Under Alberta Surgical Initiative, the Government of Alberta is investing in Covenant Health’s two critical Edmonton hospital sites to alleviate surgical backlogs, reduce surgical wait times and provide high-quality surgical care for Albertans
Approved capital projects at Grey Nuns Community Hospital (GNCH) and Misericordia Community Hospital (MCH) will modernize surgical spaces and upgrade each site’s Medical Device Reprocessing Department (MDRD). These improvements will enhance surgical capacity, support efficient patient care, and help both hospitals meet current and future healthcare needs.
About the projects
These projects work together to strengthen each hospital's ability to deliver safe, efficient surgical care.
Medical Device Reprocessing Department upgrades
Medical Device Reprocessing Department upgrades are intended to ensure medical devices and instruments are properly reprocessed and sterilized to support safe surgical care and reliable equipment performance.
The MDRD upgrade projects will improve reprocessing efficiency, extend the lifespan of medical devices, reduce the need for frequent equipment replacements, and lower both operational and capital costs. These improvements will also support Infection Prevention and Control standards and help ensure uninterrupted clinical services. and ensure medical device reprocessing services continue to meet current clinical and regulatory standards.
Alberta Surgical Initiative improvements
Under the Alberta Surgical Initiative, at both GNCH and MCH, existing cystoscopy rooms will be converted into two operating rooms per site, supporting approximately 2,000 additional surgeries annually at each location.
In addition, surgical equipment upgrades will support the expanded operating room capacity and help ensure surgical services can be expanded with modern, efficient surgical care environments.
Overall, these investments will help reduce surgical wait times, address the surgical backlog, and improve access to care for Albertans.
During construction
Work will take place in phases to reduce disruption to patients, visitors and staff. Care will continue throughout construction, with most activities taking place outside public and patient care areas.
Supporting access to surgery
These projects are part of the Alberta Surgical Initiative, a Government of Alberta program that aims to expand and improve surgical capacity across the province. By enhancing both surgical and medical device reprocessing capacity, these projects will play a key role in reducing wait times and improving access to care for Albertans.
Partners
