In pictures: Yellowknife’s Łıwegǫ̀atì healthcare building

It still needs some furniture and a few finishing touches, but the new Łıwegǫ̀atì building in Yellowknife is nearly ready to begin offering services.

The healthcare facility, previously known as the Legacy Stanton building, is a renovation of Yellowknife’s former hospital. (The current hospital, located next door, opened in 2019.)

Once open, the Łıwegǫ̀atì building will house extended and long-term care patients alongside primary care and outpatient rehabilitation services.

The first floor houses a reception area, primary care, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech language pathology, child development and audiology.

The primary care unit has 36 exam rooms, four of which are isolation rooms with negative pressure ability, for patients with infectious illnesses.

Each exam room features a printer, so physicians don’t have to leave the room to print a prescription or other information, as well as a scale and height measure. Computers in the rooms can be used for virtual care appointments.

“Allowing everything to happen in that one room … it’s a nicer experience with the clients,” said Matthuschka Sheedy, the regional manager of primary care.

The NWT’s health authority said this the first time rehabilitation services will be located in one building. That section of the building includes an open treatment physiotherapy gym, exam rooms, private treatment rooms and sound booths.

The second and third floors of the building are home to Narwal House, the extended care unit, as well as long-term care units named Wild Rose House, Fox House and Arctic Lupine House. The floors feature individual rooms, common areas, patios with seating and planter boxes, spiritual rooms and a “spa room” with a seated tub and sink area for washing and cutting hair.

Lisa Rayner, director of Legacy Stanton development and continuing care service, said there are 90 beds in the new facility, 16 of which are in extended care, increasing capacity by six beds compared to the current extended care unit at Stanton Territorial Hospital.

“We should be able to eliminate the waitlist,” she said.

Each room has a bed, accessible washroom, track system in the ceiling that enables people to use a lift, and basic furniture. Residents can also bring their own furniture and TVs.

The upper floors include space to accommodate residents’ families: activity rooms and kitchens where people can gather and cook meals – including large freezers to store country food – and two rooms where family members can temporarily stay.

“Sometimes people need to be closer,” Rayner said. “Especially if someone was just moved in [and is in an] unfamiliar environment, they’re having difficulty settling in.”

The health authority has said the first phase of the move into the new building will take place from May 24 until mid-June. Ten integrated care teams from the Yellowknife Primary Care Centre and Frame Lake Community Health Clinic are set to move in, as well as outpatient rehabilitation services.

Beginning in late June, the authority said staff and patients from the extended care unit at Stanton Territorial Hospital will start moving in.

If you want to see the building for yourself before it officially opens, the health authority is holding a public open house on Wednesday, May 15 from 4-6pm.

The authority said a virtual tour is also being developed that will be shared to its website once complete.