Stollery Children’s Hospital opens new and improved pediatric surgery clinic

The Stollery Children’s Hospital says its new space at the Kaye Edmonton Clinic is designed to improve the hospital experience for patients of all ages.

Stollery Children’s Hospital says the Monday opening of its new pediatric surgery clinic will accommodate “growing demand” in a “thoughtfully designed space.”

The hospital’s foundation raised $13.8 million in donations for the project, which sits beside the Kaye Edmonton Clinic on the University of Alberta campus. The provincial government gave another $4.85 million.

Amenities include a new reception and waiting area, updated clinic and procedure rooms, multidisciplinary rehabilitation spaces, a urodynamics room and new radiology, medical and information technology equipment.

“It’s about creating a place where parents can feel confident knowing that when their child needs care, they will be supported in an environment designed around their needs, their dignity and their well-being,” Alberta primary and preventive health services minister, Adriana LaGrange, told a press conference on Friday.

Families say the new space is also accommodating for older kids and teens needing care.

“There are charging ports at every chair, which I know sounds crazy, but when you’re waiting for hours upon hours, sometimes it’s great to be able to charge your devices,” Dana Nagel, a mom at the press conference, said. “Maybe you’re answering emails from work or need (devices) to keep your kiddos engaged.

“I find it’s the small things that make a difference to families … The small things end up making your life so much easier.”

The older pediatric surgery space the hospital used was located in a clinical science building on the University of Alberta campus, which senior operating officer Christine Westerlund said was not large enough for demand and “outdated.”

The Stollery says its previous surgery clinic waiting room offered 43 seats but saw an average of 150 visitors daily.

“This space was purposely designed. We had families involved, the clinical team involved … A pediatric population serves children from birth up until the age of 18. So we needed to ensure the space actually would resonate with either the three-year-old or the 16-year-old,” Westerlund said.

The Stollery’s new clinic opens officially on Monday. Work on its new standalone hospital plans on the University of Alberta’s south campus are ongoing.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Brandon Lynch