(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

AHS Update

General surgery patients continue to be diverted from Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre

May 9, 2022 | 5:09 PM

Officials with Alberta Health Services (AHS) have provided an update on the temporary diversion of general surgery cases that continue at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre.

Heather Kipling, Communications Director, AHS – Central Zone, provided the update through a written statement on Monday.

Kipling says some general surgery patients continue to be diverted from Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre (RDRHC) to other sites to ensure they get the care they need.

“As of 10 a.m. on May 9, 27 general surgery cases have been diverted out of the Central Zone since the temporary diversion began on April 29. During the same timeframe, 41 general surgery cases (both urgent and scheduled) have been completed at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre,” writes Kipling.

She says there were nine general surgery cases scheduled for completion at the hospital on May 9 as well.

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“This diversion is specific to the general surgery program only at this time, due to several factors including a shortage of clinical assistants who support the General Surgery program in Red Deer,” explains Kipling.

“Depending on their condition, patients continue to be diverted to other surgical sites within the Central Zone – including Camrose, Rocky Mountain House and Drumheller – or to facilities in Edmonton and Calgary.”

Kipling further points out, that procedures seen by the general surgery program can include conditions like appendicitis, bowel resections, laparotomies, and gallbladder removals.

Meantime, general surgery patients with scheduled procedures, emergency cases that cannot safely be transferred, and on-call coverage for existing inpatients will continue to be provided by general surgeons at RDRHC, according to Kipling.

“In addition to the ongoing diversion of some general surgery cases, there was a brief gap in on-call coverage for General Internal Medicine overnight on May 8, from 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.. No patients were diverted out of the Zone during this time for access to GIM physicians,” noted Kipling.

She says multiple teams are working together between sites to ensure as smooth a transition in patient care as possible and AHS is working hard to alleviate the challenges at RDRHC.

“Efforts include ongoing recruitment to fill three General Surgery Clinical Assistant positions at RDRHC, as well as three positions for Clinical Assistants for Anesthesia. Recruitment is also underway for Cardiology and General Internal Medicine physicians, with additional physicians being sought for the Emergency Department as well.”