AHS to add additional waiting areas to ease stress of patient influx at Alberta Children’s Hospital – Calgary

Alberta Health Services has added additional waiting areas to help ease the stress of patient influx at Alberta Children’s Hospital.

As the number of respiratory illnesses in Alberta’s youth continues to rise, so does the pressure on the health care system.

AHS said there has been a 20 to 30 percent increase in daily visits to its emergency department. On Nov. 25, both the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary and Edmonton’s Stollery were “at or above 100 percent inpatient capacity.”

“The hospitals are able to accommodate patients over 100 percent of normal capacity during peak times,” Kerry Williamson, an AHS spokesperson said in a statement to Global News on Saturday. “Our care teams are doing everything they can to see and treat patients as efficiently as possible during this time.

Due to the increased volume of patients, AHS said a “fast track area” has been activated to expedite treatment for emergency patients with less serious conditions. Care areas are also opened and staffed where possible to help cope with the surge.

“ACH has added additional waiting area space to be used during periods when the hospital’s emergency department is at capacity,” Williamson noted. “A heated trailer will be located next to the emergency department to provide additional sheltered waiting space when needed.

“This additional space is a comfort measure to help with pressure and weather conditions and will not be used as a primary treatment area.

This additional space is expected to be operational in early December.

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