A new 19-bed inpatient transition unit at the QEII Ambulatory Care Centre hopes to alleviate capacity pressures on the local health system.
Often referred to as “Alternate Level of Care” or “ALC” beds, AHS says the beds are intended to serve as a more temporary care setting for patients who no longer need acute care, or are waiting for a continuing care home space to open up.
Patients in the new unit will receive care from registered nurses, healthcare aides, and doctors, which AHS Senior Operating Officer for Grande Prairie Candice Edey says will directly benefit patients who might need a bit of additional support during the transition period.
“They may not require traditional, acute-level hospital care but they could benefit from more time to recover or additional supports to safely return home,” she says.
The beds are expected to be made available for patients later in April, with the hope they will free up acute care capacity at the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital, especially during the busy respiratory season.
Grande Prairie-Wapiti MLA Ron Wiebe says he is happy to see that the space continues to prove its use, even after it ceased its operations as a full hospital in 2021.
“I’m happy to see the former QEII hospital space being further utilized to expand and enhance care for residents of the Grande Prairie region,” he says.
Despite it’s retirement from full time hospital duties, the QEII continues to provide a number of community-based healthcare services.
