Chatham-Kent Health Alliance has announced a health care and facility planner for the next phase of the redevelopment project at the Wallaceburg site.
Agnew Peckham, a multidisciplinary consulting firm that provides services exclusively to health care organizations, will perform the work.
“They are experts in this area,” said Lori Marshall, health alliance president and CEO, in a media call on March 10. “We know that they have a great reputation.”
The firm completes upwards of 70 consulting assignments annual and has a proven track record of success, the Health Alliance added.
Marshall said the consultation work could take about a year to complete.
“It is a significant undertaking,” she said.
Architectural firm DIALOG Ontario Inc. will work in partnership with Agnew Peckham on this next phase.
“We are pleased to have this opportunity to work with CKHA on this very important capital project. Our scope of work reflects our understanding of CKHA’s requirements for functional programming services, combined with our knowledge of the Ministry of Health capital planning process and its application to this project,” said Lucy Brun, partner for Agnew Peckham, in a release.
“CKHA has developed a long-term plan for facility redevelopment of the Wallaceburg site that encompasses its emergency, laboratory, diagnostic imaging, and medicine services. This plan sets the foundation for the future model of care, encompassing services to address current and future community needs.”
The Wallaceburg site redevelopment began with the approval of the replacement power plant project from the Ministry of Health in 2018, with an estimated cost of $8.1 million dollars and a provincial grant of up to $7.3 million.
Marshall said due to the impact of the pandemic on materials, supply chains and the trade industry, completion of the replacement power plant is now expected in May.
In December of last year, the ministry approved the health alliance’s Stage 1 submission, allowing the organization to move to Stage 2 in the planning process.
This stage involves planning for the next phase of the build, including the emergency department, medicine beds, diagnostic imaging and laboratory.
The community will be engaged as this stage progresses.
“We are delighted that the hospital has taken the next step in the redevelopment of the Wallaceburg site,” said Mary Lou Crowley, president and CEO for the hospital foundation, in the release. “With the support of our amazing community, the foundation is excited to raise the funds needed to see this important project through to completion.”
The Wallaceburg site continues to focus on the community’s needs with its current services, including:
- 24-hour emergency department;
- Five inpatient beds adjacent to the emergency department;
- Ambulatory care including specialty clinics;
- Diagnostic Imaging including radiology and ultrasound;
- Respiratory therapy;
- physiotherapy;
- Laboratory services.