$5 million gift from Newton Glassman Charitable Foundation
One of Canada’s busiest Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) is undergoing a major transformation. Thanks to a $5 million donation from the Newton Glassman Charitable Foundation, Mount Sinai Hospital will soon open its doors to a newly constructed NICU. Mount Sinai’s NICU is the largest in the GTA and one of only three in Toronto that provides level 3 care, the highest acuity level of care for premature babies. The new NICU is scheduled to open in the fall of 2014 and will be named The Newton Glassman Charitable Foundation Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in recognition of this gift.
Mr. Glassman, founder of Canada’s second-largest private equity firm The Catalyst Capital Group Inc., has served as a volunteer and board member for Mount Sinai. This is his second major contribution to the Hospital’s neonatal intensive care. In 2007 Mr. Glassman helped purchase life-saving equipment for the NICU such as ventilators.
Central to the design of the Glassman NICU are 58 individual patient suites, replacing the existing open concept model. This reflects the latest model of neonatal care where parents’ involvement is significantly greater than previous models of care. The plans for the Glassman NICU also involved extensive consultation with front line health professionals and former NICU patients. Other features include:
- Expanded space per infant, from approx. 60 sq. ft. to approx. 145 sq. ft.
- Increase in total bassinets from 57 to 62
- Private rooms with comfortable furniture including parent sleep space
- Each room will support the two highest levels of care so that babies will no longer have to move to a different area as their health improves
- Networked technology and electronic clinical documentation to ensure nurses have remote access to patients’ vital information
- Enhanced infection control and increased isolation rooms from two to eight
- Adaptable sound and light levels to improve infant health and development
- Retractable walls to accommodate families with multiple births and access doors between rooms to facilitate response to emergency situations
- Shared family space equipped with a kitchenette, dining, lounge and children's play areas, expanded teaching and classroom space and overnight guest rooms to accommodate families who are from out of town
The redevelopment of Mount Sinai’s NICU is part of a $500 million Campaign to Renew Sinai, the largest campaign in the hospital’s history that will fund the transformation of the hospital’s facilities and growth of its internationally recognized clinical and research programs. As part of the expansion, within the hospital’s largest program Women’s and Infants’ Health, new labour and delivery and antenatal units are also set to open in 2014.
Quotes:
“Neonatal intensive care units are extraordinary places and are critical to saving babies lives. I am a strong supporter of this area in health care and both honoured and inspired to support Mount Sinai’s talented and high performing team of clinicians.” Newton Glassman
“There has been a major shift in care for infants in neonatal intensive care units where families have become an equal part of the care team. This gift will help us facilitate the physical changes needed to maximize the benefits of this new model and empower parents with the environment they need to provide the best care for their infants.” Dr. Shoo Lee, Pediatrician-in-Chief, Mount Sinai Hospital
“The clinical expertise and leadership in our neonatal intensive care unit is a crucial area for our hospital. This gift will allow Mount Sinai and flagship programs like Women’s and Infants’ Health to continue to evolve and reflect changing patient needs and the latest models of health care.” Joseph Mapa, President and CEO, Mount Sinai Hospital
“Newton Glassman is a philanthropic leader who has demonstrated a sincere passion for supporting the future of family-centered neonatal care through his continued support in this area. We are deeply grateful for his incredible gifts that will undoubtedly give our most fragile babies even more of a fighting chance.” Jay Hennick, Chair, Mount Sinai Hospital Board of Directors
“Newton Glassman is one of Canada’s most astute investors, and he has taken the same approach to his philanthropy. We are so honoured to have his vote of confidence, and his commitment to generations of children’s health.” Brent Belzberg, Chairman, Mount Sinai Hospital Foundation Management Board & Governing Council
Quick Facts:
- Mount Sinai Hospital has one of the largest perinatal centres in North America and is the only hospital in Canada offering the most advanced procedures like laser and in-utero fetal surgery (patients come from all across Canada)
- As the largest NICU in the GTA, each year Mount Sinai Hospital cares for more than 1,000 premature infants who are less than 35 weeks gestation, many of them weighing less than a kilogram
- Close to 7,000 babies are born at Mount Sinai Hospital a year, 1,600 are considered to be high-risk
- Mount Sinai Hospital is home to The Rogers-Hixon Ontario Human Milk Bank, the only facility in Ontario to collect, process and dispense donated breast milk for hospitalized NICU babies at Mount Sinai Hospital and across Ontario.
- Mount Sinai Hospital was founded as a maternity hospital 90 years ago
About Mount Sinai Hospital:
Mount Sinai Hospital is as an internationally recognized 442-bed acute care academic health sciences centre affiliated with the University of Toronto that is dedicated to delivering the best medicine and best patient experience. It is focused on excellence in patient and family-centred care, innovative education and leading-edge research. Clinical strengths include women’s and infants’ health, chronic disease management, specialized cancer, emergency medicine, and geriatrics. The hospital has been designated with Exemplary Status from Accreditation Canada and every aspect of patient care is anchored in a rigorous quality plan and monitoring of safety and quality goals. Mount Sinai’s Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute ranks in the top ten biomedical research institutes in the world. The Hospital is considered to be a top employer in Canada, receiving multiple awards for its employment and culture centred programs. www.mountsinai.ca.
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For more information, please contact:
Riva Finkelstein
Senior Specialist, Media Relations and Public Affairs
Mount Sinai Hospital
t: 416-586-4800 ext. 8306
