Dawson Creek and District Hospital Replacement – Dawson Creek, BC

What a difference a year makes! In July 2023, we celebrated the start of construction on the new Dawson Creek & District Hospital. Fast forward a year, we’re now celebrating all of exciting (and quick) progress being made on the new facility.

In collaboration with local leadership, the DCDH Project Management Office hosted a lunch celebration for Hospital, Health Unit and Rotary Manor staff. Everyone was invited to come down and have a bite to eat, mix and mingle with the friends and colleagues, and see the new hospital coming together right across the street.

The Meat Doctor put together an excellent meal with pulled pork, chicken and beef brisket on a bun with coleslaw. Our friends at Dawson Creek Co-op donated cold drinks and cookies for dessert! We are so grateful for our community partners for getting involved in this event and taking some time to appreciate the hardwork and dedication of our healthcare workers.

Check out this month's progress on the new Dawson Creek & District Hospital!

Workers have started removing some of the shoring and re-shoring from Level 1 and Level 2. Framing has started on the interior and exterior of the building. Concrete is continuing to be poured for vertical construction. The multi-trade racks have started arriving on-site and being installed.

Key features of the inpatient unit include:

• Located on Level 2
• 32 medical and surgical beds
• 10 convalescent care beds
  • This includes 2 bariatric patient rooms with more square footage, a larger bathroom, and equipment and furniture to support bariatric patients
• All rooms allow for more flexible and enhanced care
• Visitor and patient lounges
• Family consult room
• Quiet rooms
  

All typical patient rooms are private with an ensuite washroom, located around the perimeter of the building and include:

• Large windows for access to natural light
• Bed and bedside table
• Accessible and private 3-piece washroom
• Furniture for visitors (chair and/or pull out couch)
• Hand hygiene sink
• Interactive patient station/entertainment system
• Wardrobe
• Ceiling lift extending from the bed into the washroom

Download a copy of the DCDH Inpatient Unit highlight poster.

Design is ongoing and subject to change. Renderings are simulated views that are approximate and illustrative.

Key features of the mental health unit include:

• 18 private inpatient rooms with ensuite washrooms
• Two high observation rooms
• Located on Level 3
• Secure courtyard for patients to have access to the outdoors
• Family visiting and consult rooms
• Patient lounge, dining room and kitchen
• Laundry room
• Exercise room
• Group therapy room
• Activity room

Download a copy of the DCDH Mental Health Unit feature poster.

Design is ongoing and subject to change. Renderings are simulated views that are approximate and illustrative.

On Saturday, June 22, Deep Physio hosted their 10^th annual Summer Solstice Run at Walter Wright Pioneer Village. It was a beautiful sunny morning and runners from all over the Peace Country laced up their shoes and gathered to celebrate fitness and giving back to the community.

The Dawson Creek & District Hospital Foundation was the recipient of this year’s event and received a generous donation of $5,500 to put towards local health care!

"This event was a major success, and we would like to extend our deepest thanks to Deep Physio for choosing us as the beneficiaries this year. The Deep team executed a fantastic community event, and did a phenomenal job keeping the whole event running smoothly. We appreciate all the volunteers who put in time to ensure our runners had a safe and successful run. And much gratitude to all the community sponsors who donated – it was a fantastic community event that brought so many people together for a meaningful cause. We appreciate everyone!" - Vicki Rose, Executive Director, DCDH Foundation

Read more about the event on the DCDH Foundation’s website – Celebrating Summer Solstice with a RUN! – DC Hospital Foundation

Interested in making a general donation or becoming a generous monthly donor? You can do so here: General/Monthly Giving

Interested in providing a gift that keeps on giving? Contact Vicki Rose, Executive Director about the Endowement Giving Program.

The new Dawson Creek & District Hospital is really starting to take shape!

Concrete pours for the suspended slabs will be complete by the end of July and over 7,510m³ of concrete will have been poured for all three levels. Over the coming weeks and months, workers will begin removing the shoring which is the vertical tower support system that carries the weight of the formwork, reinforcing bar, concrete and live loads. Work is also underway for waterproofing and backfilling the perimeter of the building.

Key features of the maternity unit include:

• 4 labour, delivery, recovery and post-partum (LDRP) rooms
  • 2 rooms with tubs for water births
  • 1 room is bariatric with a larger floor plan that can support twin births
• 3 ante/postpartum rooms
• Holding nursery with advanced equipment to support infants that need to be transferred to a higher level of care
• Quiet room for families and visitors
• Infant security system
• LDRP model of care allows patients to experience labour, delivery and postpartum stay in the same room

All rooms are private and include:

• Large windows for access to natural light
• Birthing bed and bedside table
• Infant area with a built-in isolette and warmer
• Rocker chair
• Pull out couch
• Small refrigerator
• Accessible and private 3-piece washroom
• Hand hygiene sink
• Interactive patient station/entertainment system
• Wardrobe

Download a copy of the DCDH Maternity Unit feature poster.

Design is ongoing and subject to change. Renderings are simulated views that are approximate and illustrative.

Key features of the emergency department include:

• 15 treatment spaces
• 3 high acuity treatment spaces
• 4 clinical decision spaces
• 2 tandem trauma/resuscitation bays
• Significantly larger and more welcoming space
• Double in size from the current emergency department
• Designated entrance, waiting area, and registration area (separate from main entrance)
• Treatment spaces are separated by walls improving privacy and infection control
• Enclosed, heated double bay ambulance garage
• Staff workstations with clear sight lines to waiting areas and treatment spaces to enhance patient care and safety
• Security office for improved patient and staff safety
• Negative pressure treatment rooms for enhanced infection control
• Crisis interview room
• Quiet bereavement room

Download a copy of the DCDH Emergency Department feature poster.

Design is ongoing and subject to change. Renderings are simulated views that are approximate and illustrative.

As the days go on, more and more progress is being made on the new Dawson Creek & District Hospital! Check out the photos below from a site walkthrough in mid-May.

Concrete pours for Level 1 are now complete, Level 2 is almost complete and Level 3 is recently underway. Once all the concrete pours are complete, over ~7510m of concrete will have been poured for the concrete superstructure.

Members of the Project Management Team

View of the West side of the building where the covered and secure staff entrance will be

View standing at tower crane #2 on Level 1 looking up to Level 2

View looking from the West to the East of the suspended slab formwork tower systemView of the suspended slab formwork on the North side of the buildingView on the East side of the building from Level 1 looking up to Level 2Concrete pouring on Level 2 Prepping for concrete pours on Level 2

View from Level 2 looking at prep work for start of concrete pours the Level 3 suspended slab

Fun fact: Heidelberg Materials, Dawson Creek is supplying all of the concrete for the suspended slabs

On Friday, May 24, 2024 from 8am to 5pm, a small section of 12 St. between 112 Ave and 113 Ave will be closed due to construction activities for the new Dawson Creek & District Hospital.

There will be traffic control on-site during the closure. Vehicle traffic will be one way and pedestrians will be re-directed around the closure.

See the map below for the location of the closure.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. If you have questions or concerns, please email LetsTalkDCDH@northernhealth.ca