Rural Albertans will be able to access surgeries quicker and closer to home now that the Rocky Mountain House Health Centre expansion and renovation is complete, according to Alberta Surgical Initiative (ASI).
The Rocky Mountain House Health Centre has been providing residents with health care since 1971, including surgical services.
The $15 million Rocky Mountain House Health Centre upgrade is part of the ASI, which they say aims to enhance surgical capacity across the province by expanding and maximizing existing health care spaces.
“Completing the expansion and renovation of the Rocky Mountain House Health Centre is a significant step forward in delivering Alberta Surgical Initiative projects provincewide,” says Pete Guthrie, Minister of Infrastructure.
“This investment into health care infrastructure will increase surgical capacity, helping Albertans get treatment when and where they need it.”
Alberta Infrastructure says the expansion will enable approximately 120 Albertans per month to receive surgery, doubling the number of monthly surgeries.
They also note that the additional, brand-new operating room is also expected to decrease the wait lists for surgeries.
The expanded Rocky Mountain House Health Centre provides an additional 4,736 square feet and can be accessed from the existing site thanks to the addition of an upgraded hallway that connects the two buildings.
The new space includes:
- a new operating room,
- Six additional recovery beds,
- a patient support area, and
- an updated medical device reprocessing department.
Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health, says Albertans deserve timely access to surgeries, adding that they should be able to get them close to home.
“The expansion and renovation of the Rocky Mountain House Health Centre will increase its capacity so more Albertans can get the surgeries they need when they need them,” says LaGrange. “Through the Alberta Surgical Initiative, we are improving access to surgical care and funding projects across the province, including in rural communities like Rocky Mountain House.”
Jason Nixon, MLA, Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre, also commented on the completion.
“The expanded Rocky Mountain House Health Centre will help ensure more residents can access surgeries and receive the care they need in a timely manner,” says Nixon.
“Investments like these in rural Alberta matter and I’d like to thank Minister Guthrie and Minister LaGrange for delivering on this project that will double our surgical capacity in Rocky Mountain House.”
Alberta Infrastructure and Alberta Health Services share the responsibility for delivering ASI projects. Alberta Health Services leads the delivery of smaller projects, while Alberta Infrastructure delivers capital projects over $5 million. Alberta Infrastructure says the project was completed on time and on budget and that approximately 85 construction-related jobs were created. Alberta Infrastructure says it is working on twenty ASI projects in communities across Alberta, including Brooks, Calgary, Camrose, Edmonton, Fort Saskatchewan, Innisfail, Lethbridge, Olds, Ponoka, St. Albert and Stettler.
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