It appears to be the first solid step by Alberta Health Services to address the issue of lengthy ER wait times in our province. Officials revealed a new medical assessment unit at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, which consists of 21 new beds.
"That frees up space there for others who are coming in with other emergencies who might need an acute care bed setting," said Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky.
Health officials say up to 20 patients a day come to the Royal Alexandra Hospital ER and need to be admitted. And until recently, most waited more than 24 hours to get a bed. Now, about half of those patients are being admitted within 12 hours. And officials have a goal to get that down to eight hours.
Patient Theodore Borys arrived at the ER a week ago to a very busy wait room.
"They were very, very busy," said Borys' wife Valerie.
Borys had to wait overnight before being admitted to the hospital's new ward, but is thrilled with the level of care he has received.
"Everything was looked after very well for me," he said.
The new unit will cost Alberta Health Services $6.4 million a year. And Alberta Health Services has added 40 positions to tend to the area.
But CEO and president, Dr. Stephen Duckett, admits a number of the positions are being covered by current staff.
"You've got a team of people, not only nurses and doctors but allied health science people as well," said Duckett.
Last month, the province announced it would be taking steps to address the lengthy wait times of Alberta ERs. Officials made the call that patients would not spend more than four hours in the emergency room. The health minister has pledged those targets will be in place by Christmas, and Duckett is backing up that promise.
"They will. That's not an option," he said.
Patients spend between one and three days in the new ward. At the end of their stay, they are either discharged or admitted to a regular in-patient ward at the hospital.
With files from Laura Tupper
