This morning, Premier Doug Ford visited Schroeder Ambulatory Centre (The Centre) in Richmond Hill to announce a major milestone in the rollout of Ontario’s Independent Health Facilities under the Integrated Community Health Services Centres Act (ICHSCA). The Premier’s remarks celebrated the first wave of licensed facilities, including The Centre, which will help reduce diagnostic and medical procedure wait times by adding new, community-based care capacity to the public system.
“Our government is investing record amounts to help people across the province access the health care they need, when and where they need it,” said Premier Doug Ford. “This includes today’s announcement of $155 million to add 57 new centres across Ontario, including here at the Schroeder Ambulatory Centre, that will help people get the imaging and endoscopy procedures they need, faster and in more convenient settings. The Centre is a great example of what’s possible when the public and non-profit sectors come together to deliver better care for Ontarians.”
Schroeder Ambulatory Centre has received conditional licensing under ICHSCA to deliver OHIP-covered services in Diagnostic Imaging (MRI and CT) and Endoscopy (GI). As a charitable, non-profit health centre, The Centre reinvests every dollar into patient care and system expansion. While the Centre is not yet operational, today’s event marks a key step toward its public launch later this year.
“We are delighted to be licensed under this new framework and look forward to opening our doors later this year,” said Raj Kothari, Schroeder Ambulatory Centre Foundation Board Member. “Our goal is simple: reduce pain, increase mobility, and ease pressure on hospitals by providing high-quality, same-day care in partnership with the public system—all following a strictly not-for-profit mandate that keeps the focus on patients, not profit.”
The Centre’s model does not replace hospital care; it complements it. Once operational, the Centre will offer non-urgent diagnostic and screening procedures in a purpose-built ambulatory setting, allowing hospitals to focus on emergency, acute, and complex cases. The Centre is building supportive partnerships with public hospitals, which will share access to The Centre’s leading-edge medical technology (including the latest CT and MRI scanners) as well as additional operating room hours for hospital physicians while maintaining their existing schedules.
Today marks significant progress in the ICHSCA rollout. The Centre’s phased clinical launch begins in Fall 2025.
About the Schroeder Ambulatory Centre
Schroeder Ambulatory Centre is a charitable, non-profit health-care organization committed to reducing wait times and expanding access to high-quality, publicly insured care for Ontarians.
Pending licensing under Ontario’s Integrated Community Health Services Centres Act (ICHSC Act), The Centre will deliver low-risk, high-demand services such as Diagnostic Imaging and GI Endoscopy in a purpose-built, community-based setting. Every dollar earned is reinvested into patient care, infrastructure, and clinical partnerships, with no shareholders or investors. The Centre works in close collaboration with hospitals, physicians, and regulators to strengthen the public system, relieve hospital backlogs, and improve patient outcomes. The Centre phased clinical launch begins in Fall 2025.