Trillium is not only in the business of treating health, it’s in the business of modeling good health.

For Senior Vice President, Eric Vandewall, that’s more than a principle  -  it’s a mission and a passion.

Under his direction, in 2004 Trillium became the first multi-site hospital to become ISO 14001 registered for environmental health. That means the International organization for Standardization recognized Trillium’s progressive Environmental Management System and its programs that address key environmental impacts, including energy conservation, water quality, hazardous materials management, waste reduction and emissions management.

As a result, Trillium was the first health care facility to become a member of the Ontario Environmental Leaders Program -  organizations committed to going beyond what is expected.

That’s standard operating procedure for Eric Vandewall, who came to Trillium as Vice President of Planning and Corporate Services in 2001 from GlaxoSmithKline.

Case in point is Trillium’s new clinical and administration building at the Mississauga site, an important part of Trillium’s redevelopment.  The building is one of just a few “LEED Silver” designated buildings in Canada.  LEED is an initiative of the Canada Green Building Council, measuring the sustainability of sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources and indoor environmental quality.

The 125,000-square-foot building features retail spaces at ground level, outpatient clinical programs on the second floor and Trillium administration on floors three through five.

“Everything about the building is designed to create a healthy workplace,” Eric Vandewall says.  “It maximizes light and uses energy efficient heating and cooling.  Instead of staff stand on a concrete slab with services and air ducts in the ceiling, we’ve created a raised access floor on stilts.  All air circulation comes through the floor along with electrical and computer services.   It fosters better air circulation and allows each workspace to be customized to suit the individual.”

The new patient wing at the Mississauga site is equally innovative, boasting more space for patients and their families and for clinicians.

“It’s very bright and the finishes are designed to be as homelike as possible.  We know that people who are exposed to natural daylight and natural surfaces spend less time in the hospital,” he says.   Nursing is “decentralized”, placing nurses as close as possible to patients in order to maximize care time and minimize “travel” time.

“We really have taken a ground-up approach to redevelopment.  All of the spaces were developed by user groups comprised of front line clinicians, volunteers and staff. ”

The best example of that is the “sample” patient room,  constructed long before groundbreaking.  “We had patients and staff come through it.  Everyone got a chance to kick the tires.”  One of the changes we made was to raise electrical outlets to waist height which reduces potential back injuries for our staff in trying to bend over to plug in equipment.

He adds that the new wing is leading practice in terms of patient-centredness.

At the West Toronto site the Urgent Care Centre has been renovated and expanded, thanks to the centre’s ready acceptance by the community.  “We’re helping 44,000 visitors a year, far exceeding the numbers handled there when it was an emergency unit.”

In the Fall of 2008, the Trillium Way, a healing garden of natural greenery, bright space and wood-like structures has been completed.

From start to finish, Trillium’s redevelopment will have taken over 10  years to complete and, from all accounts, will be an unparalleled success.

“We have an excellent redevelopment team.  We’re coming in on budget and on time and they deserve the credit.”  Eric Vandewall also credits “a very good contractor who is working hard for us.

“We’ve grown and developed and matured from two organizations into one.  With that came a huge opportunity to develop a new culture of innovation, growth and enthusiasm.  That’s our culture.  That’s who we are.”