Revamped Misericordia ER opens end of month, triples capacity

The new Misericordia Community Hospital emergency department will open later this month with promises of tripling patient capacity, says Alberta Health Services.

The $85-million ER department will be able to accommodate around 60,000 patient visits per year, reducing wait times and providing high-quality medical service.

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The new 5,500-square-metre area includes six ambulance bays, 64 treatment rooms, two radiology rooms, five isolation rooms, 18 acute-care spaces and a decontamination suite.

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“This space is long overdue. This state-of-the-art medical facility triples capacity while addressing immediate needs in west Edmonton,” said Health Minister Adriana LaGrange in a Thursday news release.

LaGrange noted the facility puts the needs of Albertans first, as the government works with its partners, such as 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,” said Covenant Health CEO Patrick Dumelie.

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“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.”

The new department was built while the rest of the hospital remained fully operational, added Infrastructure Minister Pete Guthrie.

“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 Guthrie in a news release.

The original emergency department was built in 1969 and made to accommodate 25,000 patients annually. It has been beset by maintenance issues in recent years, including flooding in 2013 that forced the cancellation of dozens of surgeries, and another 2018 flood that closed the emergency department for days.