Construction begins on new Ambulatory Care Centre at QEH
EDITORIAL STAFF
The Guardian
An architect’s image of the planned new entrance to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown. Special to The Guardian
Construction has officially started on the new 80,000-square-foot Ambulatory Care Centre at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
“I am very pleased with the great strides taking place at the QEH through the various redevelopment projects,” said Premier Robert Ghiz while speaking at a sod-turning event Thursday.
“Improving and enhancing the provision of health-care services for Islander remains a priority of government. The new Ambulatory Care Centre at the QEH is an example of one of the many accomplishments toward fulfilling that commitment.”
Ambulatory Care refers to the provision of same-day health-care service that is scheduled and delivered on an outpatient basis — it does not require an overnight stay in hospital.
When completed, the Ambulatory Care Centre will house out-patient services in one area and include resources/services such as the asthma education centre, health information centre, eye clinic, blood collection, blood transfusion procedures, wound care, casting, administration of intravenous antibiotics, cardiac and respiratory diagnostic services (i.e. cardiac stress testing, electrocardiogram and lung function tests), endoscopy and cystoscopy services, hemodialysis service, and a shared clinic space to host specialty clinics such as orthopedics, urology and others.
“Centralizing out-patient services to one location within the hospital will allow for more effective and efficient provision of ambulatory care services,” said Health and Wellness Minister Carolyn Bertram.
“It is exciting to see the progress our integrated health-care system continues to make in providing services that are patient-focused. In addition to being more convenient for patients, the new Ambulatory Care Centre will also allow for greater staff efficiencies and help reduce pressures on the emergency department at the QEH, where some of these services are currently provided.”
As part of the changes taking place in association with construction of the new Ambulatory Care Centre, a newly designed front entrance and lobby area will be constructed.
The new entrance will be much closer to the public parking lot, reducing the distance patients and visitors must walk from their car to the front door.
The information desk and admitting department will be located closer to the entrance, and the QEH Foundation will be relocated to the main level where it will be more convenient to access compared to its current location on the hospital’s third floor.
