September 8, 2015
COLD LAKE — More than $1.1 million in upgrades were completed this summer at the Cold Lake Health Centre to improve services at the local Alberta Health Services (AHS) facility.
Upgrades were made to building control systems that monitor most ventilation, heating and cooling units. The upgrades allow systems to run more efficiently, reduce energy consumption and improve control of room temperatures.
“These investments not only ensure patients and staff have comfortable temperatures, but the building control upgrades also reduce costs and help the environment by reducing energy consumption,” says Shelly Pusch, Chief Zone Officer of AHS North Zone.
The new building control upgrades are expected to save the centre close to $100,000 a year on energy costs, reduce electrical consumption by 13 per cent, and natural gas consumption by
26 per cent.
Funding for these projects came from the Government of Alberta’s Infrastructure Maintenance Program (IMP). In recent years, additional IMP funding has been invested in other projects at the Cold Lake Health Centre, including roof replacement and repairs, heat exchanger and refrigeration, as well as renovations to the laboratory and Primary Care Network space.
“No matter where you live in the province, it’s important that your health care needs can be met as close to home as possible,” says Sarah Hoffman, Minister of Health. “This project helps make that a reality, and is part of our commitment to manage and improve health infrastructure and capital across Alberta.”
AHS, in partnership with Alberta Infrastructure and Alberta Health, is building and renewing facilities across the province to provide accessible, sustainable, quality health care to all Albertans. AHS currently has about 270 maintenance projects underway throughout the province.
AHS submits to Alberta Health and Alberta Infrastructure an annual list of IMP priority renovation, repair or upgrade projects for the next three years to ensure the projects meet program criteria. Projects are ranked in priority from those that must be done immediately to ensure safety and health of patients and staff, to non-urgent projects that need to be addressed over time.
Taking into account the diverse needs of Albertans, AHS is strategically investing in the health system to support patients and communities to stay healthy and manage illness effectively.
AHS maintains over 450 facilities throughout the province, including hospitals, clinics, continuing care facilities, mental health facilities and community health sites.
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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