Leamington District Memorial Hospital wants to change its name to Erie Shores Health Care.
A report to the Erie St. Clair Local Health Integrated Network's board of directors says the change better reflects what the hospital does and who it serves.
Hospital spokesman Bill Baker says hospital administration has been considering the change for about a year, once it launched its policy review, The Way Forward.
"It's designed to better reflect the services we provide [and] the communities we reach out to," he says. "Everywhere from Wheatley, to Leamington, to Kingsville, Harrow, Essex in our catchment market."
So far, the hospital has aligned itself with 28 partners in the community to offer everything from greater mental health services to stroke rehabilitation. Baker says the new moniker recognizes its diversity.
It will mean changing signs, literature, and adjusting the hospital's online presence, but Baker says the cost will be stretched out over a few years. He couldn't say how much the price would be, but suggests the hospital can absorb much of the cost itself, and fundraising will take care of the rest.
"We go lock step with our very benevolent foundation. They have in the past, they've picked up a variety of those costs," says Baker. "A fair amount of those costs get to be picked up through the fundraising as well."
Baker says the name was chosen after much consultation.
"We had a variety of public engagements. We've met with a number of people; our staff, of course, political officials," says Baker, adding that no one objected.
The hospital notified the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care last December of its intention to officially change its name, and if it gets all the approvals it will need, the name change will go into effect April 1, 2017.
