New Edson Healthcare Centre Opening November 1

EDSON – “The new Edson Healthcare Centre offers tremendous benefits to patients and their families,” says Sarah Hoffman, Minister of Health. “New long-term and continuing care beds and expanded staffing in emergency and acute care, speaks to our government’s commitment to quality, accessible health care delivery in rural Alberta.”

“We are excited that opening day is coming soon,” says Dr. Verna Yiu, President and CEO of Alberta Health Services (AHS). “This is a beautiful, modern and high tech facility the community should be proud of.”

Continuing care services will move to the new Edson Healthcare Centre November 2-5, and some community programs will transition to the new facility the week of October 24. Affected patients will be contacted directly.

“This is a big move and we are trying our best to minimize disruption to services but the public does need to be aware there will be some impact,” says Tracey Correia, Site Manager Edson.

Also on November 1, patients will be transferred to the new facility and the acute care units at the current hospital will be closed. AHS asks loved ones to refrain from visiting patients on that day to streamline the transfer and ensure patient safety. Visitors and family will be welcome to visit and see the new facility, once their loved ones are moved in and comfortable.

The Edson Laboratory outpatient department will be closed from October 24 - October 31 in preparation for the move to the new facility.

To minimize disruption of service, patients requiring routine blood work can be directed to the following facilities:

• Hinton Laboratory
• Evansburg Health Centre
• Whitecourt Laboratory

The Edson Laboratory Outpatient department will reopen at the new facility November 1 at 8 a.m.

There will be no outpatient x-ray or ultrasound services at the either Edson facility on Monday, October, 31 and Tuesday, November 1, 2016. Patients requiring these services are asked to visit the Hinton Healthcare Centre or Whitecourt Healthcare Centre. Both X-ray and ultrasound services will resume at the new Edson Healthcare Centre on Wednesday November 2.

Services provided to the Edson Emergency Department will not be impacted as coverage for these areas will continue.

When open, the new Edson Healthcare Centre will offer a variety of health services, including acute care, continuing care, inter-professional primary health care and community health programs.

To find out more about the new Edson Healthcare Centre, visit: ahs.ca/edson.

Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.

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