Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre Redevelopment

As preparations for construction of the new patient tower continue at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre (RDRHC), work is underway to relocate services from the Ambulatory Annex, which will become part of the footprint for the new tower. By relocating services from the Annex to other areas of the hospital, we are taking steps to ensure care continues to be accessible to patients throughout construction.

Among the services moving from the Annex space is the Ambulatory Collection Laboratory.

At the end of the day on December 9, 2024, the Ambulatory Collection Lab will be moved to the Lower Level of the hospital. There it will be located beside the hospital’s main lab, across from the Garden Court Café cafeteria. The collection lab will begin operation in its new home as of December 10.

The Ambulatory Collection Laboratory serves those patients who are under the care of ambulatory clinics, such as the Medical Specialty Clinic, the Central Alberta Cancer Centre, the pre-admission clinic and Diagnostic Imaging. Community patients requiring lab services such as blood draws can access one of two community labs in Red Deer. One is located in Bower Plaza (#108, 2325-50 Ave.) and the other is in the downtown (#101A, 5002 55 Street in the Elements @ River’s Edge building).

Appointments at the community labs can be booked online at www.albertaprecisionlabs.ca or by calling the appointment line at 1-877-702-4486.

Patients coming to the Central Alberta Cancer Centre (CACC) are advised that three parking stalls adjacent to the facility's main entrance will be temporarily closed to facilitate the removal of the coloured rocks and boulders in between the CACC and the Ambulatory Annex building.

The stalls will be closed from 8 a.m. on Monday, December 9, until 4 p.m. on Friday, December 13 at which time they will reopen for patients.

Only the three stalls mentioned are impacted at this time. All other parking spaces in the area will continue to be accessible. We recognize that the closure of these stalls may cause an inconvenience for patients. Parking Services will continue their work to keep available parking spaces near the CACC free for patients and will be doing regular monitoring of the area to support anyone experiencing challenges in finding parking.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as this work is completed.

Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and anticipated donor support, cardiac catheterization will be available at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre (RDRHC) sooner than expected.

That was the announcement on October 18 (RDRHF Announces Cath Lab Opening 5 Years Ahead of Schedule (rdrhfoundation.com)) when the Red Deer Regional Health Foundation and Alberta Health Services (AHS) shared the news that they’ve signed an MOU to support construction of a temporary cardiac cath lab which is expected to be complete within 24-30 months.

This will establish cardiac catheterization ahead of the RDRHC Redevelopment Project, which will see two permanent labs constructed. The two permanent labs will be constructed back-to-back and work together jointly, while the temporary one will be standalone.

To create a home for the temporary cardiac cath lab, the existing physicians lounge at the hospital will be converted. Space will then be repurposed elsewhere in the facility to ensure physicians continue to have a quiet space to get away from the demands of the day.

Preliminary design plans are already in place for the interim cardiac cath lab and through the MOU, the Foundation will be providing the financial support for the essential architectural, mechanical, and electrical upgrades.

Once the two permanent cardiac cath labs are completed through the Redevelopment Project, the interim cardiac cath lab will be transformed into a Vascular and Neurology lab.

By establishing an interim cardiac catheterization laboratory, AHS will be able to provide a new cardiac service to patients at RDRHC years sooner, which will help reduce the need for patients to travel to other facilities. This will also support our ongoing efforts to recruit and retain the talented healthcare professionals needed to provide care every day to our patients. We are continuing our efforts to expand the support services available to compliment the cardiac cath lab, including recruitment of additional cardiologists, and planning for more comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation.

Patients and visitors to Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre (RDRHC) will notice changes to traffic flow and parking at the site, as work continues on both the parkade expansion and the hospital redevelopment.

The three public entrances to the RDRHC site will be reduced to two:

• Entrance from 50A Ave. remains open and will be one-way effective Oct. 15, with traffic exiting to 39 St. Please pay close attention to signage for public access.
• Entrance from 39 St., accessed from the west off 52 Ave., remains open as the entrance closest to the public South Parkade.
• Closed effective Oct. 15: The entrance from 52 Ave. between the West public parking lot and Central Alberta Cancer Centre (CACC) parking lot.

As for parking changes at the site, the public should note that the West public parking lot will be closed, effective Oct. 15.

A portion of the Central Alberta Cancer Centre (CACC) public parking lot will also be closed. Members of the public and site visitors are asked to please reserve this lot for patients of the CACC and their family members only.

As a reminder, work on expanding the South parkade continues to necessitate the closure of 39 St. between 52 Ave. and 51 Ave. at this time. The parkade remains open for patients, public and staff parking while construction is underway.

Signage and flag persons are on site to direct traffic. Motorists are asked to please slow down when driving through the site and obey directions. Pedestrians are also asked to please keep to posted sidewalks for their safety around construction traffic.

Planning of the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre (RDRHC) Redevelopment Project is well underway, with multiple activities occurring within the site which will become the norm as we execute this project over the next several years.

Everyone will start seeing a variety of construction workers, designers and engineers throughout the facility that we are not accustomed to seeing on a usual basis. In addition to providing advanced notification to impacted areas about this increased activity, AHS' Project Team is offering a series of information sessions for staff, physicians and volunteers to share an overview of the project, where we’re at, and where we’re going. Drop-in sessions being offered on these dates:

• Tuesday, August 6
• Thursday, August 8
• Friday, August 16

Sessions will be offered from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., noon to 12:30 p.m. and from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Dining Room B. Members of the Project Team will be on hand to answer questions.

During their March 14 Information Session on the Project, Alberta Infrastructure shared schematic design drawings of the new patient tower portion of the Project, as well as a video simulating a flyover of the new tower and new power plant. You can view the flyover video here:

• Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre redevelopment flythrough (youtube.com)

Alberta Infrastructure is hosting a public information session to provide updates on the Red Deer Hospital expansion project:

• March 14, 2024, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
• The Chalet, Westerner Park, 4847A 19 Street, Red Deer
• Project representatives will be on hand to answer questions.

Staff and physicians are invited to come learn more about the RDRHC redevelopment transition planning work with site and Zone leadership.

When June 26 and 27, 2023

Time: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Where: Critical Care Link (2nd floor)

Drop-in style

Community members are invited to a public information session to learn more about the complex building process, and the roles of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Ministry of Health and Alberta Health Services (AHS) in capital project delivery.

January 26, 2023