Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre

Best Times to Visit

About Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre

Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre (RDRHC) is Central Alberta's only regional referral centre, serving over 450,000 residents across a vast area stretching from Drumheller to Two Hills and from Saskatchewan to the Rocky Mountains. The 24/7 emergency department operates as a Level 3 trauma centre, providing care for major trauma, cardiac events, stroke, pediatric emergencies, and complex medical conditions, with transfer protocols to Level 1 centres in Edmonton or Calgary via STARS air ambulance when needed. Red Deer residents and visitors from surrounding communities should come here for serious or life-threatening emergencies, as the hospital offers specialized services including a Regional NICU, cardiac diagnostics, cancer care, and inpatient mental health — all under one roof.

Services & Specialties

24/7 Emergency Department, Level 3 Trauma Centre, Cardiac diagnostics and heart failure management, Central Alberta Cancer Centre (on-site), Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Pediatric emergency and inpatient care, Inpatient mental health and acute crisis stabilization, Children's acute mental health inpatient unit, Addiction and mental health services, Neurology, Surgery, Rehabilitation, Dialysis clinic, Specialized Geriatric Services, Domestic Abuse Response Team (DART), STARS air ambulance access, Interpreter and translation services, Indigenous Health Coordinator services.

Amenities

• Garden Court Cafe — Mon–Fri, 7:45 AM–2:00 PM
• Friends Cafe and Gift Shop (Café VA) — Mon–Fri, 7:30 AM–2:00 PM
• Jolt N Bolt Coffee Shop — Mon–Fri 7 AM–7 PM, Sat–Sun 9 AM–4 PM, holidays 10 AM–4 PM
• Vending machines in the Emergency Department and select building levels
• Gift Shop (inside Café VA, Main Level South Complex) — open 5 days a week
• ATM — TD Canada Trust, Main Level Regional building, South Complex
• Sacred Space / Chapel — Level 3 Regional building, open 24 hours
• Spiritual Health Practitioners — Mon–Fri daytime hours
• Indigenous Health Coordinator — Mon–Fri daytime; weekly smudges at 2:00 PM
• Smoke-free facility — designated smoking area off AHS property
• Free wheelchair access throughout campus

Other Care Options

Not every health issue needs an ER visit. Find out where to go for care → · 7 walk-in clinics in Red Deer →

Pharmacists in Alberta can assess and prescribe for dozens of common conditions. See what they can treat →

Compare hospital wait times across Canada. View all wait times →

Tips Before You Go

• RDRHC is Central Alberta's busiest hospital and the only regional referral centre for the area — expect wait times to vary significantly, especially during evenings and weekends when walk-in clinics are closed.
• If you're arriving by car, head directly to the 24/7 on-site parkade; it has 1,100 stalls and the first two levels are reserved for public use, so parking is usually available even during busy periods.
• The ED triages patients by severity — those with non-urgent concerns such as minor cuts or mild illness will wait longer than those with life-threatening conditions, so consider a walk-in clinic in Red Deer for non-emergency issues.
• The hospital has a Domestic Abuse Response Team (DART) — if you or someone with you is experiencing domestic violence, you can request a referral to DART directly through the emergency department.
• If you require an interpreter, translation services are available on site — let the triage nurse know your language needs as early as possible so support can be arranged quickly.

What to Bring

• Valid government-issued photo ID (driver's licence or passport)
• Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) card
• List of current medications including dosages
• List of known allergies
• Provincial health number or personal health information card
• Emergency contact name and phone number
• Any relevant medical records, referral letters, or test results
• Cash or debit/credit card for parking (parkade accepts payment)

Frequently Asked Questions

About ER Wait Times

Emergency departments use triage. Patients with more serious conditions are seen first, regardless of arrival time.

Wait times are estimates based on Alberta health data. Actual wait times may vary.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.