May 21, 2025
ST. PAUL – Upgrades and renovations within the emergency department at the St. Therese-St. Paul Healthcare Centre have been completed, enhancing patient flow and experience.
The $3.2-million project – funded through the Alberta government's Rural Health Facilities Revitalization Program – includes three new exam rooms (for a total of 10), upgrades to existing treatment and triage spaces to enhance patient privacy and safety, a new bariatric-accessible patient washroom, enhancements to staff support areas, and enhancements to vital hospital infrastructure related to electrical, mechanical, medical gas and nurse call systems.
"Alberta's government is committed to ensuring every Albertans has access to the emergency health care services they need, when and where they need it. The completion of this project will ensure patients in St. Paul and the Lakeland region have access to quality emergency care and services for years to come," says Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health.
"This project shows our government's strong commitment to investing in rural communities —ensuring families in places like St. Paul have access to modern emergency care and the infrastructure needed to support front-line health workers," adds Ron Wiebe, Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Health (North).
Additional upgrades occurred in other areas of the hospital, including a new diagnostic imaging space and X-ray machine, as well as a new electrocardiogram space. There were no changes to the overall size of the ED.
"Investments like this ensure our dedicated local healthcare teams can continue to deliver safe, efficient emergency care to our residents or their loved ones for their illness or injury," says Scott Cyr, MLA for Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul. "These enhancements to local healthcare are fantastic news for our residents and community."
ED construction began in late fall 2023 and was completed in March. Throughout construction, the ED remained available 24/7 to patients who require care. On average, 44 patients present to the St. Paul ED each day.
"These important enhancements ensure modern healthcare infrastructure and exceptional emergency care will continue to be available to our community for many years to come," says Jamie Malone, site manager, St. Therese- St. Paul Healthcare Centre.
"A modernized emergency department is welcome news by our physicians and front-line nursing teams who provide timely, high-quality critical care to patients every day," adds Dr. Francis Adebayo, Community Medical Director, St. Paul, AHS North Zone. "Having a modern emergency care environment will enhance patient care and outcomes."
Alberta Health Services provides a range of healthcare services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Our mission is to provide excellent, patient-focused healthcare that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans. Our current focus is on reducing emergency department wait times, improving EMS response times, increasing access to surgeries, and improving patient flow.
