Specialized Rehab Program to Re-open in Two Hills Health Centre

Specialized Rehab Program to Re-open in Two Hills Health Centre

Michelle Pinon News Advertiser

With the successful recruitment of a new occupational therapist, the Stroke and Geriatric Empowerment, (SAGE) rehabilitation program will re-open in the Two Hills Health Centre on Jan. 3, 2023.

County of Two Hills Reeve Don Gulayec said, “I am very happy to hear the great news about the reopening of the SAGE unit. Mayor Leonard Ewanishan, and myself, had voiced our concerns to our political contacts and Alberta Health Services. This was not only conveying our concerns, but providing various answers on how to potentially fix the problem.”

Ewanishan said having the program in Two Hills is important to people in Two Hills and surrounding areas that utilize those services and not having to drive outside the region for therapy makes a big difference for them.

“I am sure there’s a lot of people we don’t know working behind the scene to make this happen. We’re just totally grateful we got it done,” added Ewanishan.

Armstrong-Homeniuk explained that, “Admissions were paused in August due to an Allied Health vacancy, an area that has become increasingly difficult to recruit to. In this instance it was due to occupational therapist and other staffing challenges.

Back in August myself, the Town of Two Hills Mayor and Council, as well as representatives from the Country of Two Hills met with the Minister of Health to express our concerns and were assured that staff were actively being sought to re-open the unit.

SAGE Unit.

(Two Hills Health Centre/Submitted Photo)

The Minister is aware of the importance of this unit within our community, and I enlightened him as to the remarkable work that they do. I am pleased to see that as of January 3, 2023-six of the twelve beds will be reopening and I am optimistic that the remaining six will reopen soon.”

Sharman Hnatiuk, Senior Communications Advisor with Alberta Health Services, said, “The six-week program provides assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation to clients who have had a stroke or require further rehabilitation therapy following surgical interventions. Clients who experience a deficit or a sudden onset of cognitive impairment and/or decline in their daily functioning are also treated along with geriatric assessments on an inpatient basis.”

When SAGE unit was closed on Aug. 29, AHS Central Zone patients in need of an intensive rehabilitation program were referred to a centralized intake for assessment. Appropriate patients were then referred for care to one of three rehabilitation

programs in the Central and Edmonton Zones. Those rehabilitation programs are offered at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital in Edmonton, Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre and the Daysland Health Centre’s Orthopedic and Active Rehabilitation unit.

Tammy Tarkowski, Site Manager of the Two Hills Health Centre, said, “I am delighted that the SAGE unit will be re-opening in the New Year, and that the Two Hills Health Centre will be able to provide a valuable service to the community and surrounding areas.”

The SAGE program, which started in 1994, cares for approximately 70 patients each year.