The neo-natal intensive care unit will grow from seven to 10 beds, each room accommodating only one patient, making for better family centred care and a calmer environment, said Glenda Hawthorne, director of women’s/ children’s services AHS.
“Babies have got to pick up on that vibe,” said Hawthrone. “We currently have four labour and delivery rooms. That number will increase to nine. Two operative birthing suites will be able to handle two C-sections at a time if needed.”
There’ll also be two large rooms with whirlpool tubs.
An isolation room will provide greater infection control.
“We currently have babies so close together we are not meeting infection control standards,” said Iwasiw.
A pre-natal bereavement room will provide privacy for a family dealing with the death of a baby.
The current maternity section will be renovated to look new and increase from 14 to 18 beds, each in a private room — i.e. no sharing.
The Margery E. Yuill Cancer Centre will be moved to the new building providing more than double the space with plenty of natural light, said, Brenda Hubley, executive director of community oncology AHS.
“There will be more privacy, visual appeal and a comforting, less clinical, environment,” said Hubley. “Esthetics is important and a healing environment is key in terms of the patients’ experience and how they cope.”
Research and cancer clinical trials are expected to increase the workload and require some additional staff.
There will be space to provide
supportive programs for cancer survivors.
The renal unit will move into the new wing with dialysis patients being able to enjoy lots of natural daylight and views from the windows.
To the right of the current main entrance, where more than half the space is currently used for administration offices, the entire area will become the emergency department. This will be one of the last renovation projects.
“It will be about three times larger than the current emergency department,” said Brenda Ashman, director critical care and medicine AHS.
The planning process has taken into account the need to limit the spread of infection and a triage area to process patients through the system more quickly. There are some innovative approaches being considered including the possibility of patients, who don’t need a stretcher, being able to relax in a reclining chair.
“We are looking for better privacy and efficiencies,” said Iwasiw.
A decontamination room is planned and a separate entry point for patients arriving by ambulance.
There’ll be areas where patients can wait for test results, or talk with a community transition team or social worker prior to being discharged. There’ll also be a bereavement room for families needing privacy as they grieve over the sudden death of a loved one.
Ashman is in the unique position of having worked in the old hospital building, she works in the current one, and is looking forward to working in the new wing.
Dr. Vince DiNinno, associate medical director at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital, speaks about the expansion project.
Cal Niebergall, clinical liaison for major capital projects at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital, speaks about the expansion project.
Linda Iwasiw, vice president of acute care at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital, speaks about the expansion project.
Glenda Hawthorne, director of women's/ children's services, at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital, speaks about how the expansion project will improve maternity and labour and delivery care.
Linda Tessman-Potvin, director of surgical services/ambulatory care at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital, speaks about how the expansion project will affect local surgeries.
Brenda Ashman, director of critical care and medicine at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital, speaks about how the expansion project will improve emergency room care. Ashman remembers working at the hospital when the current ER opened in 1985.
“The planning process brings back the memories and good feelings of all that,” said Ashman. “It feels good to be able to say I will have worked in the three buildings during my career.”
The current building, built in 1985 for acute care, is now overflowing, said Iwasiw. When the new wing is opened it will be returned to an acute care tower.
There will be no need to hire additional staff prior to the grand opening.
“On the day the wing opens, unless there are big changes, we will manage with our current staffing levels,” said Iwasiw.
The hospital expansion is budgeted to cost $220-million with completion in the winter of 2016.
Excavation and the pouring of
concrete piles was well underway in early February. Construction of the concrete columns and floors for the six-storey building of about 23,200 sq. m. is expected to take about a year to complete, said Larry Raymond, hospital construction manager, Alberta Infrastructure.
The exterior finishes for the new wing were chosen to give a modern, efficient and clean appearance. The materials include brick, prefinished aluminum panels and ceramic glazing on glass called "frit" — a finish that will grant a view for those inside the building looking outside but not for those standing outside.
The roof on the new wing will support a structure for a heliport with a ramp for easy movement of patients into the hospital. ■
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