May 4, 2011
Province Starts Construction on Phase One of Misericordia Redevelopment
– – –$43-million Project Provides New Facilities for Ophthalmology, Diagnostic Centre, PRIME Programs
Construction will begin immediately on a new, two-storey facility at the Misericordia Health Centre (MHC), which will house the Eye Care Centre of Excellence, the Diagnostic Centre and the PRIME program (Program of Integrated Managed-care of the Elderly), Premier Greg Selinger announced today.
“We are building on the Misericordia Health Centre’s century-long tradition of outstanding health service to our community,” said Selinger. “This new facility will further enhance their much-deserved reputation for diversity, innovation and specialized care, and it demonstrates our commitment to move health care forward and strengthen our health-care system.”
The province will invest $38 million in MHC’s renovations and construction, with an additional $5 million from the Misericordia Health Centre Foundation. The project will consolidate the provincial Eye Care Centre of Excellence and include space for a future University of Manitoba ophthalmology residency program. It will relocate the Diagnostic Centre, to be located conveniently adjacent to Urgent Care and it will also introduce a second seniors’ PRIME site.
“PRIME is an innovative program started at Deer Lodge Centre that helps our seniors maintain independent community living while receiving important health and wellness services that cater to their specific and individual needs,” said Health Minister Theresa Oswald.
“MHC plays a critical role in our community, offering a diverse and unique range of health-care programs,” said Arlene Wilgosh, president and chief executive officer, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. “This new facility will ensure that we continue to meet the growing health-care needs of our citizens.”
“Misericordia’s redevelopment project is designed with the future of care in mind,” said Rosie Jacuzzi, MHC president and chief executive officer. “Our specialized diagnostic programs reflect a move towards community-based health care, while taking into account our aging population.”
MHC has provided quality, faith-based health care to Manitobans since 1898 and currently offers a wide range of community health-care programs including walk-in urgent care, eye and pediatric dental surgery, the Sleep Disorder Centre, 150 interim-care beds and Misericordia Place, a 100-bed personal-care home. MHC also operates the Provincial Health Contact Centre including Health Links-Info Santé, the 24-hour, seven-day-a-week telephone information service.
Phase one of the Misericordia redevelopment which started in 2007 with the Sleep Disorder Centre, is expected to be complete by the fall of 2013.
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