Hospital updates: 1) ; Robotics, clinical trials highlight Barrie hospital’s annual report; 2)Collingwood hospital doubles mammography capacity with second suite, two new state-of-the-art machines

Robotics, clinical trials highlight Barrie hospital’s annual report

Courtesy Barrie360.com

By Ian MacLennan, June 26, 2026

Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) in Barrie reported a busy and milestone year, with more than half a million patient visits and major gains in services, research and innovation.

The hospital released its annual report, outlining the 2025-2026 fiscal year and its progress toward becoming a regional academic health sciences centre under its strategic plan Vitally You.

“This year’s annual report shows how Team RVN is turning the objectives of Virtually You into meaningful progress for patients, families and communities across the region,” said Gail Hunt, President and CEO of RVH.

The numbers underscore the demand: more than 538,000 patient visits, including over 96,000 trips to the emergency department – up 2.6 per cent from the year before.

RVH also performed more than 16,000 surgeries, delivered over 2,100 babies, completed nearly 2.8 million lab tests, and carried out more than 207,000 imaging procedures.

On the innovation side, the hospital says it continues expanding its academic and research profile, with 59 clinical trials and about $2 million in research funding.

Hunt says highlights from the year include new emergency medicine training programs and the launch of the region’s first surgical robotics program, part of the push toward academic health sciences centre status.

She also pointed to initiatives like the HART Hub partnership and Honouring Indigenous Identity in Healthcare, saying they reflect “stronger partnerships, more inclusive care and better support for all patients.”

2)Collingwood hospital doubles mammography capacity with second suite, two new state-of-the-art machines

Courtesy Barrie360.com and News Release

By Collingwood & General Marine Hospital, June 26, 2026

To meet the growing needs of the South Georgian Bay region, Collingwood General and Marine Hospital (CGMH) has expanded its mammography program, increasing capacity and improving access to both diagnostic and breast‑screening services.

“The hospital has replaced its 12‑year‑old mammography machine and added a second, fully equipped mammography suite. Together, these upgrades double CGMH’s mammography capacity and introduce advanced diagnostic capabilities that extend well beyond traditional screening,” says Michael Lacroix, CGMH President and CEO. The second suite will focus on in‑depth assessments and will offer contrast‑enhanced mammography – an important tool for improved cancer detection, particularly in patients with dense breast tissue.

With this addition, CGMH will be among a select group of hospitals in Ontario offering contrast‑enhanced mammography, expected to be fully implemented by Fall 2026.

Key enhancements for patients and the community include:

3D‑guided (stereotactic) biopsies for greater precision in targeting abnormalities

Contrast‑enhanced mammography to highlight potential cancers by tracking contrast dye within breast tissue (beginning Fall 2026)

These advancements are especially valuable for identifying cancers that may be hidden within dense breast tissue and not visible on ultrasound. At the heart of this work is a simple but powerful goal: to detect breast cancer at an earlier stage, supporting less invasive surgery and more effective treatment options.

“The expansion also allows one mammography unit to focus primarily on screening mammograms, helping reduce the growing waitlist and increasing access to breast‑screening services through the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP). In the past fiscal year alone, CGMH performed 7,645 mammograms, including 5,670 for OBSP patients,” says Jamey Gilroy, Manager of Diagnostic Imaging and Echocardiography.

CGMH extends its sincere thanks to the generous leadership of the late Teri Yamada and her husband Doug Moxon, who matched donations up to $375,000 through the 2024 Tree of Life campaign. Additional thanks go to 100+ Women Who Care, South Georgian Triangle, for their $25,500 contribution, and to every community member whose support helped bring this innovative technology to our hospital.

“This milestone reflects what is possible when our community comes together to invest in better health care today and into the future, as we work to bring Tomorrow’s Hospital for South Georgian Bay to fruition,” says Sandra Taylor, CGMH Foundation President and CEO.