Alberta health services decided to add new support units as it will help in the reduction of emergency room waiting times.

Patients will be admitted in these units in spite of waiting in the emergency room.

Support units will be introduced at various major hospitals around the state in the coming next year.

"Our emergency departments are regularly backed up. We needed to reduce the number of patients waiting in the EDs for hospital admission so that we can have treatment spaces available for patients who need emergency care", said Dr. Lester Mercuur, Deputy Clinical Department Head of Emergency Medicine for Calgary.

In May, the Royal Alexandra Hospital will be the first to provide a medical assessment unit in Edmonton. The units will especially treat patients with complex medical problem, added William Dickout, Medical Director at the Royal Alexandra Hospital.

The medical assessment unit is quite prepared to treat severe cases, including a team of doctors, nurses and therapists much faster. It will cost around $1.75 million annually at the Royal Alexandra Hospital.