Since the Dauphin Regional Health Centre's full closure in July as a result of flood-related damage, they've made great strides in restoring services. First with the reopening of the emergency department, then the opening of their portable CT scanner - now they're boosting services once again with the reintroduction of dialysis to the DRHC.
"We will be restoring dialysis services back in Dauphin effective November 2nd. That service will be located in the Community Health Services building," said Treena Slate, PMH CEO.
With the new emergency department and CT scanner, there have been some reductions in the hospital's capacity in those areas, but that won't be the case with dialysis services. Slate said they'll have the same number of beds they did before the closure.
"The temporary unit will have the same number of treatment spots that the usual unit has, and so we'll have the same capacity to care for patients as we used to have in the hospital," said Slate.
This restoration marks another big step forward in the restoration of services to the DRHC, arguably the biggest yet. This service, and both the emergency department and CT scanner, have been reintroduced with a high level of success because of how involved DRHC staff have been in the process. Slate has consistently said the clinicians using these spaces have been directly involved with the contractors and construction crews, to make sure the spaces meet their needs, and the needs of their patients.
"We've had the clinical teams really involved in that planning work, ensuring that the construction contractors are aware of the contingencies, what pieces are reliant on other pieces, to ensure that we're being really methodical about what services we can open, and when," said Slate.
Dialysis services are set to return to the Dauphin Regional Health Centre on November 2nd. As for what's next, Slate has said they plan to bring in mobile trailers to supplement certain services, such as sterilization and a pharmacy.
