This release was issued under a previous government.
Other features of the $198-million centre include an operating room, an endoscopy suite and a procedure room. There are also four lab stations, two ultrasound rooms and two X-ray rooms – double the numbers of each of those services at the previous facility.
“With more acute care and continuing care beds, the new Edson Healthcare Centre provides tremendous benefits to patients and their families from across the region. This expansion in service speaks to our government’s commitment to supporting health care delivery in rural Alberta. This centre was designed to meet the health care needs of Edson and area families today and into the future.”
“This new facility is not only cutting edge in terms of equipment, design and layout, but it also offers a unique model of how we can provide health care to a community. Bringing the majority of health services in the community under one roof, including community health services and continuing care, will improve access of care to patients in the area.”
“Our new health care facility is absolutely fantastic! We couldn’t be happier with the province’s investment in our community. With one location for all services - or as I like to call it, one-stop-shop for health – it will truly serve the needs of our residents today and into the future.”
“The Edson Healthcare Center will bring significant improvements in quality of care and available resources to our area’s residents.”
The majority of health services in the community will be provided at the new facility, including acute care, emergency, inpatient, obstetrics, public health, mental health, home care and primary care through the Community Health and Wellness Clinic. Services are supported by pharmacy, rehabilitation, ultrasound, X-ray and laboratory. The number of acute care beds is increasing to 24 from 22 and continuing care beds to 76 from 50. These expanded service levels will create approximately 18 new fulltime health care positions.
The new Edson Healthcare Centre is expected to see close to 3,000 outpatient visits and more than 16,000 emergency department visits in the next year.
Alberta Health Services and the Evergreen Foundation have reached a tentative agreement for the foundation to lease the former Edson Healthcare Centre. The former centre will house Evergreen Foundation lodge residents while a new lodge is constructed.