Rocky Mountain House Health Centre in Alberta will be getting a $10-million surgical upgrade.
The project will build a new operating room to support the surgical program and upgrade the medical device reprocessing department, where reusable medical devices are cleaned and sterilized. The construction is also part of the Alberta Surgical Initiative, which aims to provide surgeries to all patients within wait times recommended by medical experts.
“We’re committed to building a stronger health system for all Albertans. Better, more modern health facilities across rural Alberta will ensure quality care into the future. Expanding this facility will mean more surgeries closer to home for residents in Rocky Mountain House and central Alberta.” said Minister of Health Tyler Shandro.
The hospital currently has only one operating room, where about 150 procedures are completed each month, including about 60 general and gynecological surgeries, 90 endoscopies, plus hernia repairs, carpal tunnel repairs and other minor procedures.
With the addition of a new dedicated operating room, the hospital will have capacity to perform 120 surgeries each month – or double the number now. The existing operating room will become a procedure room and will offer triple the number of endoscopies and minor procedures, or about 240 procedures each month.
The project will also include additional recovery rooms and patient support areas.
Due to the layout of the current facility, the medical device reprocessing and the operating room areas will be constructed in a stand-alone addition on the north side of the hospital property that will be connected to the facility by new hallways. This will provide needed space and help reduce service disruptions and impact to patient care and other site operations during construction.
Enhancements to rural surgical programs in Alberta Health Services’ Central Zone are expected to reduce pressure on sites such as the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre and enable patients to be treated closer to home.
Design work on the project is underway and is expected to be complete in early 2022. Once the design is approved, construction timelines will be finalized.
