Jun 16, 2025 | Road to Recovery – Restorative Rehabilitative Care
It started as a dream; hope for our community and passion for access to exceptional patient care. The Bob Probert Tecumseh Campus stands as a testament to the hard work, partnerships and collaborative efforts of the team at HDGH; the HDGH Foundation; the Probert Family, the Town of Tecumseh and to the community spirit, honouring the legacy of Bob Probert. As the VP and Chief Nursing Executive (CNE), I have had the privilege of watching this long-awaited program cross the finish line and open for its first patients on March 3, 2025. Acknowledging and honouring the work of the team who diligently persevered to get this done is my pleasure.
Spearheaded by Sarah Picco, Director of Restorative Care and Patient Transitions, she was relentless in her commitment to establishing this service for the community of Tecumseh, and counties to the East. She, along with her team, worked tirelessly to establish care close to home for the community.
Rosie Pipitone-Middleton, Operations Manager, recalls the early days working with Jason Petro who founded the Cardiac Wellness Program in 2001, and with his family, fundraised and organized events, like the Heart Breaker Challenge, ultimately leading to The Petro Family Exercise Centre. The original intent was to have a second satellite site for the Cardiac Wellness Centre in the Town of Tecumseh. The idea immediately expanded to include other ambulatory clinics with a promise of “designated space”, in Tecumseh, in order to simply bring care closer to where several of our patient’s reside. The data clearly showed the need for services in the east end of Windsor/Essex County.
The expansion of the cardiac wellness clinic to include multidisciplary teams have already made a significant impact, with over 700 visits two months into the opening. Thanks to our team of interprofessional care providers who have made it outstanding for our patients.
Carly Bell, Operations Manger, shares the patient experience, “Staff and patients are raving about the accessibility of services, patients are more willing to attend sessions and love the sunny, friendly environment where they get to now attend their therapies. The family members that are responsible for driving the participants to these appointments are thankful of the proximity to their home and less time commitment it created”.
Jenniffer Clifford, Operations & Clinical Practice Manager, reflects, as Tecumseh’s population continues to age, the Town is embracing the opportunity to support seniors in new and meaningful ways and we are proud to highlight the inclusion of specialized geriatric services as part of the vision for the Bob Probert Tecumseh Campus. With HDGH’s expertise in specialized care, this initiative is perfectly aligned to meet the evolving needs of the community. Our commitment to creating a space where older adults feel seen, supported, and at the heart of community wellness is paramount for our population.
Mr. René Bedard, a patient who started attending our outpatient Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech Language Pathology services at this new campus after having a stroke, is thrilled with the care he is receiving. When asked about his care, he said “I think it’s great. It’s only about 8 minutes to come here. The people that work with me are very friendly. I love the comradery”. With his wife Melba, by his side she reiterates to Ms. Pipitone-Middleton “It’s bright. Everyone is warm and friendly. The therapists are great. Everything is here. They can treat any condition, stroke, heart attack. We love the staff”. When discussing her husband’s progress in therapy so far, she said “I now have the confidence that he will get better”.
Today we’re seeing an increase in patient volumes at the Bob Probert Tecumseh Campus while volumes remain steady at our main campus on Prince Road. The volumes speak for themselves and the patients and families are telling us that more patients are getting the care they need because they now have easier access to the services. For many patients recovering from a cardiac event or a traumatic diagnosis, traveling long distances for regular rehab appointments can be a barrier to recovery.
By offering comprehensive services right in the heart of Tecumseh, the clinic removes that obstacle. Patients can access expert care, the most technologically up-to-date equipment, personalized rehabilitation and support systems without leaving their own community. This local access not only reduces stress and transportation challenges for both patients and their families, especially for our elderly population, but also encourages consistent participation in programs that are proven to improve outcomes and prevent future adverse health events.
As my many years in healthcare bring a passion for highest quality of patient care; my role as CNE makes me reflect on my goal to ensure all patients and families have access to their care, closer to home and maintain the best outcomes for their lives.
Shannon Landry is the Vice President of Clinical Services, Restorative Care, and Chief Nursing Executive at HDGH. With over 35 years of healthcare experience, Shannon has a wealth of knowledge gained from working in both academic and rural hospital settings across Ontario, most recently at Bluewater Health in Sarnia. She plays a key role in guiding the strategic direction and providing operational leadership in nursing and clinical practice, all in support of delivering compassionate, high-quality care to patients and their families.
When she's not working, Shannon enjoys visiting her daughter and grandsons in Ottawa and spending time outdoors gardening and relaxing with her husband and their labradoodle.
Hello Rosie
I was thinking further about my thoughts on the Hôtel Dieu-Grace HealthCare Bob Probert Tecumseh Campus.
For me as the Wife/Caregiver of the patient, it has opened up opportunities for me also.
I can drop René off a few minutes prior to his session start and then have a chance to speak with his therapist(s} if I need to regarding appointment changes or an update on his progress.
With confidence that his needs will be met, I can leave and use the two and half hours to do a few things that I might need to do or even to meet with a friend for a coffee at Tim's. We live in Lakeshore and the Tecumseh area and East Side of Windsor is where I do most of my shopping and appointments. This Campus is very convenient and provides a bit of a respite for me because at this point, I still do not leave René alone for any longer than 30 minutes max. Although we would definitely have gone to the Prince Road Campus for René's Rehab, this new venue is definitely a blessing to both of us.
Our sincere thanks to the Probert Family and other organizations who worked diligently for the past 10 years to open this facility. It is an amazing Rehab Centre that provides outstanding care from the warm, caring and extremely qualified therapists who are always open to any and all questions/concerns. The state of the art equipment is amazing!
There is no doubt that this second Campus is greatly needed and appreciated by us.
Warmly Melba Bedard