Beautiful is one word used to describe the transformation at the Ashern Lakeshore General Hospital.
Construction on an 18,000 square-foot single-storey addition began in January of 2023. The new inpatient unit added 12 beds, bringing the total to 26. The addition includes a spiritual care space and a new occupational therapy and physiotherapy space.
Candace Blahey is the director of health services for acute care.
"Each of our rooms has floor-to-ceiling windows. Private rooms and private bathrooms," said Blahey. "We have an extended palliative care space with an adjacent family room for anyone wanting to stay. Each room has ceiling track lifts if that's required, which is lovely."
The space was moved into on May 6. All patient rooms are single-bed rooms. This increases patient privacy and improves infection prevention and control.
"It's amazing. I know it sounds cheesy, but it's a little bit of a dream come true," continued Blahey. "Ashern and the surrounding communities needed something. They need a nice and beautiful space to be cared for. There are so many words to describe how wonderful it is that this renovation is complete."
Now fully operational for over a month, the newly opened space has paved the way for long-awaited renovations to the emergency department. Currently, the department has just five treatment areas to serve a population of approximately 10,000 people from the town and the surrounding area.
"Five spaces are just not enough to provide care," ended Blahey. "The old inpatient unit is going to be expanded into the new emergency department. The existing emergency department will remain as is."
The 5,400-square-foot expansion will add eight treatment spaces, increasing the total to 13. It will feature a dedicated interview and consult room, and convert hallway stretcher bays into fully equipped treatment rooms.
