AHS looks to expand hospital emergency, diagnostics and lab services in Strathmore

Shannon LeClair

Times Reporter

 

Strathmore residents are in a bit of an uproar since hearing of the provincial government’s plan to remove the long term care patients from the hospital and move them into Sagewood. 

Dave Shorten, Alberta Health Services (AHS) executive director for rural health and facilities says that by relocating the long term care facility it will allow the hospital to expand emergency, diagnostics and laboratory services. Expansion has been identified as a future goal for Strathmore, though at this time there have not been funds allocated for the project. 

“Based on planning that was done several years ago, the volume of patients we see in the Strathmore Emergency Department, and what we hear from staff and physicians, we know that we need to expand these service areas,” said Shorten in an email interview. 

“The community has asked for more living options for seniors, and we’re providing with the 70 supportive living beds and 35 long-term care beds scheduled to open this fall at Sagewood.  The relocation of the long-term care spaces to Sagewood will provide us with the opportunity to expand these areas, pending government approval.”

Concerns over staff jobs have been raised, and when asked, Shorten stated that AHS staff members are unionized and therefore their respective agreements would apply. 

“There is a specific process for this in these agreements. Employment opportunities will exist at Sagewood, and the staff will have opportunities to apply for other positions within AHS,” said Shorten.

Another concern that has arisen is about the possibility of seniors having to pay large amounts to stay in their home community. Shorten said the government set accommodation rates across the province for all publically funded continuing care spaces, which includes both publicly funded and privately operated facilities. 

Ensuring that we protect future generations of seniors, by providing them the care they need at a rate that is affordable, is a forefront issue for many. 

“Seniors consistently tell us they want the most home-like independent care possible, and this option meets those needs,” said Shorten. 

“Sagewood will offer the full range of seniors services within its facility for seniors to age in place. Long-term care is for individuals with the highest care needs, and although a very small number of seniors actually require long-term care, this level of care will be provided at Sagewood. All facilities providing care are held to and measured against a set of provincial standards to ensure quality care.”

There are no new patient beds being considered for the space in the hospital. The 23 seniors currently in long-term care at the hospital are expected to move this fall when construction of phase 2 of Sagewood is completed