South Health Campus (SHC) is a state-of-the-art hospital facility in Calgary, Alberta. It is part of Alberta Health Services and aims to connect acute hospital care with community wellness and outpatient services. The facility is designed not only to treat illness but also to support health promotion, disease prevention, and patient/family-centred care. It opened in phases and offers a broad spectrum of services.

Services & Clinical Capacity

SHC operates a 24/7 Emergency Department able to handle major trauma, cardiac events, injuries, and general medical emergencies. It has Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Coronary Care Unit (CCU) services, along with day surgery, maternity, and outpatient clinics. The hospital supports a large volume of ambulatory and inpatient services, performing thousands of surgeries and many births each year.

Outpatient and wellness programs are integral: SHC includes a Wellness Centre in partnership with YMCA Calgary, resources and classes for health, prevention, rehabilitation services, along with support for chronic illness. Clinics cover a range of acute and chronic care needs. Accessibility is emphasized, with public transit access, parking, wayfinding, and family presence policies.

Strengths & Challenges

Strengths include its modern, well-designed facility with emphasis on wellness and integrated service delivery; a large and diverse set of services including high acuity care; strong community orientation through wellness programs; and infrastructure that supports both acute and outpatient care. Patient-family centred care is emphasized.

Challenges include the large size and complexity which can make navigation difficult; wait times for emergencies or specialist outpatient clinics; parking demand and transit access for some; balancing between acute care demands and wellness/prevention expectations; ensuring sufficient ICU/CCU capacity especially during surges. There may be variability in service availability and wait depending on time of day and demand.

Practical Information & Tips for Users

The address is 4448 Front Street SE, Calgary, Alberta, T3M 1M4. Main switchboard: 403-956-1111. Emergency services are available 24 hours. The campus includes maps, site-guide material, parking options including underground parkade, drop-off zones, and transit connections. Wheelchair access is provided. Before visiting for non-urgent care or a specialty clinic, check ahead to ensure referral or appointment requirements, and plan time for travel and parking. Support services like wellness classes, family presence, and patient/family information are available.