The Government of Alberta announced that the new Misericordia Community Hospital emergency department will significantly increase capacity, providing care for three times more patients than originally built for.
When open later this month, this $85-million space is an important step in meeting the needs of communities in west Edmonton. Patients and their families will now benefit from a new spacious, secure and cutting-edge facility designed with their health care needs and patient experience as the top priorities.
“This space is long overdue. This state-of-the-art medical facility triples capacity while addressing immediate needs in west Edmonton. This is a crucial step forward in our commitment to ensuring healthier communities. Our government remains committed to working alongside our partners, like Covenant Health, as we work to build a health care system that puts the needs of Albertans first,” said Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health.
The upgraded emergency department has the capacity to accommodate about 60,000 patient visits per year. This increased capacity will help reduce wait times and improve patient experience. The new 5,500-square-metre area includes:
- six ambulance bays
- 64 treatment rooms
- two radiology rooms
- five isolation rooms
- 18 acute care spaces
- a decontamination suite
“At just over 5,500 square metres, this new expanded facility will add much-needed urgent care spaces and will improve patient flow and experience. This expansion was built while the rest of the hospital remained fully operational. I’m thankful for the talented tradespeople and professionals who pulled this off while ensuring the safety of patients and space for hospital staff to work,” said Pete Guthrie, Minister of Infrastructure.
“The completion of the new emergency department is a significant step towards having a modern, vibrant Misericordia hospital that will meet the needs of the communities in west Edmonton and northern Alberta for generations to come. We are proud that this $85-million project will enable the hospital to provide a compassionate, safe care environment for 60,000 emergency visits per year, addressing service pressures in the Edmonton Zone. This space illustrates the innovative quality of patient-centred care that Covenant Health has long been known for,” said Patrick Dumelie, CEO, Covenant Health.
“We are tremendously grateful to our donors who helped us meet our $2.3-million commitment for specialized equipment and staff training, family-centred care and comforting environments that will benefit patients, loved ones and front-line staff when they need it most. Government and donor funds often go hand in hand to see these transformational projects come to fruition, and we are grateful for the government’s $85-million investment and the opportunity to help advance and innovate care at this new, state-of-the-art facility,” said Lisa Munro, president and CEO, Covenant Foundation.
Featured image: (Covenant Health)
