The Jim Pattison Acute Care Tower at Royal Columbian Hospital is officially open.
Photo: The new Emergency Department in the Jim Pattison Acute Care Tower opened at 5:00 a.m.
On May 31, Fraser Health opened the doors to a new emergency department, medical-surgical inpatient units, intensive care unit, and cardiac intensive care unit, along with a welcoming main entrance and expanded parking.
By early afternoon, care teams at the hospital had transported more than 200 patients at the hospital into the new tower – making it one of the largest patient moves in B.C. history.
"After all our years of planning and preparation, it was wonderful to see patients and staff start coming into the building. It is now part of the hospital,” said Chief Clinical Planner Ramona Fonseka. “The move went as smoothly as possible because we had an amazing team who worked on every detail of the move and the supports that would be required for go-live. I want to thank and congratulate everyone who worked behind the scenes to make our patient transport day such a success.”
Move day kicked off at 5:00 a.m. with the opening of the new Emergency Department. With 75 treatment spaces over five treatment zones, the new Emergency Department is designed to give patients more privacy and a more comfortable care experience. Connected to the Emergency is a new medical imaging unit with CT scanning, ultrasound and x-ray that will reduce travel times for diagnostics and allow care teams to assess patients faster.
With the Emergency Department up and running, health care staff and volunteers gathered in the spacious lobby to begin the patient move. Wearing colour-coded t-shirts to identify roles, teams worked together and were able to finish transporting patients by the early afternoon.
Each patient move involved a team of people who made sure patients were informed, comfortable and fully prepared for the move. On the receiving end in the new units, additional staff were waiting to welcome patients and help them settle in their new rooms.
Patient rooms in the new tower are thoughtfully designed, and most are private, with ensuite washrooms, space for family members and access to natural light. Built with comfort, healing and innovation in mind, the Jim Pattison Acute Care Tower sets a new standard for patient care and features modern equipment and advanced technology.
“Opening the doors of the Jim Pattison Acute Care Tower is a major milestone in the history of Royal Columbian Hospital,” said Deputy Chief Project Officer Jorge Remolina, “It is personally rewarding to see the vision for the tower come to life and to see it serving patients and the community. Witnessing some patients already moved into their new private rooms enjoying the natural light and the beautiful views was very gratifying.”
While the move was a major achievement, there is more to come, with a new obstetrics unit, pediatrics unit, neonatal intensive care unit, operating rooms, interventional radiology and cardiology suites, and a cardiac surgery intensive care unit opening in the fall.
Learn more about the Royal Columbian Hospital redevelopment on our website.
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