With unprecedented growth in the Tri-Cities, and more to come with development of Burke Mountain as well as construction of the Evergreen Line and accompanying high-density housing, Eagle Ridge Hospital is under increasing pressure.
Among ERH's challenges is serving more families and children in the next 10 to 20 years.
To meet that need, the Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation is looking at ways to improve the emergency room experience for kids, who account for a fifth of all ER visits.
This spring, the foundation plans to improve a children's treatment room and renovate a private family room to give families much-needed privacy in a comfortable setting.
The goal is to raise $25,000 to add equipment and amenity comforts to an existing children's room and upgrade a family room that is now used for storage, according to Charlene Giovannetti-King, ERHF's executive director. So far, she said, everything seems to be coming together to make the plan a reality.
This week, Coquitlam Centre will launch its Holiday Heart campaign to raise funds for the project, and Giovanetti-King is hopeful the project will be started in the new year
"Most important to us is that 20% of the people who are treated at ERH's emergency department are kids and we need a child-friendly space for them. We also see more children in the ER at ERH than does RCH [Royal Columbian Hospital] - a sign that the growth in families with young children in the area is increasing demands on our hospital."
According to recent stats, for example, 19% of patients visiting the ER at Eagle Ridge are under the age of 16 years compared to 15% at New Westminster's RCH, which is a regional trauma facility.
SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT
If the money comes through, the foundation hopes to buy specialized equipment for the children's room and couches, lamps and a coffee station for the family room.
Currently, the pediatric room is a walled-off area separate from the rest of the emergency ward but the walls are bare and the equipment can be intimidating for children and families.
The plan is to solicit donations for an infant weight scale, a crib, pediatric thermometers and stethoscopes, hydration kits, children's gowns, washable toys, a treatment stretcher, a colour-coded treatment cart and room renovations.
According to Eagle Ridge Hospital, overall ER patient numbers are climbing. So far in 2013, the ER has seen a 5% increase in patient visits, with an anticipated annual case load of more than 47,000 patients in an area that was built to accommodate 20,000. Projections have the hospital serving 57,000 patients a year by 2020 and 71,500 patients annually by 2030.
Meanwhile, a concept plan has been developed for expanding the hospital, although there's no word yet if funding will be made available for the project. For sketches of the plan, which was developed last year, visit here.
