Maple Creek Integrated Facility Taking Shape

The new Southwest Intergrated Healthcare Facility in Maple Creek is starting to take shape.

Despite delays caused by the amount of rainy weather in the area, the Cypress Health Region reported near-completion on the structural steel in the mechanical and universal care platforms, structural joists on the universal care platform area, ambulance bay grade beams, mechanical and electrical work ongoing within the crawl spaces, and continuation of concrete pours in the foundation and walls.

They will be working on the ambulance bay masonry structure, further joist and structural steel installation in many areas of the building, steel deck, and roofing/steel stud over the next while.

Scott Matthiews Interview"They had so much rain over the southwest corner that we were about a week behind," said Cypress Health Region Director of Change Management Scott Matthies. "Given the weather we've had in the last week and what's coming forward they feel like they will be able to recap that lost time quite quickly."

"What we're projecting at this point is facility completion at the end of May."

Staff and management have been actively planning the development of the model of care for the new integrated facility.

"The new facility really represents a new standard for us and the region in terms of technology," Matthies said. "Particularely on the level of communications... how we provide access for our patients out of a rural centre into either a regional or tertiary centre. Looking at how we coordinate those technologies to provide access is a priority for us over the next 3 to 6 months."

The health region noted the next several months will see concentrated efforts from staff and management to form an appropriate staffing mix and identify the specific clinical pathways through which community members will access care.

A number of staff from the Hospital and Cypress Lodge participated in a Change Leaders workshop.

"That looks at equipping out staff with everything they need to be able to deal with moving from our current model of care to our future model of care," Matthies added. "What that might mean for them personally and what that might mean for them professionally in terms of how they provide services."

The region is planning to hold an equipment tradeshow in early fall where staff will be able to see and interact with new pieces of equipment and furnishings that will be selected for the building.

For up to date visual looks of the new facility, the Cypress Health Region’s website can be visited at www.cypresshealth.ca.