CEI Architecture has been chosen for the next phase of the Cariboo Memorial Hospital (CMH) redevelopment. The firm was selected to develop a Concept Plan for CMH redevelopment priorities, which includes a new inpatient unit.

CEI Architecture was chosen as the successful proponent from a list of five consulting companies who responded to the CMH Redevelopment Request for Proposal.

"By moving forward with this next step we are getting closer to future expansion at Cariboo Memorial, as proposed in the Master Site Plan," says Interior Health Board Chair Norman Embree. "Interior Health believes the future redevelopment of the hospital is important, because of the role it plays in the provision of acute health care services for Cariboo Chilcotin residents."

Through the Concept Plan, CEI Architecture will summarize the capital and operational requirement specific to the scope of the project. In addition to the new inpatient unit, there will be renovations to the Ambulatory Care, Emergency and Pharmacy areas. CEI Architecture will complete preliminary drawings and space requirements.

It is expected that CEI Architecture's work will be complete by spring 2014.

Prince Edward Island's first collaborative emergency centre began operating in the evening on Nov. 4, 2013. This new centre will restore 24-hour emergency service to Western Hospital.

For the last several months, the hospital's emergency department has only been open for fourteen hours a day due to a lack of consistent physician coverage. Many of the department's emergency doctors also operate family physician practices, limiting their availability.

The new centre will operate under a model similar to Nova Scotia's collaborative emergency model. During the day, the department will operate as a traditional emergency department, staffed with physicians and nurses. At night, it will be staffed with highly-trained paramedics and emergency nurses, with a physician providing on-call oversight.

"Over the past few months, Health PEI has been working closely with staff, physicians, Island EMS, community partners and stakeholders to sort through various processes to ensure that we are able to seamlessly transition the emergency department at Western Hospital to a Collaborative Emergency Centre during overnight hours," says Dr. Richard Wedge, CEO of Health PEI. "This new model of emergency care is key to ensuring that we are able to offer reliable emergency and primary health care services to our patients and residents when they need it."

Officials say this model will ensure stable emergency services while improving access to primary care services.

"This new model will ensure that the doors at Western Hospital remain open 24 hours a day and free up our family physicians, allowing for an additional 140 primary care patient appointments per week," says PEI's Minister of Health and Wellness Doug Currie.

Moncton Hospital

Moncton's Dr. Georges-L. Dumont University Hospital and Moncton Hospital are receiving $16 million in capital investments.

"I am pleased that our government is able to make these important investments in these two Moncton hospitals," says New Brunswick Health Minister Hugh Flemming. "Upgrading aging technology now will ensure that our healthcare system is sustainable for future generations."

The Dr. Georges-L. Dumont University Hospital is receiving $4.8 million for a new digital x-ray to produce enhanced images, a satellite pharmacy in the oncology unit and a 1.5 T MRI machine. An additional $4 million has been budgeted for the hospital's breast health centre.

The Moncton Hospital is receiving capital equipment upgrades totaling $2.2 million for a new mobile C-arm fluoroscopy system to capture digital radiology images during surgical procedures as well as a medical imaging upgrade to an operating room to provide specialized visualization equipment needed during some treatments. An additional $5 million will be allocated for the hospital's new oncology clinic, which is being developed in partnership with the Friends of the Moncton Hospital.

New Brunswick's Department of Health has a capital of budget of $53.2 million for 2013-14, with $22.3 million allocated for capital construction projects.

Rendering courtesy kobayashi + zedda architects

A new emergency response centre opened on Nov. 4, 2013 in Whitehorse. Located centrally at the top of Two Mile Hill on the Alaska highway, it will become the main ambulance station for the community and surrounding area.

"Yukon's Emergency Medical Services provides rapid, highly skilled pre-hospital care and transport to those who are sick or injured," says Minister of Community Services Brad Cathers. "This new, centrally located ambulance station will help our paramedics provide rapid response to residents of Whitehorse and the surrounding area."

The existing ambulance station at Whitehorse General Hospital will continue to serve Riverdale, downtown, and other areas as necessary. The new centre has the capacity for six emergency vehicles as well as a conference and training space and the capacity to accommodate emergency dispatch.

Construction began on the emergency response centre in September 2011.

CBRE Group, Inc. recently announced that it has acquired KLMK Group, a Virginia-based provider of facility consulting, project advisory and facility activation solutions to the healthcare industry. The company serves healthcare systems through the U.S.

"This is a time of dramatic change for healthcare service providers. Adding KLMK Group's premier professionals to the CBRE Healthcare team will significantly enhance our ability to offer innovative solutions to improve the capital planning process and lower costs, thereby enabling our clients to focus on their central mission of serving their communities," says Bill Concannon, CEO of CBRE's Global Corporate Services business.

CBRE assists healthcare systems and providers with reducing costs, monetizing assets and improving overall patient experience. KLMK's consultants will be joining CBRE's 650 healthcare-focused professionals across the U.S. KLMK Group will be integrated into CBRE's Healthcare platform. CBRE Healthcare provides facility solutions to more than 60 hospitals and healthcare systems and more than 4,500 physician practices across North America.

"Joining forces with CBRE gives our team access to the industry's most powerful healthcare platform and increases the depth and breadth of services we can provide to hospitals and healthcare systems on a broader geographic base," says John Kemper, CEO and founding partner of KLMK Group.

CBRE Group is the world's largest commercial real estate services and investment firm, in terms of 2012 revenue. The company has approximately 37,000 employees.