NL Health Services Outlines Plans to Transition Services to Ambulatory Health Hub

Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) Health Services outlined plans today to transition some outpatient health-care services to the new ambulatory health hub in St. John’s when it is scheduled to open in the fall of 2025. At that time, some services currently located at the Health Sciences Centre and St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital will be offered at the new ambulatory health hub at the former Costco building on Stavanger Drive.

“We are working on relocation plans to facilitate a seamless transition for patients,” said Ron Johnson, chief operating officer of the Eastern-Urban Zone, NL Health Services. “The new ambulatory health hub will provide an enhanced experience for outpatient services, and we are excited about the benefits that this new clinical setting will have for both patients and health-care professionals.”

The relocation of ambulatory services will result in a decrease in vehicular and foot traffic at hospitals in the city, thereby facilitating expansion of critical inpatient services such as emergency, surgery, and cardiology. It will also result in an increased number of clinic spaces available to service providers, which will help reduce wait times. Further, the new hub will support NL Health Services’ approach to people-centred care as well as the health and well-being of individuals across the province. There is the added benefit of free parking for patients and staff, a dedicated outdoor space for staff and an onsite coffee shop.

Construction is proceeding on the facility as planned, including the addition of a second floor. The following patient/client services will relocate from the Health Sciences Centre and St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital in the fall of 2025:

• Audiology
• Blood collection
• Appointment scheduling (central bookings) and registration
• Medicine and surgery specialist clinics (including total joint assessment clinic/bariatric optimization clinic, eye clinic, physiotherapy outpatient clinic, plastic surgery outpatient clinic, occupational therapy clinic, surgery preadmission clinic, endocrine clinic, cardiac diagnostics, and medical imaging (X-ray, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging [MRI])
• Thrombosis

A new pain clinic will also be added to the ambulatory health hub including a fluoroscopy room with dedicated space to provide interventions and infusion therapy for patients with chronic pain. Also onsite, to support the hub, will be new support services including pharmacy, medical records, environmental services, and security.

Some outpatient services will remain at the Health Sciences Centre and St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital including some on-call medicine and surgery specialist clinics. In addition, ear, nose and throat clinics, and rheumatology will remain at St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital.

Patients and clients will receive more information about the relocation and their upcoming appointments closer to the opening of the ambulatory health hub.

The urgent care centre, which will be co-located with the ambulatory health hub, is also scheduled to open in 2025. The urgent care centre will support acute care emergency departments by treating patients presenting with urgent, non-life-threatening medical injuries and illnesses.

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