The Urgent Care Centre (UCC) at UBC Hospital (UBCH) has joined VGH on the VCH Emergency Wait Times dashboard launched earlier in 2013.

The dashboard is a public website that provides health care providers, patients and families average Emergency Department (ED) wait times in real time. The site includes all VCH hospital EDs and, now, UBC Hospital’s UCC.

Working in close partnership with the VGH ED and other acute care hospitals across the region, the UCC has a unique and important role to play in ensuring patients have timely access to the services they need in the most appropriate setting.

The UCC — unlike EDs — is devoted to treating people who have unexpected but non-life-threatening health concerns usually requiring treatment on the same day. The team handles common illnesses and injuries, including the flu, broken bones, burns and cuts in need of stitches. The UCC at UBC Hospital also offers a wide range of diagnostic services and testing, including X-rays, urinalysis and blood tests. Both adults and children are welcome.

As we prepare for the annual winter surge of patient visits, the Emergency Wait Times dashboard provides one means of educating the public of ED alternatives like the UCC.  And work is underway to increase the UCC’s patient volumes while ensuring our patients have timely access to the right care, at the right place. UBC and VGH are working closely to align our services to meet the needs of patients and families, and over the next year you’ll be hearing more about how we are making this happen.

Related links:

Renovated Urgent Care Centre welcomes patients at UBCH
More about the UBCH Urgent Care Centre
More about the ED Wait Times Dashboard