First phase of new emergency department opens at Penticton hospital

Interior Health has opened the first phase of the expanded and enhanced emergency department at Penticton Regional Hospital.

“Our government is committed to upgrading hospitals around the province, including Penticton, and I have been a strong supporter of this project from the start,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health.

“This progress represents another step forward in ensuring quality health care in a modern, twenty-first century facility for people living in the South Okanagan for many years to come.”

The expanded emergency department is part of Phase 2 of the David E. Kampe Tower construction project, and includes a new examination room and patient registration area.

As part of this phase, a major renovation will also expand the pharmacy and material stores.

The work is taking place over multiple phases to allow the emergency department and pharmacy to remain open.

These areas will continue to open in phases from January 2021 to early 2022.

Before registration, patients arriving at emergency are seen by a nurse for assessment and directed to the appropriate level of care.

Interior Health says the ‘nurse first’ process is considered best practices and is in place at other facilities across the province.