An innovative healthcare project will build up the transitional care centre in West Bedford and bring much-needed beds into the healthcare system faster.
The Province and Shannex will partner to expand and enhance the transitional care centre at 21 Hogan Court in West Bedford. Shannex will purchase the facility and lands for $46 million, take over renovations of the existing building and build a 110-room addition, for a total of 178 rooms. Shannex will own the building once renovations are complete.
“One of the biggest challenges in healthcare right now is the need for beds. It impacts hospital capacity, emergency department wait times and ambulance offloads, and contributes to stress for staff and patients. We know that there are hundreds of beds being occupied by patients who should be in other, more appropriate facilities,” said Michelle Thompson, Minister of Health and Wellness and Minister responsible for Healthcare Redevelopment. “This partnership means more beds at the West Bedford centre will be built faster. Shannex has demonstrated experience in providing care and we are pleased to partner with them on this exciting opportunity.”
Shannex will begin building the addition while renovations are ongoing, with the additional rooms opening in two years, much sooner than the proposed transitional care facility in Bayers Lake. That site will no longer be used as a transitional care centre and will instead be set aside for other healthcare needs.
The government and Shannex have entered into an early works agreement so Shannex can take over renovations and construction in April. Total cost of the project will be released later this spring.
The partnership will reduce overall building costs, create greater efficiencies that will result in significant savings, increase the number of beds and allow for a model of care to better serve and support more Nova Scotians. New upgrades to the facility will ensure patients with more complex needs can be supported onsite.
Patients at the centre will be referred there by Nova Scotia Health based on clinical criteria.
“We believe transitional healthcare represents a real improvement for the future of healthcare in Nova Scotia, ensuring patients who would otherwise wait in hospital receive the right support as they transition to a place they call home. We are grateful for the opportunity and for the trust being placed in us, and we look forward to meeting and exceeding the expectations of patients and our community.”
— Jason Shannon, President, Shannex
“This transitional care centre will provide the right level of care for patients who today wait in settings that are not oriented to their unique needs. It will mean better care and at the same time ease strain on our system. Working with Shannex, we will reach that goal faster than we could have otherwise.”
— Karen Oldfield, interim President and CEO, Nova Scotia Health
Quick Facts:
– a transitional care centre accepts patients from hospital who don’t need hospital care and need to transition to home care, long-term care, or other forms of care in the community
– Shannex has an existing five-year contract to provide operational services to the transitional care centre
– Shannex is a Nova Scotia company that provides long-term care, assisted living and home care in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Ontario
Via Province
