Redevelopment projects finalized

Improvements slated for Lethbridge, Medicine Hat hospitals

Residents of southern Alberta will soon have improved access to health care services as a result of the Alberta government’s approval of plans for redevelopment projects at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital and Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge.

After almost a year of consultation with health care professionals and hospital staff, the government confirmed details, including project scope, construction schedules and enhanced budgets.

The new budget for the Chinook Regional Hospital redevelopment project is $127.8 million, up from the original $112.7 million. The extra funding will come from the existing provincial budget.

The 22,500-square-metre redevelopment project in Lethbridge will include:

• A 19,000-square-metre, five-storey wing for services, including day surgery; a renal program (shelled-in space); cardio-respiratory services; maternal newborn services, including labour and delivery suites, and neonatal intensive care; and a pre-operative assessment clinic. 
• Shelled-in space for 64 inpatient beds to accommodate future expansion. 
• An expanded emergency department. 
• Ambulatory (outpatient) care. 
• An expanded day procedures department.

“Albertans have told us they want a patient-focused, quality health system that provides them and their families with access to the programs and services they need,” said Stephen Lockwood, AHS Board Chair. “This expansion will help AHS deliver quality care for residents of Lethbridge and southern Alberta.”

The redeveloped Chinook Regional Hospital is scheduled to open to the public in the summer of 2015.

The new budget for the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital redevelopment project is $220 million, up from the original $200 million.

The 30,800-square metre Medicine Hat redevelopment project will include:

• A 23,200-square-metre, six-storey wing with surgical services, ambulatory (outpatient) care, cardio-respiratory services, a renal program, a cancer clinic, sterile processing and maternal newborn services. 
• An expanded emergency department. 
• A new heliport. 
• Diagnostic imaging (shelled-in space). 
• An expanded day procedures department. 
• Physiotherapy and occupational therapy.

“This expansion will allow us to serve more people closer to home and to deliver patient-focused, quality health programs and services,” said Lockwood.

The redeveloped Medicine Hat Regional Hospital is scheduled to open to the public in the early 2016.

For further details and new images of both projects, please visit www.albertahealthservices.ca/southzone.asp