Stollery to open expanded pediatric emergency department
January 23, 2012
EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Alison Redford opened Edmonton’s first emergency department dedicated to pediatric and family-centred care today.
A $26.3-million renovation at Stollery Children’s Hospital expanded and separated the Stollery’s emergency department from the University of Alberta Hospital.
“Sick children and their families from Edmonton and northern Alberta will benefit from the Stollery’s new enhanced emergency department,” said Premier Redford. “This project was identified as one of our health care priorities and this facility will provide families with the resources and expertise they require in an environment that’s dedicated to caring for our children and their families.”
The Government of Alberta contributed $21.2 million to the project; the other $5.1 million came from the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation.
“The Stollery ED expansion is a tribute to the exemplary work between our government partners, AHS and the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation,” said Catherine Roozen, Alberta Health Services interim chair.
The renovated space will be officially open to patients next month. It provides a separate ambulatory entrance for patients and their families, along with a separate child-friendly waiting room, triage area and registration area. A new family consultation room, enhanced work space for the pediatric emergency physicians and a trauma room will open later this year. About 1,240 square metres – 13,350 square feet – of newly constructed space were added to the existing ED.
Nearly 28,000 pediatric emergency department visits were made to the Stollery last year – more than double the 12,000 visits recorded when the ED opened 12 years ago. The newly expanded ED is built to accommodate up to 35,000 visits per year based on appropriate staffing capacity.
“Thanks to community support, the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation was able to help make the dream of a dedicated pediatric emergency a reality,” said Jennifer Wood, President and CEO of the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation. “Children will have access to the best in pediatric care while in their own child-friendly environment. The Foundation is truly excited to be a part of this joint initiative.”
The Stollery and UAH EDs will continue to share certain resources, such as diagnostic imaging and a cast room.
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