SHORT POWER OUTAGE PLANNED TONIGHT AT HUNTSVILLE HOSPITAL FOR MRI WILL INCREASE ER TRAFFIC IN BRACEBRIDGE

MUSKOKA — A short hospital emergency back-up power outage from 8 p.m. to midnight in Huntsville will mean longer ER wait times at MAHC’s south Muskoka site.

The four-hour planned outage is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. and end by midnight.

MAHC says the shutdown is necessary to connect the under construction MRI suite to emergency back-up power, an essential step in the journey for Muskoka and area’s first MRI in the region.

During it there will be no scheduled surgical procedures, or ambulatory or outpatient tests, clinics or treatments.

Where it is safe to do so, ambulances will bypass the Huntsville ER, which will have limited capability and will be available for emergent care only.

The South Muskoka Memorial Hospital site in Bracebridge will be used for obstetrical deliveries tonight, February 26.

As well, increased traffic is expected at SMMH and appropriate preparations are being made to manage the volumes.

Extensive planning and communication is occurring to ensure the comfort and safety of our current patients and mitigate any risks.

During the outage, our care teams will remain focused on providing safe, high-quality care to our patients.

“An outage of this magnitude has involved tremendous planning to address all of the impacts and mitigate potential risks to ensure everyone’s safety,” says Cheryl Harrison, president and CEO.

“Because much of the hospital’s critical equipment is connected to emergency back-up power lines and will not function during the outage, we are urging as little traffic as possible at the HDMH Site during the outage.

MAHC says it appreciates the public’s cooperation.