Bracebridge’s South Muskoka Memorial Hospital is being recognized for modern patient care that goes well beyond its walls. On May 27, 2026, the hospital’s parent organization, Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC), received the Patient Advocacy Award from the digital health company SeamlessMD.
The award was presented at the SeamlessMD Conference in Toronto and accepted by Surgical Transition Nurse Shannon Hubbard on behalf of the whole team. Hubbard is one of the faces behind a program that gives MAHC surgery patients a digital support tool to lean on before and after their operations.
MAHC brought in the SeamlessMD platform roughly three years ago. It now actively supports nine patient experience pathways, covering procedures like colorectal and breast surgery, hysterectomy, and endoscopy. Through the platform, patients get interactive checklists, health reminders, and recovery tracking on their phone or computer, helping them feel less alone during treatment.
The reach of the program had already grown well beyond its operating-room beginnings before this award. MAHC previously added stroke recovery and mental health support to the SeamlessMD toolkit, making it one of the most digitally equipped rural hospital systems in Ontario. President and CEO Cheryl Harrison pointed to that outward focus. “As healthcare continues to evolve, supporting patients beyond the walls of the hospital is increasingly important,” Harrison said. “This recognition reflects MAHC’s commitment to improving the patient experience through innovation, education, and compassionate care.”
Patients undergoing surgery at MAHC may interact with Hubbard. The transition nurse enrolls patients, walks them through the steps before their operation, and keeps an eye on how they are doing once they go home, using the SeamlessMD platform to stay connected.
The digital push is backed by steady community investment. The South Muskoka Hospital Foundation, the charitable arm that has funnelled more than $55 million into the hospital since 1980, is putting over $4.5 million toward patient care during the 2026-2027 year alone. Its ongoing support helps equipment, facilities, and programs like SeamlessMD stay available close to home.
MAHC runs emergency and other services around the clock at two sites: the South Muskoka Memorial Hospital on 75 Ann Street in Bracebridge, and the Huntsville District Memorial Hospital. The Patient Advocacy Award shines a light on how a smaller community hospital can lead the way in giving residents the same kind of digital health support typically found in larger cities.
