Squamish General Hospital Expands Emergency Department
March 7, 2008
SQUAMISH Squamish residents and communities along the Sea-to-Sky corridor will soon benefit from a $3 million expansion of the emergency department at Squamish General Hospital.
The renovation and expansion of the emergency department demonstrates our commitment to the health and well-being of Squamish residents and those in neighbouring communities, said Joan McIntyre, MLA for West Vancouver-Garibaldi. The new emergency department will enhance patient care and will be a welcome addition to our community.
The renovation will include
Increasing the number of emergency treatment spaces from seven to 12 beds
Expanding the waiting area
Creating a new dedicated triage area to better identify acuity and urgency of care needed
Modernizing the resuscitation room with state of the art equipment, allowing 360 degree access to the patient
Adding a new admitting area, which will allow patients to register in the emergency area
Adding a new nursing station that will have a direct line of sight into the resuscitation room and the waiting room
Squamish General Hospital’s emergency department treats over 15,000 patients each year and has been experiencing an increasing number of visits each month, said Corinne Hamill, manager of acute services for Sea to Sky. The expansion will reduce wait times, improve patient monitoring and improve patient flow all of which contributes to better service for our patients.
Funding for the project will be shared between the Province and Vancouver Coastal Health, who will provide $1.3 million of the total cost, and the Sea to Sky Regional Hospital District, who will provide $1.15 million. In addition, the Squamish Health Care Foundation Society will provide approximately $551,000 for new equipment.
We have watched our community grow into what it is today and are proud to be a part of the changes to enhance patient care at Squamish General Hospital, said Councillor Raj Kahlon of Squamish and representative of the Sea to Sky Regional Hospital District.
Construction is set to begin on March 10 and is expected to be completed by January 2009. The project will be carried out in three phases, allowing the emergency department to continue to operate. Plans are in place so that impact to patient care will be minimized during construction.
The expansion will create a modernized emergency department that will be better equipped to serve our community, said Dr. LaVerne Kindree, president of the Squamish Health Care Foundation Society. As one of the original doctors in Squamish, I am delighted to be a part of the changes to enhance patient care at Squamish General Hospital.
VCH is responsible for the delivery of $2.4 billion in community, hospital and residential care services to over one million people in communities from Richmond through Vancouver, the North Shore, Sunshine Coast, Sea to Sky corridor, Powell River, Bella Bella and Bella Coola.
CONTACT
Vancouver Coastal Health
Trudi Beutel, Public Affairs Officer
Phone: 604-708-5282 Cell: 604-812-1847
Email: Trudi.Beutel@vch.ca