Ottawa Launches One of Ontario’s First Standalone Surgical Clinics

Ottawa will soon be home to one of Ontario’s first standalone surgical centres, focusing on orthopedic procedures. A group of orthopedic surgeons, known as the Academic Orthopedic Surgical Associates of Ottawa (AOAO), plans to operate this facility following an announcement from Sylvia Jones, Ontario’s Minister of Health. The new clinic is part of a larger initiative that will see four new licenses for surgical and diagnostic centres issued in early 2026, backed by a two-year investment of $125 million.

The AOAO has gained experience operating from The Ottawa Hospital’s Riverside campus, where they have conducted over 2,000 hip, knee, and shoulder surgeries since 2023. Their efforts, including weekend surgeries in previously closed operating rooms, were part of a pilot project designed to enhance access to orthopedic care. The hospital’s President and CEO, Cameron Love, noted that the partnership aims to establish a dedicated high-efficiency orthopedic centre for day surgeries.

New Surgical Centre Aims to Improve Efficiency

The Ontario government’s licensing of these standalone surgical centres marks a significant shift in the province’s healthcare landscape. Historically, standalone facilities have focused primarily on diagnostic services or cataract surgeries, but this new direction could facilitate a broader range of orthopedic procedures.

As the hospital continues to collaborate with AOAO, they are working out the specifics of their operational arrangement. While it remains uncertain whether weekend surgeries will persist at the Riverside campus once the new surgical centre opens, the partnership has already made strides in improving patient access. According to a statement from The Ottawa Hospital, a total of 2,225 surgeries have been performed through this collaborative effort as of late November.

A recent report from a 2024 Ontario Orthopedic Association meeting highlighted the innovative workflow models employed by AOAO, illustrating how efficiency can be achieved in orthopedic surgeries. Dr. Paul Beaulé, a former chief of orthopedic surgery at The Ottawa Hospital and a member of AOAO, explained that staggered surgical cases across multiple operating rooms enable one surgeon to oversee two to three concurrent procedures, resulting in high patient throughput.

Concerns Over Privatization in Healthcare

While the establishment of these surgical centres is seen as a positive step for patient access, it has also raised concerns among critics about the potential implications for Ontario’s public healthcare system. Detractors fear that high-efficiency day surgery centres may draw healthcare professionals away from public facilities, possibly exacerbating wait times for more complex surgeries.

Reports from Alberta have indicated that the shift towards privately operated surgeries there has resulted in higher costs per procedure without significantly improving overall wait times. Additionally, there are worries about the transparency of care delivered by for-profit operators in the healthcare sector.

In response to these concerns, the Ontario Ministry of Health has assured the public that new surgical centres will be integrated with the broader public health system. The Ministry stated that facilities will be required to submit detailed staffing plans to ensure the stability of resources at public hospitals. They will also need to participate in the province’s wait times information system and regional central intakes to expedite patient care.

As this initiative unfolds, the focus will remain on enhancing patient care while navigating the complexities of integrating private surgical centres into Ontario’s healthcare framework. The continued collaboration between AOAO and The Ottawa Hospital may serve as a model for future developments in the province’s health services.