A bright and vibrant community health centre held it's official opening in Lacombe last week. 

The new 17,000+ square foot Lacombe Community Health Centre is located at the Iron Wolf Crossing on the southeast corner of Lacombe. The new facility will house numerous Alberta Health Services departments, from public health to children's rehabilitation programs and outpatient support for seniors and more. 

Lacombe and Bentley area manager for AHS Kimberley Sommerville said the building will allow for better collaboration and efficiencies to better serve the people of Lacombe and area. 

“One of the great things about now being able to collaborate under one building is the ability for professionals to discuss and bounce ideas off of each other, and for patients and clients to come to one facility to get a multitude of different services,” Sommerville said.

Over the next week an array of public health, mental health and addictions supports will move from their current locations to the new Lacombe Community Health Centre. 

She said improvements like a better parking lot, wider entrances and larger rooms will also help to improve accessibility for families and persons with mobility issues. 

Community health programs - immunization clinics, pre, and post-natal support, home care and children’s rehabilitation services will close Dec. 9th at the Provincial Building as staff and equipment are moved. Programs will resume operation Dec. 11 at the new centre. 

Addiction and mental health services - including seniors outreach nurses, adult, and youth addiction services, and adult and youth therapy - will close their office in Parkland Place on Dec. 10 to move, and will reopen in the new building on Dec. 12. 

Janice Stewart, Chief Zone Officer for AHS Central Zone said that bringing together a multitude of services under one room will enhance local, community-based care. 

“Our goal is to help residents be healthy and stay healthy - and this new community health centre will help us do just that,” Stewart said. 

Lacombe Mayor Grant Creasey said, “It’s a very important day for Lacombe, opening this new facility to consolidate health care services for our community and area.”

“This modern facility is the culmination of years of planning and enables better healthcare outcomes for Lacombe area residents. It provides families and seniors with greater access to the medical care and supports they need, all under one roof.”