Communications, technology and infrastructure

"Communications, technology, and infrastructure" is one of two enabling priorities for Northern Health, as part of our strategic plan:

  • Northern Health will implement effective communications systems, and sustain a network of facilities and infrastructure that enables service delivery.

For details on how we worked towards this in 2016-2017, please select the sections below.

Capital Projects

Dawson Creek:

  • Dawson Creek and District Hospital The hospital’s fluoroscopy room was renovated, and a digital x-ray machine was moved from Fort St. John to Dawson Creek and District Hospital to replace an old machine. (Total $0.2 million; $0.09 million contributed by the Peace River Regional Hospital District)

Houston: Houston Health Centre:

Mackenzie: Mackenzie and District Hospital and Health Centre:

Prince George: University Hospital of Northern British Columbia:

  • Upgrades for the Carbon Neutral Capital Program were made to the hospital's boiler plant, reducing pumping energy and heat loss. (Total $0.7 million; $0.3 million contributed by the Fraser-Fort George Regional Hospital District)
  • Various upgrades to the building’s boilers (which heat the hospital) were put in place for an energy conservation project to lower annual costs by 5%. This included reducing natural gas/electricity use and greenhouse emissions. ($0.72 million)

Quesnel: Dunrovin Park Lodge:

Quesnel: GR Baker Memorial Hospital:

  • Upgrades for the Carbon Neutral Capital Program were made to the ventilation equipment and the boilers. (Total $0.5 million; $0.1 million contributed by the Cariboo Chilcotin Regional Hospital District)
  • Two new standby generators, which give backup electric power, were installed; these replaced one old generator. (Total $1.2 million; $0.5 million contributed by the Cariboo Chilcotin Regional Hospital District)
  • Former inpatient units were renovated so that QUESST (Quesnel Unit for Short Stay Treatment) could be relocated; as well, a new seclusion room put in place. (Total $0.7 million; $0.3 million contributed by the Cariboo Chilcotin Regional Hospital District)
  • Various upgrades to the hospital were finished for an energy conservation project to lower annual heating/ventilating costs by 25%. This included upgrades to the building systems to provide better heating, ventilation and water temperature control; improving energy efficiency; and reducing natural gas use and greenhouse emissions. ($0.35 million) 

Village of Queen Charlotte: Haida Gwaii Hospital and Health Centre - Xaayda Gwaay Ngaaysdll Naay

  • New general hospital (replacing existing facility) opened Fall 2016; the new building includes a range of acute and community services, eight acute care beds plus one labour bed, and eight complex care beds. (Total $50 million; $18.8 million contributed by the North West Regional Hospital District)
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IMIT

Community Health Record Project

  • Phase II (Total $3.1 million; including contributions of $1.2 million from all of the regional hospital districts)
    • This project will help staff give better care to patients, as part of the primary and community care initiative.
    • Custom development of an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system, and then putting it in place (instead of a paper copy, an EMR is a digital copy of a patient’s medical history).             
      • This will reduce systems and paper in areas such as mental health, substance use, diabetes care, public health and community cancer care.
    • Staff are currently looking at what is needed for a Phase III in order to finish this project (beyond 2018).

Funding for the Community Health Record Project

Phase II

Funded by:   Cariboo Chilcotin Regional Hospital District $45,321 Fraser-Fort George Regional Hospital District $432,807 Northern Rockies Regional Hospital District $27,879 North West Regional Hospital District $303,092 Peace River Regional Hospital District $306,521 Stuart Nechako Regional Hospital District $148,553 Total regional hospital district funding $1,264,173 Ministry of Health funding $1,896,259 Total project funding $3,160,432
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