The new emergency room at 91原创 Memorial Hospital is busy with doctors, nurses, and patients after opening with little fanfare on Tuesday, May 4.
The long-awaited opening had no ribbon cutting, and no tours by dignitaries in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it immediately began taking patients.
Staff and patients have mentioned the fact that it鈥檚 more spacious and has natural light, compared to the often cramped and windowless ER treatment area that served 91原创 residents from the 1980s through until this spring.
Staff are happy about the switch, said Jason Cook, the hospital鈥檚 executive director.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e excited about having a space to provide the right care at the right time,鈥� he said.
The long-awaited ER increases the number of patient treatment bays from 31 to 49, and adds a second trauma bay the one that existed in the old ER.
READ MORE: Reflections 鈥� Hospital ER hospice construction brings new health era in 91原创
There is now a separate pediatric waiting area for children, and a new entrance separates walk-in patients from ambulance arrivals.
Finally, there is a dedicated, separate treatment area for patients with mental health and substance abuse needs.
Additional handwashing stations, a decontamination room, and an isolation room reduce the risk of infection.
Within hours of the opening, a few 91原创 residents were commenting about their experiences at the ER on Facebook.
Rob Haley
鈥淢y wife just used it tonight for our son鈥檚 broken wrist,鈥� wrote Rob Haley. 鈥淪he said everything was top notch. Good job 91原创!鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檙e so grateful for the early and loyal commitment our donors made to the emergency department construction project,鈥� said Heather Scott, executive director of the 91原创 Memorial Hospital Foundation. 鈥淭hanks to their extraordinary generosity and vision for local health care, the new facility is built with the capacity to deliver the quality of care our residents deserve for today and years to come.鈥�
鈥淵esterday I was the second person to enter the ER and the first to be admitted,鈥� wrote Doreen Smithson Annala. 鈥淐onsidering it is a hospital, it is very nice, cheerful, open and airy.鈥�
Others were still worried about the potential for long waits at the ER to see a doctor.
Local and regional politicians lauded the opening of the new facility.
鈥淭he ED [emergency department] will be able to keep up with the increasing demand for emergency services, and health-care workers will have a modern environment with more space to provide quality care to patients and help save lives,鈥� said B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix.
鈥淭his much-needed expansion will help meet the needs of our community鈥檚 fast-growing population,鈥� said Megan Dykeman, MLA for 91原创 East.
鈥淥ur community was in need of an expanded emergency department for a number of years,鈥� said Andrew Mercier, MLA for 91原创.
The previous ER, on the north side of the hospital, was built in 1986, when visits were around 25,000 per year.
The population of 91原创 has more than doubled since then, and visits are now up to 44,000 per year.
The provincial government, through Fraser Health, provided $29.32 million towards the project. The 91原创 Memorial Hospital Foundation contributed $10 million, which includes a $1.5-million contribution from the 91原创 Memorial Hospital Auxiliary.
The ER project opens on the heels of a new MRI clinic at 91原创 Memorial which started operating earlier this year. A new 91原创 Hospice facility is expected to open this fall.
