With the necessary funding secured, renovations to the emergency department at South Okanagan General Hospital (SOGH) are one step closer to completion.
Interior Health (IH) announced Thursday that it is moving forward with the $970,000 upgrade.
IH says the improvements will improve patient privacy, flow and the overall quality care provided to residents in Oliver, and the surrounding area.
The project is partially funded by the Okanagan Similkameen Regional Hospital District (OSRHD), who formally approved its share of the project on Thursday. The OSRHD will contribute 40 per cent of the project, with the Province of B.C. contributing the remaining 60 per cent.
“Last fall I had the opportunity to travel to Oliver and to meet with members of the community, physicians and hospital staff. I heard firsthand about the great work that is happening to support health care in this region, but also, the challenges faced at this site,” said Health Minister Adrian Dix. “The health authority will now be consulting with local physicians and staff to make sure that the upgraded space best meets the needs of patients and providers.”
Construction upgrades will include: developing a new waiting and triage area, a separate public emergency department entrance and the relocation of admitting and administration services.
Once complete, patients requiring emergency treatment will access the emergency room from a separate entrance, ensuring privacy. The project will also include new exterior signage to improve wayfinding to the emergency department.
The design phase is expected to begin this spring and will include consultation with site staff and physicians to ensure the upgrades align with ongoing operational needs.
Following a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process and an evaluation of responses, Interior Health will award a successful proponent to complete the design, which will include developing drawings and specifications for the new layout of the emergency department.
“By moving forward with this next step, we are closer to ensuring the emergency department continues to meet the needs of people who provide and receive care at SOGH,” said Carl Meadows, Health Service Administrator, South Okanagan, Interior Health. “We are committed to working with physicians and staff to ensure the renovated space is efficient in terms of size and configuration and provides an improved space to continue to provide exemplary care to local residents.”
The emergency department will remain open during construction, which is expected to begin this winter.
