History
Deer Lodge Centre has a long and proud history of caring. Our motto, “Making Lives Better” reflects this history. From 1916 when a military convalescent hospital was established for returning WWI soldiers to today, where Veterans continue being treated with a large population of community patients and residents.
Deer Lodge Centre transferred from a Veterans Affairs Canada hospital to a provincial facility in 1983. Veterans continue to have priority access to personal care beds under the Federal/Provincial agreement. Since changing from an acute general hospital to a facility caring for adult patients with complex needs, it became the largest rehabilitation and long term care facility in Manitoba, with a bed capacity of 418.
Deer Lodge Centre continues as an innovator in the treatment of patients, residents and clients. Rehabilitation services, outreach programs in geriatric mental health, respiratory therapy, the Day Hospital and Adult Day Care for cognitively impaired community clients address broad inpatient and community needs.
- The Operational Stress Injuries Clinic, Movement Disorders Clinic, Communication Devices, PRIME, along with services for ALS patients have all been initiated in response to community need .
- Through affiliation with the University of Manitoba the Centre participates in several areas of research.
- The Deer Lodge Centre Foundation, established in 1991, continues to fund a growing number of research and educational activities at the Centre.
Some historical milestones:
- First documented account of wheelchair sports anywhere in Canada
- First dialysis machine built and operated in Western Canada
- First geriatric pharmacology research Unit
- First geriatric Day Hospital in Canada
- Pioneer in orthopaedic surgical techniques