Alberta's newest and largest hospital opens with family clinics, diagnostic imaging

Other units to be phased in this fall; emergency to open in Feb. 2013

Calgary... The biggest hospital in Alberta’s history is beginning to open, with diagnostic imaging and family clinics now treating patients. Other services at the South Health Campus will be phased in over the coming months. The emergency department will open in early 2013.

“Today’s announcement represents the future of health care in this province,” said Premier Alison Redford. “Collaborative partnerships involving family care, teaching and wellness represent an innovative approach to health care delivery. This government is committed to improving access to quality health care within a publicly funded system, and models like the one in place at the South Calgary Hospital Centre, demonstrate this commitment.”

The $1.3 billion hospital is the largest in Alberta, with a footprint that is roughly the same as the Chinook Centre shopping mall. When fully operational, the 300-bed facility will include a broad range of inpatient and outpatient services, with a focus on wellness, making illness prevention, management and community health education an important focus. Patients, family members and citizens are involved in the planning, delivery and evaluation of health services.

The newly opened clinics are part of the Family Medicine Teaching Centre, which combines family health care with training for doctors participating in their hospital residency program. Physicians also work with other health care professionals, including pharmacists, psychologists, nutritionists and chronic care nurses to focus on wellness as well as treatment.

“The Family Medicine Teaching clinics are good examples of the innovations in patient care, education and health care delivery the campus represents,” said Stephen H. Lockwood, Chair, AHS Board. “In addition to expanding the number of family physicians available to Albertans, these clinics are also training future family physicians and the new MRI capacity will further support the treatment of southern Albertans.”

“Our teaching sites offer Calgarians access to family doctors who provide comprehensive primary care,” said Elizabeth Cannon, President of the University of Calgary. “Along the way, patients have the opportunity to help train future doctors by allowing family medicine residents, supervised by fully qualified doctors, to participate in their care.”

Alberta’s largest health care recruitment for staff and physicians is underway and on schedule for the 180 physicians, 900 nurses and nursing support staff, 600 allied health and support professionals and 900 facility support staff that will work on the campus.

• News Release & Backgrounder

-30-