The $15-million expansion and renovation project at the Kootenay Lake Hospital was officially opened today by Boundary-Similkameen MLA John Slater, West Kootenay Boundary regional chair Marguerite Rotvold, local elected officials and dignitaries.

The open concept emergency department has tripled in size from 291 square metres (3,132 square feet) to 924 square metres (9, 946 square feet) to accommodate growing demand by Nelson area families. Emergency department visits are projected to rise from approximately 12,000 patient visits annually to almost 19,000 patient visits by 2028.

The first floor renovations include the addition of a CT scanner suite. The Kootenay Lake Hospital Foundation's CT Scanner Campaign raised $1.1 million through donations from residents, local business and community groups.

The needs of patients, including families and health care professionals, were at the heart of every design decision. Walls were built instead of curtains to separate each patient bay, ensuring privacy and confidentiality. There are dedicated treatment rooms for orthopaedics, gynecology, ENT (ear, nose, throat), and a double trauma bay.

Site preparation for the redevelopment started in July 2009 and construction started in January 2010. The cost of the project was shared between the government of B.C., Interior Health and the West Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital District. The Kootenay Lake Hospital redevelopment project created up to 100 construction jobs.

Health-care professionals and patients will start using the newly expanded emergency department on September 18.

Quotes:

Boundary-Similkameen MLA John Slater on behalf of Health Minister Dr. Margaret MacDiarmid -

"The completion of this redevelopment project on budget is great news for Nelson and area families. Patients, staff and physicians will truly benefit from the newly expanded emergency department."

Marguerite Rotvold, WKBRHD chair -

"The Regional Hospital District is very pleased to be a funding partner in this project. It's wonderful to see the redevelopment completed and to know it will directly benefit patients."

Norman Embree Interior Health board chair -

"Quality care is a priority for Interior Health, and now the staff, nurses and physicians in Nelson can continue to deliver care in a bright, spacious environment designed with their input and patient needs in mind."

Pat Dooley, Kootenay Lake Hospital Foundation chair -

"The Kootenay Lake Hospital Foundation is honoured to have played a role in this renovation. We have been the catalyst for the purchase of a number of needed pieces of equipment, such as a transport ventilator, pediatric monitor and a cardiac probe for the ultrasound machine for the emergency department. Needless to say, we are delighted to have spearheaded a community-and-region wide effort that has given area residents access to our own CT scanner, which has been in use in the beautiful CT scanner suite since early December, 2012."

Contact:

Ryan Jabs
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health
250 952-1889

Jennifer Inglis
Communications Officer
Interior Health
250 420-2404