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 DepartmentLevel 3 Trauma CentreCardiac diagnostics and heart failure managementCentral Alberta Cancer Centre (on-site)Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)Pediatric emergency and inpatient careInpatient mental health and acute crisis stabilizationChildren's acute mental health inpatient unitAddiction and mental health servicesNeurologySurgeryRehabilitationDialysis clinicSpecialized Geriatric ServicesDomestic Abuse Response Team (DART)STARS air ambulance accessInterpreter and translation servicesIndigenous 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
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
Parking & Transit
A five-storey parkade with 1,100 stalls is open 24/7 on site, with the first two levels designated for public parking. An underground parkade is also available. Rates are $1.50 per half hour, $9.00/day for surface parking, and $10.00/day for underground. Weekly and monthly passes are available from the Parking Services office (Main Level of parkade, Mon–Thu 8 AM–4 PM, Fri 8 AM–3:30 PM). Free wheelchair depots are located at the Main Entrance, East Entrance, and Underground Parkade.
Red Deer Transit Route 3 connects Sorensen Station and Bower Hub, stopping near RDRHC and Red Deer College. Additional routes R1, R3, and R13 also serve the area. The nearest bus stop is approximately a 5-minute walk from the hospital entrance. Red Deer Transit's Action Bus provides accessible service for persons with disabilities.
Best Times to Visit
🟢 Quieter times
No historical wait time data is currently available for this location. Generally, mid-morning on weekdays (Tuesday through Thursday) tends to be less busy than evenings or weekends at most large regional hospitals. If your concern is non-urgent, checking in during off-peak weekday hours may result in a shorter wait.
🔴 Busier times
No historical data is available to confirm specific peak periods. As a general guideline, avoid arriving on Friday and Saturday evenings or Sunday afternoons when volumes typically spike at regional emergency departments. Evenings after 6 PM and holiday weekends also tend to bring heavier traffic to busy ERs like RDRHC.
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
Is Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre a trauma centre?
Yes. RDRHC is a designated Level 3 trauma centre, capable of managing most severe trauma cases. Patients who require a higher level of care are stabilized on site and transferred to a Level 1 trauma centre in Edmonton or Calgary via STARS air ambulance. The hospital falls within the 1-hour service radius of STARS bases in both cities.
Does RDRHC have a NICU for premature or ill newborns?
Yes. RDRHC is home to the only Regional NICU in Alberta outside of Calgary and Edmonton, caring for over 50 babies per month. It is also the only regional NICU in Alberta with Neonatal Nurse Practitioners on staff, providing advanced specialty care for preterm and full-term newborns requiring intensive attention.
Can I get mental health support through the RDRHC emergency department?
Yes. The hospital provides emergency mental health assessment, treatment, and stabilization for adults aged 18 to 64 experiencing acute mental health crises or severe and continuing mental illness. There is also an inpatient unit for children with acute mental health needs. You can present to the ED for assessment and be connected to appropriate care.
How large is Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre and who does it serve?
RDRHC is the sole regional referral centre for Alberta's Central Zone, serving over 450,000 people from an area spanning Drumheller to Two Hills and from the Saskatchewan border to the Rocky Mountains. The hospital currently operates 370 beds and is undergoing a $1.8-billion redevelopment — the largest hospital expansion in Alberta's history — that will increase capacity to 570 beds.
What parking is available at RDRHC for emergency department visitors?
A 24/7 on-site parkade with 1,100 stalls is available, with the first two levels designated for public parking. Surface and underground parkade options are both available. Rates are $1.50 per half hour, with daily rates of $9.00 (surface) or $10.00 (underground). Free wheelchair depots are located at the Main Entrance and Underground Parkade.
Does Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre offer support for domestic violence patients?
Yes. The Domestic Abuse Response Team (DART) provides specialized support to patients of all genders experiencing any form of domestic violence. DART services can be accessed through a referral at the RDRHC emergency department. If you or someone you know needs this support, inform the triage nurse or a care provider when you arrive.
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 using historical volumes, current patient counts, and staffing. Actual wait times may vary.
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.