelessly to provide excellent care, improve patient flow, reduce wait times, and ensure patients receive the care they need when they need it.

Whether caring for patients at the bedside, supporting diagnostic services, coordinating care across the region, or keeping our operations running, Team RVH continues to go above and beyond for our community.

At the same time, it is clear our region needs additional healthcare capacity and infrastructure. These increases in patient volumes do create financial pressures as we work to meet growing demand with the resources available. RVH is working with government, healthcare partners and our community to secure the investments needed to expand services, create more space for patient care, and build the health centre our growing population will require in the years ahead.

Our community has played an important role in helping RVH grow and evolve over the years. That partnership remains essential as we continue building a stronger future for healthcare in Simcoe Muskoka.

Thank you for your patience, understanding and continued support.

Sincerely,

Gail Hunt
President and CEO
Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre

10/20/2026

After a 13-hour journey, the modular units that will house Innisfil's first MRI are being delivered and installed today at the Rizzardo Health and Wellness Centre, marking an exciting milestone.

What does this mean for patients?

Once operational, the new MRI will add capacity for nearly 4,000 additional scans each year, helping reduce wait times and bringing important diagnostic imaging services closer to home.

The MRI scanner itself is expected to arrive in November, bringing us another step closer to welcoming patients in early 2027.

Made possible through the generosity of our community and the RVH Foundation, with ongoing operational funding from the Ontario government and support from our project partners, Town of Innisfil and SDI, this expansion is a joint investment in better access to care for our growing region.

10/20/2026

The third Tuesday of every October is , dedicated to acknowledging the hard work of pharmacy technicians across Canada. At RVH, we celebrate the important role they play in providing exceptional care to our patients.

Our pharmacy technicians help ensure medications are safely prepared, dispensed and available where needed throughout the health centre. They work alongside pharmacists, using their technical expertise to support patients across many aspects of pharmaceutical care, including work in cancer care by oncology pharmacy technicians.

Thank you to our pharmacy technicians for the skill, dedication and expertise you bring to your work each day.

10/16/2026

Mammograms are safe and effective ways to screen for early signs of breast cancer, and catch it while it is easier to treat.

Breast screening is an important way to care for your health, for now and for the future. If you have questions or concerns, contact a healthcare professional.

Learn more about this important piece of self-care online: rvh.on.ca/get-screened

10/13/2026

Plans change, and that’s okay. 💙

If you are unable to make your medical imaging appointment at RVH, please let us know by calling to cancel or rebook at 705-739-5610. If you’ve already had your imaging done somewhere else, cancelling your RVH appointment helps open that spot for someone else who may be waiting for care.

Medical imaging services are in high demand, and one quick call can help another patient get the care they need sooner.

Thank you for helping us make the most of every appointment.

10/10/2026

Recovery does not begin and end at the hospital.

This , we’re highlighting research from Jesse McLean, PhD. His recent project focused on how geography may shape the way patients respond to care.

Dr. McLean’s research team studied teens and young adults who were treated for anorexia nervosa at the Simcoe Muskoka Regional Eating Disorder Program. This allowed them to begin exploring the difference in recovery between patients from urban and rural communities.

They found that, while patients started treatment with broadly similar health measures, rural patients may not have had the same psychological improvements as urban patients once treatment was complete.

🔗 Read more about Dr. McLean’s findings in this month’s Research Spotlight: https://bit.ly/3TviE7X

Address

201 Georgian Drive
Barrie, ON

Website

http://www.rvh.on.ca/

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