July 20, 2022 – Ontario’s Workplace Safety & Insurance Board (WSIB) announced a partnership with the Sault Area Hospital and Axia Health (a division of North York General Hospital) to provide healthcare services to people with work-related injuries and illness in the Algoma region.

“After an injury, the last thing people want is more stress,” said Jeff Lang, WSIB president & CEO. “This partnership means people hurt on the job can get the treatment they need right here in Sault Ste. Marie.”

“It’s important to minimize the need for out-of-town travel, which can be painful for the person injured, financially burdensome, and potentially dangerous, particularly in the winter months,” said Dr. Darren Costain, orthopedic surgeon, Sault Area Hospital.

Prior to this partnership, injured workers could face travel to Thunder Bay, Sudbury or Toronto to access specialized services with WSIB. Now, through the new Axia Health clinic in The Soo (which opened in May 2022), people with a work-related injury or illness can access WSIB’s Occupational Health Assessment Program and WSIB’s Lower and Upper Extremity Specialty Programs, which provide access to specialized assessment, surgery and interdisciplinary functionally focused treatment.

“The new clinic is an excellent way to provide care for individuals with work-related injuries in our community,” said Ila Watson, president & CEO, Sault Area Hospital, adding the hospital “continues to build relationships and develop programs to ensure our patients have access to the care they need close to home.”

In addition to local healthcare providers, patients of the Axia Health clinic will also have access to an array of experts at North York General Hospital through virtual consultations, says WSIB.