Emergency Department upgrade at Raymond Health Centre begins next week

Construction is set to begin next week at Raymond Health Centre to upgrade facilities and enhance patient flow and experience in the emergency department, along with renovations to lab and diagnostic imaging departments already underway.

Staff and patients will continue to access services through the main entrance. 

Beginning June 11, a temporary ED will open in another wing of the health centre to maintain services and provide quality care.

No closures are anticipated to facilitate the move, with temporary spaces opened and fully-equipped to maintain care prior to closing the current ED space for construction. 

To create the temporary spaces, capacity at the health centre will be temporarily reduced to nine beds from 12 in acute care, and to five beds from seven in the ED.

Throughout construction, lab and diagnostic imaging services will remain available to patients who require care.

The project, funded through the Alberta government’s Rural Health Facilities Revitalization Program, will expand and modernize the ED – while leaving room for future expansion, as the community grows. 

A new digital imaging space opening later this year will create a more efficient layout and allow for the installation of new X-ray technology.

The renovation, anticipated to be completed next spring, will increase the ED’s footprint by
80 per cent, creating room for more beds, improved patient flow and updated infrastructure – while enhancing patient privacy and safety.

Additional upgrades in other areas of the hospital will include the modernization of key mechanical and electrical systems throughout the facility, a new phlebotomy room in the lab and provisions for future expansion of the existing laboratory.

Non-urgent walk-in care is available at the ambulatory care clinics in Coaldale and Picture Butte for people who need to see a doctor, but don’t need to be seen in the ED. 

Patients seeking emergency care can also access the emergency department at Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge, Cardston Health Centre and Milk River Health Centre.