Tag Archives: Leader Capital Project

The capital expansion project in Leader, including various renovations and enhancements to the interior of the existing long-term care side of the facility, continues to reach new construction milestones and remains on schedule to open its doors as the Leader and District Integrated Healthcare Facility in summer 2018.

The first of three wings to undergo renovations at the Western Senior Citizens Home was completed on October 27 with residents re-occupying the wing on October 30. The completed work included safety improvements with the installation of ceiling lifts, a new handheld nurse call system, and improved hand rails. New LED lighting, paint, curtains, and flooring were also installed. The small-house model of care is being introduced, promoting resident choice and addressing known challenges with traditional long-term care delivery models such as loneliness and boredom.

Edna Dieterle and Art Trautwein, residents at the Western Senior Citizens Home, expressed their satisfaction.

“We are pleased with the new renovations. The rooms seem to be bigger and we like the new dining area that is smaller with fewer people. It allows for good conversation and a feeling of closeness,” they shared.

“The ten residents to move back into our first completed wing were very happy to see their new space and were excited with their new kitchen and dining areas,” commented Brenda Schwan, Vice President Continuing Care and Capital Project Lead. “Residents have found the new look to be fresh and the atmosphere very welcoming.”

Renovation work has now shifted to the west wing and nursing station area. Each wing takes approximately 10-12 weeks for renovations to be completed.

Meanwhile the $12 million capital construction attached to the Western Senior Citizens Home continues to progress. Recent activity has included the installation of roof cap sheeting to create a water tight surface, ongoing ductwork, electrical, and plumbing services including mechanical systems, and the final enclosures of the building including exterior door installations. The majority of internal wall studding has been completed and gypsum boarding (drywall) is scheduled to begin next week. External cladding is also being installed.

When the expansion project and renovation work is completed the facility will be renamed, as decided by community members, the Leader and District Integrated Healthcare Facility. It will be the sole location of all of the community’s health services bringing together acute care, emergency medical services, community health services, primary health care, and long-term care. The facility’s design incorporates input from staff, physicians, patients, and family representatives.

A construction camera remains in place to document progress and captures a new birds-eye image of the site every 15 minutes.

Western Senior Citizens Home after renovations completed

Western Senior Citizens Home before renovations completed

The new dining and kitchen area promotes a small-house model of care delivery

Interior photo of the capital construction project, showing completed steel stud work

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Leader and District Integrated Healthcare Facility Update

August 21, 2017

Advancements continue on construction project in Leader

The capital expansion project in Leader is reaching new milestones within the construction process and continues to be on track to open in summer 2018.

Construction activity in initial areas is as much as 80% complete, including framing and roof trusses in the acute care wing. Other notable progress is 30% completion of roof sheeting and the beginning of window installation. Work is ongoing in the areas of drywall and cement board, mechanical and electrical, Styrofoam insulation in exterior walls, Blueskin composite membrane around window and door openings, and walls and trusses for the ambulance bay. Delivery of wall and roof cladding is scheduled for the near future.

“When one looks back over the past four months, construction has taken us from an empty shell with only cement pilings visible to the near completed exterior shell and mezzanine that we see today,” noted Brenda Schwan, Capital Lead and Vice President of Continuing Care for the Cypress Health Region. “The exterior shape of the facility is now distinctly visible and we are all excited to see the project move through the various construction phases towards eventual completion.”

A construction camera remains in place to document progress and captures a new birds-eye image of the site every 15 minutes. The high resolution images may be viewed at any time on the Cypress Health Region website at www.cypresshealth.ca.

Renovation work is continuing on the interior of the existing Western Senior Citizens Home. The renovations include safety improvements such as the installation of ceiling lifts, a new handheld nurse call system, and improved hand rails. A new electronic charting system is being installed that will further improve resident safety and staff communication. Aesthetic improvements will add new LED lighting, paint, curtains, and flooring. It is anticipated that the first of three wings to be renovated will be completed and ready for occupancy as early as the end of October.

The renovations will transform the existing long term care facility into three 10-bed homes. The new model, known as the small house model, focuses care on resident choice and aims to reduce known challenges with more traditional models of care such as loneliness and boredom.
In anticipation of the small house model being introduced, variable breakfasts have been implemented for residents who are temporarily occupying a wing at the Leader Hospital during renovations. Variable breakfasts allow residents to begin their day when they wish to. Continuing Care Aide staff are preparing and serving breakfast to residents when they choose to wake up. The care team is also actively working on preparations for a new electronic health record system that will be introduced in the facility when the first 10-bed home is complete.

When the expansion project and renovation work is completed the facility will be renamed, as decided by community members, the Leader and District Integrated Healthcare Facility. The facility will be the sole location of all of the community’s health services. The integration of services will bring together acute care, emergency medical services, community health services, primary health care, and long term care via the existing Western Senior Citizens Home. The facility’s design incorporates input from staff, physicians, patients, and family representatives.

Progress from April to August 2017

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Leader and District Integrated Healthcare Facility Update

July 6, 2017

Expansion project sees construction move forward throughout summer months

Construction continues to progress on a $12 million expansion project that will result in the complete integration of health services in Leader. The project site is a busy area of activity with noticeable construction elements being completed each day.

Wright Construction, awarded with the construction tender in November 2016, has been on site for several months completing initial work on the Leader and District Integrated Healthcare Facility. This includes finishing the pouring of cement pilings and foundation and placement of all structural steel. Work has now shifted to wood framing the exterior walls and mechanical components being installed on the second floor mezzanine level.

“We are seeing a lot of progress and it’s been enjoyable to watch the outside shape of the facility come together,” commented Brenda Schwan, Capital Lead and Vice President of Continuing Care for Cypress Health. “In three short months the site has gone from an empty foundation to the framing being completed. We look forward to construction moving ahead throughout the summer months.”

Following the completion of exterior wall framing on the main floor and mezzanine level, crews will begin to construct the roof of the facility.

A construction camera has been placed on the southeast corner of the property, capturing and updating birds-eye images of the site on a 15 minute cycle. The high resolution images and more information on the Leader capital project can be viewed at any time on the Cypress Health Region website at www.cypresshealth.ca.

The facility’s design has included input from staff, physicians, patients, and family representatives. Construction is anticipated to be complete in spring 2018, with the facility opening shortly thereafter. When finished, the facility will be the sole location of all of the community’s health services including acute care, long term care via the existing Western Senior Citizens Home, emergency medical services, community health services, and primary health care.

Leader and District Integrated Healthcare Facility progress as of July 6, 2017

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Leader and District Integrated Healthcare Facility

June 1, 2017

Community vote leads to new name for capital project in Leader

The Leader and District Integrated Healthcare Facility is the name of the new integrated facility being constructed in Leader. The Cypress Regional Health Authority (CRHA) passed a motion at its May 31 meeting to officially accept the community’s recommendation for the new name.

An opportunity to collect community feedback to help decide the name was recently led by the Leader Trust Advisory Committee. Community members were encouraged to complete an online survey or submit a paper vote and indicate their preference from a list of two possible names – the Leader and District Integrated Healthcare Facility or the SaskRiver Integrated Healthcare Facility. The results indicated overwhelming support for the Leader and District Integrated Healthcare Facility option.

“This facility will serve a large geographical area in Leader and surrounding communities and there was no better way to decide the permanent name for the completed facility than by asking those who will use it each and every day,” commented Tim Geiger, Chair of the Leader Trust Advisory Committee. “We received many votes through the online and paper options and it was very obvious that the community wanted to include Leader and District in the name of the facility. We thank the Cypress Regional Health Authority Board for accepting the recommended name and we look forward to the completion of the Leader and District Integrated Healthcare Facility.”

The $12 million capital project is being constructed adjacent to the existing Western Senior Citizens Home and includes the attachment of acute care, community health services, primary health care, and ambulance services. When complete, the two facilities will be connected to form an integrated facility that will house all of the community’s health services.

A construction camera has been installed on-site and is documenting progress. A new photo is captured every 15 minutes and viewers can scroll back in time to look at previously captured images. The construction camera is available any time of day on the Cypress Health Region website at www.cypresshealth.ca.