One of Windsor-Essex's major healthcare systems has reported making headway with a plan to eliminate its deficit.
Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare (HDGH) provided an update on Wednesday afternoon on its budgetary efforts, announcing that it had wiped out about half of the $8.2-million deficit that began the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
"Through a variety of initiatives, including zero-based budgeting, reviewing day-to-day supplies, holding non-union vacancies, restructuring our retail food operation, and identifying savings with drug costs in our pharmacy, HDGH has reduced our deficit by 50 per cent," said HDGH President and CEO Bill Marra in a statement to reporters.
Marra added that patient care was not affected by the measures.
The deficit plan is being implemented as the Ontario Ministry of Health asked hospitals to create a long-term stability plan, with deficits eliminated by March 31, 2028.
HDGH cited enhanced cybersecurity in the wake of the 2023 cyberattack, the effects of U.S. tariffs, and inflation as among the costs being dealt with.
Marra said that the hospital has every intention of meeting its goal.
"Over the next several months, HDGH will continue to look at ways to reach a balanced budget," said Marra. "Recently we hired a benchmarking firm who will work to benchmark our hospital with like hospitals over the next several months. We are committed to looking at administrative costs and conducting operational reviews across our programs to find additional efficiencies across the hospital."
