Inuvik (May 05/03) - After two-and-a-half years of construction, the new Inuvik hospital is now open for patient services.

Bursting with warm, vivid colours and open, windowed rooms, the new hospital looks more like a new hotel to most visitors.

The move began on April 14 and chief executive officer Dr. Gerry Uswak said it's been a bit of a juggling act of providing services in two locations, but things are running smoother every day.

He said the move brought in 3,000 new items and 2,000 transferrable items into the $40 million building. Much of the new lab equipment was installed before the move happened.

"It was a mix of some things moved over early and other things moved over just in time, so it's worked out very well," Uswak said.

Much of the new items were office furniture such as more ergonomically designed furniture to fit into smaller office spaces.

"There was also a lot of new technology with lab fridges, microscopes ... items too numerous to mention," he said. "It was a mix of that which still had a useable life in it was brought over to use again and other things that needed to be replaced."

The building employs about 100 people with the hospital staff, but also has support staff for the building and for regional employees, human resources and payroll.

Uswak said the new building offers a better environment for patients and the people who work there.

"It's more people-friendly," Uswak said. "It doesn't have those harsh angles and colours of an institution."

"It's very soft and friendly and as welcoming as a hospital can be," he added. "The use of natural light, softer colours and calming effects."

The new hospital is 1,000 square metres larger than the old hospital, but on a smaller footprint that the old building which was built in 1958.

He said new technology makes the building more efficient and cheaper to run.

"The systems have all been upgraded from manual, analog type of machinery to computer controlled systems," he said.

Having a new facility is also a bit of a draw to health professionals, Uswak said.

"To get a hospital built of any size these days, anywhere in the country, is a difficult undertaking," he said. "I think it's a boon for the North and for the region that physicians, nurses and support staff have a brand-new building to work in."

"Were on the thin edge of the wedge to providing health care, so it could help in recruiting."

Uswak said the move has been a successful one, based largely on the effort of staff and management who worked as a team throughout the massive undertaking.

"People are happy that the move and the process itself has gone very smoothly," Uswak said. "That is a testament to the staff and everybody involved."

"It's been a positive experience and I think everyone is feeling that positive energy."