New healthcare facility in Maple Creek nears completion

Published on February 23, 2015

After a series of unexpected delays and service location changes, the community of Maple Creek is excited by the prospect of construction being completed at the Southwest Integrated Healthcare Facility.

Construction completion at the Southwest Integrated Healthcare Facility is anticipated by mid April, which would pave the way for a May opening of the $37 million healthcare facility.

The Cypress Regional Health Authority provided a construction update at their February 11 meeting, noting that work will be completed over the coming weeks.

"We are anticipating, if the schedule continues to go according to plan, and the general contractors are also attempting to pick up where they can as far as scheduling goes, we're hoping to have substantial completion in that area in mid April. Which would then allow us to get in there, do our more substantial cleans, move the remainder of the equipment and furnishings into those areas, and hopefully be ready for occupancy some time in early to mid May," explained Bryce Martin, Vice President of Communications and Stakeholder Relations.

A shortage of skilled tradespeople resulted in a delay from the originally scheduled summer 2014 opening, with a rescheduled mid-November 2014 possession date then stretched into early in 2015.

The construction completion plan will focus on wholly finishing work in one area before moving into other areas. Phase one consists of the Universal Care Unit area and a good portion of the Acute Care area in the Integrated Facility, while phase two is the remainder of the Acute Care area and the three Long Term Care houses.

"Phase one, we are now to a point they're just going through the final deficiency lists with the general contractor in phase one, and we're going to be to a point where we can gain substantial completion on that one for February 23."

By completing this initial portion of the facility, it will allow the health region to begin moving in equipment and furnishings into the rooms. It will also permit staff to start being orientated to their new surroundings in advance of the opening.

However, there is still painting and flooring being installed in the long term care area, so the entire facility remains a construction zone.

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New healthcare facility in Maple Creek nears completion