“This is a major milestone for this long-awaited project,” said Ron Cantelon, MLA for Parksville Qualicum. “For the first time ever in this community, the Oceanside Health Centre will provide urgent care services, and support people with a multi-disciplinary approach to maintain good health and a healthy lifestyle.”
When it opens early summer 2013 the Oceanside Health Centre will provide Urgent Care services 15 hours per day (7:30 am to 10:30 pm), seven days per week to care for medical conditions that require immediate assessment and treatment. The Health Centre will also have an onsite laboratory and medical imaging along with integrated VIHA services including home and community care, mental health and addictions, public health as well as visiting specialist services.
The Oceanside Health Centre will be built adjacent to Trillium Lodge, a Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) owned and operated residential care facility in Parksville located on the corner of the Alberni Highway and Despard Avenue. The Health Centre will have separate access directly off the Alberni Highway.
“The Oceanside Health Centre will bring new and existing health services together under one roof for added convenience for patients,” said Howard Waldner, VIHA President and Chief Executive Officer. “The Centre will offer improved care coordination and a single, state-of-the-art electronic health record that will place complete information at the fingertips of the health care team, ensuring a focus not only on immediate care needs, but also on longer term health promotion and disease management.”
VIHA acknowledges the support and dedication of the local communities, and in particular the mayors and councils of Qualicum and Parksville, the Nanaimo Regional Hospital District (NRHD), the Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation and the Federation of Oceanside Residents Associations (FORA) – a local umbrella group representing residents’ associations – for their commitment and support in promoting this project.
“The Nanaimo Regional Hospital District is proud to be a funding partner in this important project,” said Joe Stanhope, NRHD Chair. “The new facility and its associated services will improve access to health care services and overall care coordination for Oceanside residents for decades to come.”
The Oceanside Health Centre will be a two-story, 3,640 square metre (39,000 square feet) facility, with a construction budget of $15.79 million, cost shared between VIHA and the NRHD. The building will be completed in early 2013, and following building commissioning, it will open for patients in June 2013.
Over the coming weeks, VIHA will be providing additional information about the Oceanside Health Centre, including details about its services and how these will link together, design and floor plans, additional support services and health care providers. Information about the project will be regularly posted at updated at http://www.viha.ca/about_viha/building_for_health/oceanside.htm.
– 30 –
Attachment (1): Backgrounder: Oceanside Health Centre Services Overview (PDF)
Media Contact:
Val Wilson
VIHA Communications
Office: 250-739-6303
Cell: 250-713-3911
Note to newsrooms: For urgent media inquiries off-hours, call our emergency pager at 250.389.7317