New sprinkler system means hospital patients could be moved
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/05/2013 (4495 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Brandon Regional Health Centre will undergo rotating closures of beds over the next three months and some patients may be temporarily transferred to other health facilities while a new sprinkler system is installed at the hospital.
Prairie Mountain Health CEO Penny Gilson said every effort will be made to minimize disruption and make the transition as “seamless and smooth” as possible.
“We’ll certainly work with the patients and their families to make it (the) least stressful as possible,” Gilson said. “But our reality is that we really do need the Brandon beds for the people who need that level of service.”
Gilson said they will be monitoring the occupancy at the BRHC and the level of care that patients require.
“As needed, we will have to move units around within (BRHC), but if we become extremely tight for beds, we will need to look at moving people to potentially alternate facilities,” Gilson said. “It will be based on where people can first and foremost, get safe, quality care.”
Depending on what is available at rural health centres, patients may be transferred to Souris, Carberry or other nearby facilities.
“It could be any of those that have beds available, that’s really going to be the issue,” said Brian Schoonbaert, chief operating officer at BRHC and vice-president of finance, capital and support services with Prairie Mountain Health.
“And of course when transferring, you’re always having to ensure that there’s a doctor on the other end that we can transfer the care to.”
Gilson said she understands patients and their families may feel some inconvenience if they have to be temporarily transferred, but it will only be done if there are “acutely ill patients needing a level of care that only BRHC can provide.”
“We need to make every effort to ensure cancer patients can get their surgery, cardiac patients can be admitted and trauma victims have access to a level of care needed for their recovery,” Gilson said.
During the renovations, the BRHC could at times see up to 17 beds temporarily closed.
The sprinkler installation is necessary to bring the facility up to current fire protection standards. Work is slated to begin next week and is expected to be complete by mid-September.
“This particular upgrade is actually putting sprinkler systems in the old general centre, the rest of the facility is all done,” Schoonbaert said.
The sprinklers will be installed to the inpatient areas on floors two to five.
“We’re looking forward to this being done so things can be back to normal,” Schoonbaert said. “We just ask for people’s patience during this time. I’m sure we’re going to get through it, there might be a few hiccups, but overall I’m pretty confident that things will be fine and that people will be well cared for.”
» jaustin@brandonsun.com