Vernon Operational Review Paves the Way for 2011 New Patient Care Tower

KELOWNA – Interior Health has received the report of Medical Management Consulting which conducted a review of the operational services of Vernon Jubilee Hospital and the services offered in the communities of the North Okanagan. “The review is very timely as Interior Health, physicians and staff plan for opening Vernon Jubilee Hospital’s new patient care tower in 2011,” notes Pat Furey, Health Services Administrator for the North Okanagan. “This will be a collaborative process going forward. Interior Health, together with our physician team, is committed to building on our strengths and working towards an exciting future.” The scope of work included identifying resources and utilization rates (community, acute and residential care) within North Okanagan communities including Revelstoke and Salmon Arm, and comparing these with the other five large sites in Interior Health (Kamloops, Kelowna, Penticton, Trail and Cranbrook) and with two other external comparison sites Langley Memorial Hospital and Peace Arch Hospital in White Rock. The report has identified a number of different areas where administration, staff and physicians can focus to build for the future:

Review bed supply and requirement projections
Examine whether more inpatient cases can safely be converted to day procedures
Establish an OR Management Committee with physicians, administration, nursing and support staff
Create an OR Utilization Committee with OR access based upon set criteria including surgeons’ wait times
Establish a task group to examine emergency surgery volumes
Strengthen and develop medical leadership

“We recognize there are challenges,” says Dr. Doug Hardy, Chair of the Medical Advisory Committee. “The North Okanagan is a large and growing area, with a high number of people over age 65. Vernon Jubilee consistently manages high occupancy rates and we know this places a strain on the physicians and staff. However we intend this to be a collaborative process and we will address the report’s recommendations together with Interior Health so we are on the best possible footing when the new tower opens.” An Implementation Committee has been established to oversee progress over the coming months; the Implementation Committee has representation from VJH physicians and Interior Health administration. A project manager has also been appointed and will begin work with the Implementation Committee immediately.

The report is available on the Interior Health website at: http://www.interiorhealth.ca/information.aspx?id=10816

Operational Review - Vernon Jubilee Hospital

• Overview of Report - Summary of Reccomendations
• Report - Section 1 - VJH Operational Review
• Report - Section 2 - VJH Operational Review
• Report - Section 3 - VJH Operational Review
• Data Compendium