Fraser Health’s Urgent Care Response Centre (UCRC) has been named recipient of the 2022 Award of Excellence in Mental Health and Addictions Quality Improvement.
Each year, the Canadian College of Health Leaders (CCHL) awards this honour to a hospital, health authority, community-based mental health and addictions program/service, or leader in the field that demonstrates evidence-informed and sustained quality improvements in the area of mental health and addictions. Fraser Health is the first health authority in British Columbia to receive the award.
The UCRC staff and clinicians have been recognized for their creativity in delivering health care to meet the increasing demands of clients requiring access to mental health and substance use services; supporting those requiring service by providing accessible, timely and effective service; providing a central point of access for adults in Surrey who require support, as well as urgent care, but do not require hospitalization; and decreasing emergency department visits, acute admissions and acute bed days.
Earlier this week, Dr. Victoria Lee, President and CEO of Fraser Health, visited clinicians and staff at the Surrey UCRC to congratulate them and present the award to lead Psychiatrist Dr. Marietta Van Den Berg.
“It feels like recognition that we are on the right track,” says Dr. Van Den Berg.
She attributes the UCRC’s success to their “willingness to deliberately choosing change, and constantly seeking better ways to serve and produce better outcomes.”