Rural Albertans will be able to access surgeries quicker and closer to home now that the expansion and renovation of the Rocky Mountain House Health Centre is complete.

The Rocky Mountain House Health Centre has been providing residents with health care since 1971, including surgical services. Alberta Infrastructure has completed an addition to the facility, which includes a new operating room. This will enable approximately 120 Albertans per month to receive surgery, doubling the number of monthly surgeries. This additional, brand-new operating room is also expected to decrease the wait lists for surgeries.

The expanded Rocky Mountain House Health Centre provides an additional 440 square metres (4,736 square feet) and includes:

• a new operating room,
• 6 additional recovery beds,
• a patient support area, and
• an updated medical device reprocessing department.

The new spaces can be accessed from the existing site thanks to the addition of an upgraded hallway that connects the two buildings.

“Completing the expansion and renovation of the Rocky Mountain House Health Centre is a significant step forward in delivering Alberta Surgical Initiative projects province wide. This investment into health care infrastructure will increase surgical capacity, helping Albertans get treatment when and where they need it.”

The Rocky Mountain House Health Centre upgrade is part of the Alberta Surgical Initiative (ASI), which aims to enhance surgical capacity across the province by expanding and maximizing existing health care space. Over the next three years, the 2024 Capital Plan is providing $313 million for ASI projects throughout the province.

Alberta Infrastructure and Alberta Health Services share the responsibility for delivering ASI projects. Alberta Health Services leads the delivery of smaller projects, while Alberta Infrastructure delivers capital projects over $5 million.

“Albertans deserve timely access to surgeries, and they should be able to get them close to home. The expansion and renovation of the Rocky Mountain House Health Centre will increase its capacity so more Albertans can get the surgeries they need when they need them. Through the Alberta Surgical Initiative, we are improving access to surgical care and funding projects across the province, including in rural communities like Rocky Mountain House.”

Alberta Infrastructure is working on 20 ASI projects in communities across Alberta, including Brooks, Calgary, Camrose, Edmonton, Fort Saskatchewan, Innisfail, Lethbridge, Olds, Ponoka, St. Albert and Stettler. Lethbridge will be the next community to benefit from a completed ASI project. The expansion of two operating rooms and more surgical inpatient rooms at the Chinook Regional Hospital is anticipated to be completed later this fall.

“The expanded Rocky Mountain House Health Centre will help ensure more residents can access surgeries and receive the care they need in a timely manner. Investments like these in rural Alberta matter and I’d like to thank Minister Guthrie and Minister LaGrange for delivering on this project that will double our surgical capacity in Rocky Mountain House.”

Quick facts

• The total budget for the Rocky Mountain House Health Centre ASI project was $15 million.
• This Alberta Infrastructure project was completed on time and on budget. Approximately 85 construction-related jobs were created during the project.
• In addition to the new building, other renovations include new mechanical and electrical building systems.
• Alberta Infrastructure is managing other ASI projects at the following locations:

• Brooks Health Centre
• Calgary

• Alberta Children’s Hospital
• Foothills Medical Centre
• South Health Campus

• Camrose – St. Mary’s Hospital

• Edmonton

• Grey Nuns Community Hospital
• Misericordia Community Hospital
• Royal Alexandra Hospital
• Walter C. Mackenzie Centre (University of Alberta Hospital)

• Fort Saskatchewan Community Hospital
• Innisfail Health Centre
• Lethbridge – Chinook Regional Hospital
• Olds Hospital and Care Centre 
• Ponoka Hospital and Care Centre
• St. Albert – Sturgeon Community Hospital
• Stettler Hospital and Care Centre

• Other ASI projects completed by Alberta Infrastructure:

• Grande Prairie Regional Health Centre (completed in July 2022)
• University of Alberta (completed September 2023)