Welcome to the First Issue of VIHA's Electronic CEO Update

Welcome to the Vancouver Island Health Authority’s CEO Update. You will notice we have changed our format and I hope you are as pleased with the new look and feel of the newsletter as I am. The CEO Update is published quarterly to communicate the recent achievements we are making in the provision of high-quality healthcare services to the residents we serve. My hope is you will find the update interesting, topical and relevant to the work you do.

If you have thoughts or feedback about the newsletter or any of the featured articles please contact me at 250-370-8959 or e-mail info@viha.ca. I appreciate your continued support and partnership as we work together to achieve our goals in providing timely, accessible, and high quality healthcare across Vancouver Island.

~ Howard Waldner, President & CEO

Breaking Ground for Improved Emergency Services at VGH

On April 8th, with Premier Gordon Campbell’s participation, we broke ground at the Victoria General Hospital to kick off construction of a new state-of-the-art Emergency Department (ED). This is great news for Vancouver Island patients and families who will require emergency care in the future, and an exciting step closer to improved conditions for the team of dedicated professionals working in the current ED.

The new $18.8 million ED will be triple the size of the current facility and will feature:

• state-of-the-art equipment for trauma and paediatric patients;
• more patient treatment spaces with greater patient privacy;
• a specialized area for children equipped with a paediatric waiting area, trauma bay and isolation room that functions as a "mini-paediatric emergency department" within the main department;
• three separate entrances to better accommodate walk-in patients, patients arriving by ambulance and patients with infectious diseases who require isolation; and 
• the latest infection control standards, and three new isolation rooms.

Read the News Release (PDF)

A Milestone for the RJH Patient Care Centre

On April 7th we announced ISL Health is the preferred proponent for the new 500-bed Royal Jubilee Hospital project in Victoria. An important milestone that follows an extensive evaluation of proposals from the three teams who were short-listed and invited to submit proposals to design, build, finance and maintain a patient care centre that:

• is designed to be elder-friendly;
• will attract and retain health-care professionals; and 
• will be high-performing, sustainable and energy efficient.

Read the News Release and Backgrounder (PDF)

Beautiful New Home for Seniors Opens in Campbell River

Seniors in Campbell River recently completed the process of moving into New Horizons, a brand new state-of-the-art residential facility built to multi-level care guidelines. The New Horizons facility, which houses 86 publicly funded beds including four for couples, was an $18 million construction project with VIHA partner New Horizons Care Corporation. This project is the first of eight new projects that VIHA and our partners in residential care will be opening this year.

The VIHA transition team was closely involved in the move.  Starting on March 17th small groups of 10 residents were moved in each week to allow more time to adjust before the next group joined them.  All residents have now moved in.  A grand opening took place on June 10th to celebrate with the residents and our funding partners. Congratulations to New Horizons and best wishes to everyone in their new homes.

Cairnsmore Place in Duncan Celebrates Recent Renovations

During the March 13th celebration for the grand opening of Cairnsmore Place renovations, VIHA Director of Residential Services, Heather Cook was joined by George Seymour, Director for North Cowichan, Denise McKinley, Chair of the Cowichan District Hospital Foundation, Dorothy Thorstenson, a resident of Cairnsmore Place and Sheila VanLoon, a family member of a loved one at Cairnsmore Place. All speakers praised the spacious changes to the facility that provide for a more home-like environment for the residents. Residents and their families can now wander through gardens on wheelchair friendly pathways, or sit on one of two patios to enjoy garden views.

The $2.3 million project involved an addition and a renovation that together have added 611 square meters of new construction and renovated space.

Read the News Release (PDF)

James Bay Seniors Return to Beckley Farm Lodge After Extensive Renovations

Victoria seniors with complex care needs are being better accommodated following a $4.5 million upgrade to the Beckley Farm Lodge long-term care facility in James Bay. As part of the Complex Care Upgrade Project, extensive renovations to the facility were carried out to bring it up to current complex care standards, and on March 19th the 70 residents were able to move back into their newly renovated home after an extended 1.5 year stay at the Gorge Road Hospital. The redesign of the environment enables ease of movement for clients and staff, provides safety and security and creates and calming, comfortable environment, which is certainly a successful outcome for all involved.

Read the News Release (PDF)

Specialized New Facility to Improve Care for Seniors With Dementia

On May 9th, Hon. Murray Coell, MLA for Saanich North and the Islands and Minister of Advanced Education, and Jac Mar, North Saanich Mayor, helped VIHA and Beacon Community Services break ground for Sluggett House, a new 16-unit dementia housing facility. Also on hand for the event was Larry Sluggett, representing the Sluggett family. The Sluggetts have been community leaders in Brentwood Bay since 1876. Their generous donation of the property at 7008 West Saanich Road includes a 94 year-old Baptist church, which will be incorporated into the design of the new facility.

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VIHA is Canada’s Leader for Digital Mammography Technology

The installation of $2.932 million in state-of-the-art digital mammography equipment is underway at five hospital sites across VIHA. When installation is complete in late summer, VIHA will be the first health authority in Canada to make the most advanced digital mammography technology available for breast cancer screening accessible to women across the region!

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Eight New CT Scanners to Enhance Diagnostics at Vancouver Island Hospitals

Patients all across Vancouver Island will have the best trauma care available with the installation of eight new $1-million CT (computed tomography) scanners. New 64-slice scanners were installed in Campbell River Hospital, St. Joseph's Hospital in Comox and Cowichan District Hospital in March. Port Alberni's West Coast General Hospital will also be getting a 64-slice unit once the space required to house it has been completed. In Victoria, the Royal Jubilee and Victoria General Hospitals will each have two new CT Scanners.

A CT scanner is a special type of X-ray machine that produces images at different angles around the body to show cross-sections of the tiniest anatomical details of the body. CT scans can show different types of tissue (lung, bone, soft tissue and blood vessels) with great clarity and are used by radiologists to more easily diagnose cancers, cardiovascular diseases, infectious diseases, trauma and musculoskeletal disorders.

In Port Alberni, the West Coast General Hospital Foundation will provide $725,000 for the installation of the first-ever CT Scanner for that community.

The units for Victoria are being purchased with the help of a $1.7 million legacy gift from the Victoria Hospitals Foundation, announced on May 15th. Both VGH and RJH will receive a 128-slice dual head Siemens Definition and a 320-slice Aquilion One Toshiba. These are the most advanced scanners available worldwide and will bring another level of advanced technology to VIHA. The CT Scanners for Port Alberni and Victoria are expected to be installed and ready for operation by the Fall.

The Vancouver Island Health Authority performed 81,522 CT Scans in 2007/08 - an increase of 40% since 2003/04.

Saanich Peninsula Hospital Celebrates 30 Years

At the Saanich Peninsula Hospital (SPH) 30th anniversary celebrations on May 20th, VIHA unveiled its future vision for enhancing acute and community health care services for peninsula residents.

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Hearing Screening Access for Newborns Expands Island-wide

The BC Early Hearing Program is intended to detect hearing loss during infancy to better avoid learning and speech challenges. Newborns will have better access to hearing screening through an expansion of the BC Early Hearing Program, which is delivered in partnership with the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA). As part of a province-wide expansion, this program will build on existing infant hearing services by adding new sites across the Island so every newborn will be able to have their hearing tested.

This program is currently being expanded to Comox, Campbell River and Port Hardy/Port McNeil, and will be further expanded later in the year to Duncan, and Port Alberni. Hearing screening for newborns is already available in Victoria, Nanaimo and Saltspring. New equipment has been added to the existing sites within Victoria, Saltspring, Nanaimo and Comox to enhance these services.

Research shows that about one in every 300 babies in B.C. is born with hearing loss; however, it can be difficult to diagnose without screening, as there are no obvious signs in infants.

Students At Belmont Secondary School Gain Access to Primary Health Care Services

Students at Belmont Secondary School will have access to primary health care services with a clinic piloted in their school from April until the end of June thanks to a needs assessment project between the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) and the School.

Although similar clinical services are available in the surrounding community, this youth clinic means that the 1,500 students at Belmont School have the ability to regularly access the services of a Nurse Practitioner (NP) twice a week throughout this trial period.

Services offered include general health assessments by a NP and referrals for diagnostic testing, such as lab work and X-Rays, when necessary.  The program is currently undergoing a needs assessment to determine if this type of clinic fits within the scope of practice for a NP and what resources are needed for this student population.  The goal is to foster a healthier population of youth and to raise awareness about health and wellness among students.  It will also help students learn more about chronic disease conditions which can benefit from early intervention. 

VIHA funds youth clinics at two other locations in the Victoria area; one in James Bay and another in the downtown core to provide outreach to students and youth for primary health care services.

VIHA lists patient notices, contact information, locations and visiting hours online, available 24/7.

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As the weather gets warmer, VIHA has some quick tips to help you enjoy safe and active living.

Click here for summer health tips.