By Angela Hill

Renovations underway at hospital lab

Dec 16, 2010 | 5:15 AM

Construction is underway in the laboratory at Victoria Hospital.

“We’re doing the renovations to make some room for new equipment as well as to improve the work flow of the area,” said Lennie Balicki, regional director of diagnostic services with the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region.

The new equipment was purchased to replace aging blood-analysis machines. Balicki said it was becoming a concern that both machines would stop working at the same time and the lab would be left without a backup. The new ones were purchased to deal with the continuously increasing workloads.

“We wanted to make sure the capacity would last and be adequate for 10 years” she said.

A wall needed to be moved and the flooring is being redone to accommodate the new machines. Moving the wall will also improve efficiency as staff will be able to take more direct routes. The lab is also getting new counters, which will improve working conditions, said Balicki.

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As an added bonus, these new counters are modular. So as the proposed renovations begin on Victoria Hospital, the counters will be able to shift with the lab says Balicki.

The changes began in November.

“We’re hoping that we can have construction wrap up around the middle of January, but experience often tells us that it will be a little longer, so we’re hoping for sure by the first of February,” Balicki said.

The cost of the renovations is expected to run about $100,000 with some of the work being done internally, which is saving some money.

There hasn’t been any impact on patients, aside from a brief slowdown of service as they prepared for the renovations said Balicki.

“I haven’t heard any complaint from anyone,” she said.

As each portion of the lab undergoes changes, equipment is being shifted to free up space.

ahill@panow.com