EDMONTON – The Strathcona Community Hospital in Sherwood Park is preparing to open its doors on May 21.
The $130 million facility will serve about 92,000 Strathcona County residents, plus people living in east Edmonton. The new facility will mean about 30,000 fewer patients will have to make trips to Edmonton for emergency medical care.
The hospital will give patients access to laboratory services, a CT scanner, an intravenous therapy clinic, diagnostic imaging as well as an around-the-clock emergency department.
Out patient clinics will be phased in after the initial opening and will include women’s health, senior’s health, as well as orthopedic and sports medicine.
However, there will be no obstetrics, day surgeries or beds for patients who need 24-hour care. The government indicated in last year’s budget that there wasn’t the money, or the need for Phase 2 of the hospital.
Patients who are seriously ill will be treated at the Strathcona Community Hospital, stabilized and then transferred to the appropriate acute care hospital in Edmonton.
Urgent care services offered at Health First Strathcona will be integrated into the new hospital after the centre closes at midnight on May 20.