On December 3, 2012, Interior Health began performing its first open heart surgeries. This is great news for patients and families in the Interior. For many, accessing specialized cardiac surgeries and services will no longer require the extra burden, cost and time of travelling to Vancouver or Victoria for care.
While our VCH/PHC Regional Cardiac Program will continue to serve Interior Health patients with highly complex conditions on a case-by-case basis, we’ll gradually adjust our open heart surgery volumes over the next two years to reflect the shift in patient locale.
Our priority remains the same: provide the best care
Our goal is to deliver on that promise while we transition to new service volumes and beyond.
VCH physician referrals and patient access to our Regional Cardiac Program won’t change. We also do not anticipate any job loss for staff who support the Regional Cardiac Program.
Adjusting to our new service volumes also opens opportunities for us to look at how we work together as a regional program, and to identify consistent, evidence-informed best practices we can implement across our region, as well as new ways to collaborate.
Looking ahead and moving forward
We take pride in the difference our regional cardiac team makes in the lives of British Columbians. And, we’re confident the VCH/PHC Regional Cardiac Program will continue to lead the way in providing excellent, innovative patient care, teaching and research for the province.
If you have any the questions about the VCH/PHC Regional Cardiac Program, please get in touch at Sbarr@providencehealth.bc.ca or 604-806-8695.
For questions about this change at VGH, contact Mary Nieforth, Director, Cardiac Sciences and Special Projects.