History of the Surgical Program

Presented by Chair of Olds HealthCare Fundraising Committee - Liz Mills

For nearly four decades, the surgical program in Olds has been helping provide critical care to residents.

The program has grown in many ways since it first started in 1986 with just one general surgeon who operated three mornings a week. Not only has the program grown in size from one small operating room to two OR theatres supported by multiple surgeons and nursing teams, but the program has grown in

scope as well. The surgical program provides patients with local access to Orthopedic, Gynecology, Urology, Podiatry and emergency obstetrical surgery services.

The growth of the program has been supported for years by the Olds Fundraising Committee who has helped fund new equipment to ensure our surgeons have the tools they need to care for our patients.

And as we look to the future, we see our program poised to grow again by taking on additional surgical cases. By being able to increase the number of surgical cases we complete here in Olds, we can help reduce surgical wait times while continuing to support the health and wellbeing of our community.

AHS is incredibly grateful to the Olds Fundraising Committee, their donors and the community for the ongoing support of the Olds Hospital and Care Centre. Together, we have done some amazing things and can continue to do so in the years to come.

Timeline of the Olds Surgical Program:

 1986: Hospital opened

o 1 general surgeon

o Operated 3 morning a week

 2007: Expanded to bring in a Gynecologist 1 day a week to do day surgeries

 2012: Orthopedics/General surgery/Plastics started operating

o Scopes and Small foot procedures

o General surgery day surgeries

o Plastic surgery day surgeries

o Rapidly expanded to include day surgery sports medicine procedures

o Gradually added small ortho trauma

 2014: Gynecology practice opened

o Operated 2 days a week

o Both day surgeries and inpatient procedures

 Gradually expanded to running 2 operating rooms, 5 days a week

 Currently offer the following services

o Orthopedics

o Gynecology

o Urology

o Podiatry

o Obstetrical emergency services