Health-care facilities in Yellowknife are undergoing a major procedure to create a new campus of care model that allows for co-location of services with the $350-million Stanton Territorial Hospital, which opened in May 2019.
If you are used to visiting your family doctor at the Primary Care Centre downtown or the Frame Lake Community Health Clinic, or use outpatient rehabilitation services at Centre Square Mall, those services will start transitioning May 24 and take until June 24 to set up in the old Stanton Hospital building, now called the Łıwegǫ̀atì Building (pronounced KLE-WA-GOON-TEA).
Remaining services at the Primary Care Centre will be: same-day appointments; the diabetes clinic; the outpatient lab; and diagnostic imaging.
The Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority (NTHSSA) stated: “With building renovations complete, the focus has shifted to operational readiness of the facility, including the preparation for a staggered approach to move-in and service commencement.”
The changes are planned in three phases:
- Phase 1: This involves the moving of integrated care teams from Yellowknife Primary Care Centre and Frame Lake Community Health Clinic, as well as all outpatient rehabilitation services staff, currently located in the Centre Square Mall and Stanton Medical Clinic. Services will be moving into the Łıwegǫ̀atì Building between May 24 and 29, with first patient day planned for May 30.
- Phase 2: This phase is scheduled to begin in June 2024 and includes moving the staff and patients from the Extended Care unit currently in Stanton Territorial Hospital into the Łıwegǫ̀atì Building. The exact date is still being determined.
- Phase 3: Long Term Care – a service that is not currently offered – will be available to assist those who are unable to live independently, require onsite nursing care or 24-hour supervision. Details are still being worked out.
Members of the public are invited to an open house of the Łıwegǫ̀atì Building on Wednesday, May 15.
This 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. open house is intended to give residents an opportunity to view the space before clinics begin their move-in process.
A virtual tour of the building is under development and will be shared to the NTHSSA website and through social media once complete.
