By Sarah Stone

Obstetric unit highlighted in 3P planning session

Feb 3, 2015 | 11:21 AM

The Prince Albert Parkland Health Region (PAPHR) is a step closer to a possible new hospital or the expansion of the current facility.

The second of three 3P planning events on the Victoria Hospital concluded on Friday.

PAPHR CEO Cecile Hunt said the week-long planning event focused on redeveloping the ambulatory care areas of the hospital, which included chemotherapy, hemodialysis, laboratory, pharmacy and obstetrical units.

In the first 3P event, the group examined the emergency room, diagnostic imaging, operating room and recovery room.

“We continue to focus on planning for either the redevelopment or reconstruction of a new acute care environment for the Prince Albert and surrounding area,” Hunt said.

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She explained they concentrated on how patients, their families, staff, equipment, supplies, medication, flow through the building.  “And we do know that, for example in the obstetrical area, it’s been undersized.  It was originally planned for 1,000 deliveries a year and in this fiscal year ending March 31 of 2015, we anticipate we’ll have between 1,500 to 1,550 deliveries.”

The 3P planning groups included patients, staff and physicians.  One thing they looked at closely was how to make the obstetrical unit meet the needs of current and future patients.  This includes ensuring families of patients are comfortable, she added.

“So, space for family or husbands and partners to be able to be present during this very important and to stay in those first critical hours after delivery, so they can really bond as a family,” she said.

A third planning process is scheduled for June that will delve into the rest of the in-patient units and the remainder of the support areas.

Once that process is complete, Hunt said, the PAPHR alongside architectural partners will look at the best connections of each meeting, how people flow from one part of the building to the other and form that into a report.

“Then we’ll prepare a report for the ministry of health and hope that we can get some approval down the road for either the redevelopment or the construction of a new building,” she said.

Money for these planning sessions has come from the provincial government.

“And it’s very clear that good planning will lead to good results—we need to keep focused on that.  I don’t think I also, again, have seen the strength and benefit that patients bring to the planning process.  Their views and their perspectives are critically important in this.”

sstone@panow.com

On Twitter: @sarahstone84