SOGH Story

1965-1970
Founded for the Community
Seven Oaks General Hospital is established in the mid-1960s when community members propose a north Winnipeg general hospital to the Manitoba Health Services Commission. The hospital’s objectives include health promotion-an innovative and unique approach to healthcare at the time.

1975
Fundraising with a Clear Vision
The Seven Oaks General Hospital Foundation is established to fundraise for hospital equipment, programs, and research.

1980
Seven Oaks General Hospital Officially Opens
The Seven Oaks General Hospital officially opens in 1980 as a full-service general hospital with 174 beds and close to 600 staff offering clinical programs. In its first year, the hospital admits 2,341 patients, performs 2,765 surgeries, and provides 17,591 emergency treatments.

1983
Fitness Centre Opens
The Seven Oaks General Hospital opens an on-site fitness centre to support the health and well-being of its staff and the community. In 1986, the Fitness Centre is renamed in recognition of Joseph Zuken-one of the hospital’s founders.

1989 - 1991
A Prize Winning Partnership
The Seven Oaks General Hospital and the Joseph Zuken Fitness Centre begin making a name for themselves locally and nationally. They are recognized by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Fitness Canada, the Canadian Hospital Association and by the City of Winnipeg.

1990 - 1993
Community Wellness Plans
The Seven Oaks General Hospital advances innovative plans in community health and health promotion. The University of Manitoba conducts a Feasibility Study for developing a Health Promotion and Wellness Center.

1996
Wellness Institute Opens
At the time of opening, the Wellness Institute is the first medical fitness facility directly affiliated with a hospital in Canada. It goes on to win numerous awards over the years for improving the community’s health and wellness including the honour of being Canada’s most “Health Promoting Hospital” — in partnership with SOGH.

2002
Dialysis and Oncology Clinic
A new Dialysis and Oncology Clinic opens as the first of many future dialysis expansions at Seven Oaks General Hospital. These expansions include in-center, hemo, peritoneal, and home hemo dialysis units.

2007
New Emergency Room Opens
The Seven Oaks General Hospital opens a new Emergency Room. This expansion allows the hospital to treat approximately 35,000 patients per year in the Emergency Department— about twice as many as when the hospital opened 25 years earlier.

2009
Surgery Consolidation
Seven Oaks’ orthopedic surgery consolidation excels-they see the highest number of hip fracture patients within 48 hours in Canada for years. The holistic approach and strategic measures set a benchmark for inpatient care.

2011-2013
Kidney Failure Risk Equation Developed
After two Landmark publications in JAMA, Seven Oaks General Hospital implements the Kidney Failure Risk Equation invented by CDIC researcher Dr. Tangri. The advancement reduces wait time for nephrology consults by two thirds and starts to become the standard globally.

2012
Family Medicine Clinic and Pharmacy Open
The Seven Oaks General Hospital establishes a large Family Medicine Clinic and retail pharmacy to increase access to family doctors and provide better-integrated inpatient care.

2014
Wellness Institute Model Goes Global
As a result of international interest, the Wellness Institute model is replicated seven times outside of Canada and connects hospitals to community health and health promotion.

2016
CDIC Established
The Chronic Disease Innovation Center (CDIC) is established to further Chronic Kidney Disease research and innovation as well as chronic disease prevention and management.

2017-2020
CDIC Expands
CDIC expands through more research staff, enhanced collaborations with academic institutes and commercial partners, and the construction of a dedicated center. Focus areas include patient engagement, clinical trials, and nutrition/lifestyle interventions.

2019
Update to Clinical Services
The WRHA’s System Transformation initiative transforms the hospital to offer Urgent Care, Subacute Family Medicine, Geriatric Rehabilitation and Day Hospital, and the largest kidney health and dialysis centre in Canada.

2021
Landmark Wellness Institute Study Published
CDIC publishes a landmark Wellness Institute study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. The study showed that membership at a medical fitness facility was associated with a reduced risk of all-cause mortality and hospitalizations.