The Kincardine hospital is undergoing some changes this week.
Beginning Thursday, outpatient laboratory services will move from the hospital to the Kincardine Family Health Team.
Patients with a requisition for blood work can present to the Hawthorne Community Clinic to have their samples collected. It's on the same property as the hospital.
The hours of operation for laboratory services at the Hawthorne Community Clinic are being extended. Starting this week, outpatient collections will be available from 7:30 a.m. until 3 p.m., Monday to Friday. After April 1, hours will be extended to 3:30 p.m.
Laboratory testing for inpatients and emergency patients will remain in the hospital.
The Kincardine site is the first of the South Bruce Grey Health Centre's four sites to make this transition for community outpatient laboratory services. The dates for the Chesley, Durham and Walkerton hospital sites will be finalized in the coming weeks.
The transition of this service is part of SBGHC's Budget Recovery Action Plan.
SBGHC is facing a significant financial challenge this year, and since the hospital does not receive funding for outpatient laboratory testing, SBGHC is moving this lab testing to a private community laboratory which is funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.