Consolidating Ortho Recon at UBC Hospital

As part of ongoing work to find better, more efficient ways to use our hospital space in Vancouver, the decision has been made to pursue consolidation of reconstructive orthopaedic (Ortho Recon) surgeries at UBC Hospital (UBCH).

“VGH is experiencing growing demands for increasingly complex care,” says Dr. Bas Masri, surgeon-in-chief for Vancouver Acute Services. “As a result, we’ve taken the opportunity to look at our bed capacity across Vancouver, including UBC Hospital, as we feel there’s opportunity to better use our space there.”

Moving all but the most complex Ortho Recon surgeries to UBCH will increase bed capacity and service flexibility at VGH, so we can provide more patients the quality care they need, when they need it, and address one of Vancouver’s True North breakthrough strategies: align capacity and demand.

Changes at Koerner Pavilion

Currently, the Centre for Surgical Innovation performs 1,900 hip and knee replacement surgeries annually at UBC Hospital’s Koerner Pavilion. Consolidation will add anywhere from 600 to 650 surgeries to the site’s slate, helping patients with deformities, infections and injuries involving the musculoskeletal system. Oncology cases will remain at VGH.

To expand surgery service at UBC, the following changes, among others, are also planned for Koerner Pavilion:

• renovating the ground floor to add capacity to the Medical Device Reprocessing Department
• moving the Transitional Care/Medicine Unit from the first floor to the  second floor
• conducting a trial period of intensivist oversight to assess patient acuity
• augmenting support service coverages, including labs, diagnostic imaging and pharmacy

Aiming to relocate in 2014

Our aim is for Ortho Recon to move to UBCH in the Spring/Summer of 2014, but timing will depend on the approval of implementation plans and securing $6 million in donor support.

“We need money for infrastructure upgrades at UBC Hospital, particularly recommissioning the second floor, which hasn’t been used for inpatient care for more than a decade,” explains Bas.

In the meantime, he’s confident consolidation will enrich the clinical environment for patients, physicians and Residents at UBCH. Ultimately, both hospitals will benefit.

“Increasing the acuity of patients at UBCH will mean services other than orthopaedics will be able to treat patients they can’t treat today, either because they have a chronic condition that affects their health, or they’re too old.

“It’ll also allow UBCH to use its entire bed complement in a way that increases Vancouver’s overall bed capacity, and in keeping with the demand of a rising population. And that will be good for patients and staff at both locations.”