Pemberton Health Care Centre sparkles after renovations complete

A renovated Pemberton Health Care Centre (PHCC) is now open to the public and features more space for staff, improved security and better patient privacy and confidentiality for lab visitors.

“The additional space will improve patient confidentiality and care, reduce overcrowding of equipment and supplies, and provide a larger floor space to accommodate additional transfusion services for emergency situations,” says Sea-to-Sky Manager Cindy Sellers who was on hand for the celebration.

“This is great news for staff and patients here in Pemberton,” says Dr. Rebecca Lindley, medical director of the PHCC. “A number of improvements have been made to the health care centre that will not only benefit our staff, but patients as well.”

The 890 square metre (9580 sq. ft.) health care centre was originally constructed in 1977 and first expanded in 1984, then again in 1992. However, in recent years the lab space was becoming congested and posed storage issues for staff, ultimately limiting their ability to provide efficient care.

The $630,000 project, funded by Vancouver Coastal Health in partnership with the Sea to Sky Regional Hospital District, saw numerous renovations to the facility. They included:

• Moving the on-site lab to a new, larger space;
• Closing an existing corridor next to the emergency department so on-call staff sleeping overnight at the facility could stay in a secure area without access from the main building;
• Moving the nursing station closer to admitting reception;
• Redirecting patients in need of x-ray or lab services from the emergency department entrance to the building’s main entrance;
• Upgrading the telephone, security and nurse call systems, as well as flooring throughout the building.

The PHCC provides emergency care, diagnostic imaging and laboratory services for the Village of Pemberton, the First Nations community of Mt. Currie, plus the Pemberton Valley, D’Arcy and Birken. PHCC has four stretchers and one therapy chair for emergency care. Staff also provide a number of community health programs including public health nursing, mental health, nutrition, and speech and language services.

VCH Coastal Co-Sr. Medical Director Dr. Ross Brown presents Pemberton HCC staff with a replica of the Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) as a thank you for the hard work that Pemberton staff put in when the MMU was deployed in their community.