Richmond Hill’s Schroeder Ambulatory Centre is preparing to take another major step in its expansion — performing hip and knee surgeries outside a traditional hospital.
The seven-storey facility on Leslie Street has begun accepting patients for orthopedic procedures, with surgeries expected to start in October.
That would make Schroeder one of only a small number of facilities in Ontario authorized to perform hip and knee replacements outside hospitals, and reportedly the second to begin offering the procedures.
The 200,000-square-foot centre, which includes eight operating rooms, began opening clinics last October. Gastrointestinal endoscopy services followed in February, while diagnostic imaging was added in April with two MRI and two CT scanners.
A grand opening is planned for next month.
Schroeder was established by Walter and Maria Schroeder’s Schroeder Foundation, which purchased the unfinished medical building in 2021 and invested heavily in its development. Although privately owned, the centre operates as a non-profit and describes its mission as helping reduce Ontario’s surgical and diagnostic backlogs.
Its services also involve agreements with area hospitals, which refer patients and share some staff. Mackenzie Health said partnerships across the health system can help patients access care and that, as the closest acute-care hospital, it is prepared to support emergency needs that may arise at Schroeder.
The expansion comes as Ontario continues rolling out Integrated Community Health Services Centres, or ICHSCs, designed to provide OHIP-funded procedures outside hospitals.
The model, however, remains controversial.
The Ontario Health Coalition argues the province should instead put more resources into existing public hospitals, pointing to MRI and CT equipment that can sit unused overnight because of staffing shortages. The advocacy group also questions whether expanding privately owned clinics will meaningfully reduce wait times.
Meanwhile, Schroeder is still awaiting licences for X-ray and ultrasound services, and planned clinics for plastic surgery, wound care and pain management have yet to open.
For Richmond Hill residents, the biggest change comes next: if the October timeline holds, hip and knee surgeries will soon be taking place right here on Leslie Street.
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The Ontario Health Coalition has a point though. MRI machines sitting unused overnight because there's no staff is a real problem. Not sure adding more privately owned buildings fixes that.
Eight operating rooms and they still don't have an X-ray licence yet. Seems like a lot of pieces still missing before the grand opening next month.
Raj NairThe X-ray thing is a bit odd yeah. You'd think that would be one of the more basic licences to get sorted early on. Hopefully it doesn't hold up the grand opening too much.
You're right that X-ray and ultrasound licences are still pending, and several planned clinics haven't opened yet, the grand opening next month will capture a facility that is clearly still a work in progress.
Non-profit but privately owned. Curious how that works exactly when it comes to where the money actually goes.
It's a fair question, the centre is privately owned by the Schroeder Foundation but operates as a non-profit, meaning its stated purpose is reinvesting in its mission rather than generating profit for shareholders, though the accountability structures of that model are worth watching closely.
My husband waited 18 months for his knee replacement at Mackenzie. If this place can cut that wait down even a little bit that is huge for families around here.
Sandra Kowalski18 months is brutal. My mom went through almost the same thing. Even cutting it to 9 or 10 months would be a massive difference for people's quality of life.
Drove past that building on Leslie so many times while it was just sitting there unfinished. Wild to think hip surgeries are about to happen inside it.
George T.Same, I used to wonder if that building would ever actually get finished. It sat like that for years. Still kind of surreal honestly.
It really is a remarkable turnaround, the Schroeder Foundation purchased that unfinished building in 2021, and the transformation into a 200,000-square-foot, eight-OR facility has been something to watch unfold on Leslie Street.
The Ontario Health Coalition has a point though. There's MRI machines sitting unused overnight at actual hospitals because there's no staff. Maybe fix that first?
trish_rhThis is exactly what bugs me about the whole thing. The equipment shortage isn't the problem at those hospitals, it's the staffing. And those same staffing issues will follow these clinics eventually too.
Hip replacement on Leslie Street? Never thought I'd see the day. Hope they actually hit that October timeline.
It really is a remarkable milestone for the area, and as we noted, that October timeline is still an expectation rather than a guarantee, we'll be watching closely.
Dave M.Right? Leslie Street is so ordinary and now it might be where people are getting hip replacements. October feels close. Hope the timeline actually holds.
My dad has been waiting almost two years for a knee replacement. If Schroeder can actually get him in faster I honestly don't care who owns the building.
Linda KowalskiHonestly same boat with my mom. At a certain point the wait itself becomes the health risk. People can debate the politics all they want but two years is too long.
Second in Ontario for this kind of surgery outside a hospital is actually a big deal. Hope the October timeline actually holds.
Being reportedly only the second facility in Ontario authorized to offer hip and knee replacements outside a hospital is a significant milestone, and we'll certainly be following whether that October start date holds.
Dave M.It really is. Though I'll believe October when I see it. These timelines have a way of slipping. Fingers crossed they pull it off.