By Sheldon Spackman

Red Deer Regional Hospital expansion back on AHS high priority list

Dec 24, 2018 | 12:29 PM

The redevelopment and expansion of Red Deer Regional Hospital has once again made its way onto Alberta Health Services high priority capital projects list.

Officials say the Multi-Year Health Facility Infrastructure Capital Submission aims to outline the overall planning and management of health infrastructure in the province, while providing the Ministers of Health and Infrastructure with the information needed to recommend appropriate future funding for health infrastructure.

The proposed $750 million expansion was previously on AHS’s capital priorities list but was removed last year, prompting strong outrage from area doctors and community at large throughout AHS’s Central Zone.

However, the report notes the projected capital cost and its associated operating expenses have yet to be confirmed at this point.

The Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre Master Plan 2014 identified the need for additional inpatient bed capacity at the site and recommended construction of a new inpatient tower and simultaneous expansion of supporting services to meet short and medium-term service demands.

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Officials add that a Needs Assessment completed in 2015 validated that Master Plan, with a number of key factors identified supporting near-term expansion and redevelopment.

Plans that have central Alberta doctors also calling for a cardiac catheterization lab in Red Deer so heart patients don’t have to spend valuable time in transport to Calgary or Edmonton.

According to officials, Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre (RDRHC) is currently not meeting AHS performance measure targets for emergency room wait times, length of stay and has longer wait times for surgical procedures.

The report also points-out medical beds have been consistently operating well over 100 per cent occupancy for a number of years, in addition to RDRHC experiencing significant growth in acuity as it role as a regional referral centre increases.

Tertiary services in Calgary and Edmonton which refer patients sooner to RDRHC after treatment are also said to be increasing inpatient demand at the hospital.

Officials say an update to the original Needs Assessment is currently under review by Alberta Health and Alberta Infrastructure, with additional input from zone and site leadership, staff and other stakeholders underway.

A detailed project description and scope of work is expected to be determined upon completion of the Needs Assessment update.

Budget 2018 included $1 million for “Red Deer Health Capital Planning”, with the funds initially earmarked for advancing the business case of the project.

A Business Case provincial officials say is still pending.

(With files from Alberta Health Services)