Work on Phase 2 upgrades at Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) in Kamloops is ongoing, but several projects are now complete, including enhancements to the post-anesthetic (PAR) unit, the pediatric unit, and ambulance stretcher bays.
The first phase of emergency department renovations is slated for completion by the end of October 2024.
Patients and staff are already benefiting from Phase 2 upgrades that were completed in July and August 2024. The Afternoon Auxiliary to the RIH PAR unit, which opened on July 3, has been modified to improve the efficiency of each room. Staff can now better monitor patients and provide post-surgical care, and there is an increased capacity for patient care (from 16 to 26 recovery bays).
The pediatric unit, which opened on July 23, has been customized with designs and amenities for young patients and their caregivers, with a focus on enhancing family-centred care. There are nine single inpatient rooms, each with its own private bathroom and shower, and amenities for adult caregivers (e.g., a sleeper chair set in a peaceful, quiet nook, and a wall-mounted desk).
Six ambulance stretcher bays, which opened on Aug. 13, come with dedicated headwall units and equipment to help move patients from ambulances safely and efficiently.
Other Phase 2 renovations that will be completed in 2024 include the first phase of the Teck Emergency Department (ED). Previously, patients would go through one of two triage rooms to begin their care, and there was only one waiting area for everyone. As of October, the new ED will feature a new bright and welcoming entrance; four triage rooms (doubling the previous capacity); and separate internal and external waiting areas.
There will also be a new minor treatment area (for emergencies that require prompt attention, but do not pose an immediate threat to life), including 14 exam rooms with glass doors to enhance privacy and infection control, six exam chairs, 14 treatment chairs, and three care initiation rooms. The ED will also feature innovative antimicrobial copper surfaces and equipment that greatly reduce infection risks from high-touch areas.
Following the initial opening, the Teck ED will progress in three more stages: a new mental-health and substance-use care area and a portion of the new acute treatment zone (completion in summer 2025); the remainder of the new acute treatment zone (spring 2026); and new trauma and resuscitation zone (fall 2026).
The RIH patient care tower project is a collaboration between the Ministry of Health, Interior Health, the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation, and the Thompson Regional Hospital District. This project included construction of the 107-bed Phil and Jennie Gaglardi Tower, which opened to patients in 2022.
The cost of the project is approximately $457 million. The provincial government contributed $243 million, the Thompson Regional Hospital District contributed $172 million, Interior Health contributed $22 million, and the RIH Foundation provided $20 million, which will go toward the purchase of equipment.
