(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Sheldon Spackman

two more units being monitored

COVID-19 outbreaks in two units at Red Deer Regional Hospital

Dec 31, 2020 | 4:46 PM

Alberta Health Services (AHS) say they are continuing to implement pandemic response measures at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre (RDRHC) to ensure the site has capacity for those who need the specialized care it provides.

Heather Kipling, Communications Director for AHS Central Zone, says that includes establishing inpatient units at the hospital for COVID-19 positive and/or presumptive patients who require hospital admission.

“As of December 31, there are 41 COVID-19 positive patients in care at RDRHC, including 10 in the ICU,” Kipling told rdnewsNOW.

“The ICU at RDRHC has 12 beds, with another six specialized ICU beds in the Coronary Care Unit (CCU). We have the ability to increase the number of ICU beds as needed.”

Kipling notes there are two units at the hospital on a COVID-19 outbreak and two more on watch at this time.

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“Temporary measures have been implemented on those units,” says Kipling. “Both units on outbreak are temporarily closed to new admissions of non-COVID-19 patients. Visitors are restricted to these units.”

Kipling says stringent cleaning measures are in place at the hospital, including three times daily cleaning of high touch surfaces and twice daily cleaning of shared areas occurring around the clock.

“Our outbreak protocols have been effective in managing such situations before and we are confident in our ability to continue providing safe, quality care for those who need it at RDRHC.”

Kipling also points out that Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre continues to work with rural sites in the Central Zone to support transferring those patients who don’t require the specialized acute care to other centres.

“We have been working to discharge patients who can safely return home with Home Care or family supports in place, or to transfer patients to other sites within the Zone if necessary while they wait for placement in continuing care,” she explains.

“In early January we will be postponing a minimal number of elective, non-urgent procedures to help create additional acute care capacity. At this time, 12 procedures have been postponed between Jan. 4 to 8 and patients have been notified directly.”

Kipling admits AHS may need to postpone additional surgeries as needed to ensure they have the necessary acute care capacity, and that those decisions will be shared directly with patients and the public as they are made.

“The Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre is open and safe to all patients needing care,” Kipling stressed. “AHS has worked to ensure that there is available acute capacity for anyone needing care. We encourage everyone to follow the guidelines and restrictions put in place by the Chief Medical Officer of Health to limit the spread of COVID-19.”