The Wellness Centre is a one-stop shop for onsite and virtual health and wellness services dedicated to TOH staff and medical staff. In an environment where work-related stress and fatigue are common, this Centre provides essential services like mental health support sessions, vaccination and mask fit testing, relaxation and stretching space and peer support, ensuring that staff have the tools to maintain their health and wellness. 

By prioritizing the wellbeing of its health-care providers, The Ottawa Hospital aims to further enhance the quality of care for patients, while also fostering a more caring and compassionate health-care environment. Today, there are two additional locations (at the General Campus and at the Riverside Campus). There have been over 7,650 visits for wellness services at the Wellness Centre since 2023. 

This moment shows a doctor and nurse at the Civic in 1955 using an imaging method called fluoroscopy to examine the gastrointestinal tract of a patient. Fluoroscopy uses a fluorescent screen and an x-ray beam passing through the body to gather real-time moving images that display on a monitor. 

Fun Fact: The medical fluoroscope was developed in 1896 by none other than Thomas Edison!  

Credit: Library and Archives Canada
Copyright: Health and Welfare Canada

“My premature twins were born at the Civic on March 27,1986, at only 27-weeks and stayed at the Rich Little Special Care Nursery. They were born 3 pounds 9 oz and 3 pounds 11 oz. It is hard for me to put into words the care, support, and unbelievable staff that helped my children through their first month — I can never thank everyone enough.” 

Submitted by community member, Sharon L.  

After 33 years as night supervisor of nurses at the Ottawa Civic Hospital, Miss Jean Vizard hung up her uniform.  

She knew from an early age that nursing was her path and began her post at the Civic when the hospital first opened in 1924, and according to an Ottawa Citizen article from Jan 29th, 1957, Miss Vizard referred to her tenure as “joyous years — doing so much for people” 

Her duties included problem solving with ward supervisors, consulting with family members on patient care, and providing ward tours. She also took great pride in perking up the spirits of her patients.  

On the occasion of her retirement, Miss Vizard commented on how many revolutionary changes she had seen in medicine during her time at the hospital.  

In 2017, at a time in his life when most people would be embracing retirement, Dr. Jeffrey Turnbull decided to ramp up his work, leaving his job of almost a decade as Chief of Staff at The Ottawa Hospital to dedicate his life to helping people experiencing homelessness.  

Dr. Turnbull, a specialist in internal medicine, has long pursued an interest in poverty and its effect on health. And as one of the founders and long-time medical director of Ottawa Inner City Health, he helped pioneer programs to curb addictions and support mental health, create supportive housing, and even provide palliative care. 

Affectionately known by his patients there as Dr. T, he is also the recipient of many awards, including the Order of Canada, the Order of Ontario, and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.  

In 2023, Dr. Turnbull officially retired from his role at Ottawa Inner City Health but remains a pivotal figure in Ottawa healthcare. 

DID YOU KNOW that below the main level of the Civic Campus, resides an expansive facility equipped with a large team of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and assistants, and other support staff, who meticulously systemize and deliver critical medication for patients? In fact, there are hundreds of pharmacy professionals across all our campuses!  

Almost every patient who visits our hospital needs the care of this vital team — whether their needs are fairly straightforward, like a bag of saline solution or their everyday prescription, to when they require more complex or even lifesaving medication.    

Back in the ’80s, when these photos were taken, the team was much smaller than it is today and the process of dispensing and reviewing appropriateness of medications was done much differently. From typewriters (followed by computers) and manual paper files to cross check medications to a few nostalgic hair styles, these pictures are a reminder of how much has changed and how far we’ve come.  

The team has not only grown in size over the years, but had to respond to a changing healthcare landscape — like when pharmacists transitioned from a central location to the clinical areas to work alongside patient care teams. Or when the pandemic hit, and the pharmacy team was in charge of the safe-keeping of vaccines that needed to be stored at -80℃.  

Over the past century, the Civic Pharmacy has evolved from a basic apothecary to an advanced healthcare hub. It now uses cutting-edge technology like Epic software for precise medication dispensing, patient management, and data integration, alongside NAPRA standards for sterile compounding. This transformation has streamlined operations, improved patient outcomes, and increased accessibility — making the pharmacy a key part of community health. 

Despite many on the team working mostly behind the scenes (or some might say underground — literally), their work could not be more critical to providing the very best care to our patients at every level.