(Abby Zieverink / EverythingGP staff)

By Abby Zieverink

Grande Prairie Regional Hospital

Grande Prairie Regional Hospital opens, now accepting patients

Dec 4, 2021 | 6:00 AM

After over a decade of construction and various delays, the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital has finally opened its doors to the public and is now accepting patients.

As of 6:00 a.m. on December 4, AHS staff members have begun to transfer patients to the new state-of-the-art hospital.

MORE: Patients moving from QEII to GPRH December 4

Construction on the new hospital began back in 2011. It was initially hoped construction would be completed in 2015, however, the project faced several delays, including the halting of work in 2018 as the project changed general contractors.

It was finally announced in June of 2020 that the first phase of construction had finally been completed and was then turned over to AHS for cleaning and commissioning on July 1 of that year.

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The cost of the new hospital comes in at $850 million and includes 1,100 parking stalls, with an additional 250 surface stalls.

Below are pictures from inside the new hospital, which will be used to care for Peace Region residents for generations to come.

The 243-bed facility will offer, healthcare services ranging from surgery, critical care, and emergency services, radiation therapy services, and acute clinical programming will be available to patients across the region.

“Main street” at GRPH (Abby Zieverink / EverythingGP, staff)

The new regional hospital has 11 operating rooms suites (ORs), including two ORs supported by the Alberta Surgical initiative and a dedicated obstetrical OR in the maternity unit.

Day surgery waiting area (Abby Zieverink, EverythingGP, staff)

Surgical Operating room (Abby Zieverink, EverythingGP, staff)

Maternity unit (Abby Zieverink / EverythingGP, staff)

One large focus for the GPRH is what AHS describes as a “state of the art” cancer centre, which includes two radiation vaults, making it the fifth facility in Alberta, and the first in the north health zone to offer radiation therapy.

Cancer Unit (Abby Zieverink EverythingGP staff)

(Abby Zieverink / EverythingGP, staff)

(Abby Zieverink / EverythingGP staff)

Also in the hospital, is one MRI, and three CT scanners, which includes one designated for cancer services.

(Abby Zieverink EverythingGP staff)

(Abby Zieverink / EverythingGP staff)

The mental health unit at the new regional hospital will include 14 adult spaces, six psychiatric ICU spaces, and four geriatric spaces at the opening.

Mental Health Unit common space (Abby Zieverink / EverythingGP staff)

AHS says an additional four youth psychiatric spaces will be created as a separate pod within the mental health unit, while five pediatric mental health spaces will be able in a stand-alone section, in an effort to further support younger patients with mental health supports.

Stand alone pediatric mental health unit, common space (Abby Zieverink / EverythingGP staff)

Also in the hospital, a designated space is in partnership with the Grande Prairie Regional College for the education of future nurses and other healthcare professionals.

(Abby Zieverink / EverythingGP staff)

GPRC Health Education Centre (Abby Zieverink / EverythingGP staff)

Student simulation room, GPRC Health Education Centre (Abby ZIeverink / EverythingGP staff)

The GPRC Indigenous Engagement Committee is working to bring a diverse set of perspectives from throughout the region, including the creation of an Indigenous cultural area.

(Abby Zieverink / EverythingGP, staff)

With a large focus on nature and outdoor spaces, the facility features several large windows, three outdoor courtyards and over 60 large photos of nature, taken by local photographers in the Peace Region.

(Abby Zieverink / EverythingGP staff)

(Abby Zieverink / EverythingGP staff))

Upon opening, the new GPRH will not be open at full capacity.

The GPRH is located at 11205 110 Street in Grande Prairie.

(Abby Zieverink / EverythingGP staff)

As of December 4, 2021, the QEII Emergency Department, and Acute Care services are closed to the public. Anyone seeking help is asked to go to the new hospital.

Although AHS says the exact scope of services that will be offered at the QEII is under review, officials add some community based ambulatory care will remain at the hospital including:

• Dialysis
• Allied Health
• Community respiratory programs
• Mackenzie Place continuing care
• Support services for the above programs, as required

AHS says anyone requiring laboratory services can visit Alberta Precision Laboratories’ community collection sites at Junction Point or Grande Prairie College & Community Health Centre. For more information on lab hours, locations, and to book an appointment, visit albertaprecisionlabs.ca.