Project Status Update

The new Dawson Creek & District Hospital really starting to take shape and construction is continuing to progress well!

Since our last update, the foundation walls and the last concrete pour for the structural slabs were completed. In addition, work is underway on waterproofing, reinforcing steel, vertical construction and the installation of the multi-trade racks. Over the coming weeks, work will begin on the installation of structural steel.

Two other major milestones were achieved over the past few months – the City of Dawson Creek issued the third and final Building Permit to Graham in June and two of the 100% design packages have been received. The third and final 100% design package will be received in mid-August.

Operational Readiness and Transition Planning

We’re excited to share that we have hired Angus Connect to provide Operational Readiness Advisory Services for the project. Angus Connect (a division of H.H. Angus & Associates Ltd) is a private consulting firm that provides advisory services based on clinical expertise and real-world experience.

As we prepare for the new facility to open in Spring 2027, they will follow a 3-phased approach:

• Phase 1: Project initiation and assessment (Summer 2024)
• Phase 2: Development and implementation (Fall 2025 – Fall 2026)
• Phase 3: Transition plan, move, and learn (Summer 2026 – Summer 2027)

Angus Connect will help prepare and implement a plan to ensure Northern Health is ready to deliver the right care, at the right time, in the new facility. Through stakeholder engagement, detailed assessments, gap analysis, and patient journey mapping the team will help develop work plans for all programs and units. They will also support the development of the orientation, training, simulation and implementation plans to help ensure that the provision of healthcare services is not adversely impacted and that access to care will continue throughout the transition period.

Earlier this summer, Angus Connect kick-started this work and completed their first site visit with two workshops about lessons learned and corporate opening day view. The team looks forward to working with local leadership to help ensure a smooth transition into the new hospital.

Department Highlights

Maternity Unit

The maternity unit in the new facility includes 4 labour, delivery, recovery, and post-partum (LDRP) rooms – all of which are private with ensuite washrooms. Two rooms have birthing tubs and one room is bariatric with a larger floor plan that can support twin births. The LDRP model of care allows patients to experience labour, delivery and post-partum all while staying in the same room. The unit also features a quiet room, a holding nursery with advanced equipment, and an infant protection system.

Key features of the maternity rooms 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
• Wardrobe
• Interactive patient education/entertainment system

Emergency Department

The emergency department in the new facility will be significantly larger (double in size from the current one) and a more welcoming space. There will be a designated entrance, registration area, and waiting area – which is separate from the main entrance. Treatment spaces are private and separated by walls to improve patient privacy. Staff workstations will be situated with clear sight lines to waiting areas and treatment spaces to enhance patient care and safety.

Key features of the emergency department include:

• 15 treatment spaces
• 3 high acuity treatment spaces
• 4 clinical decision spaces
• 2 tandem trauma/resuscitation bays
• Negative pressure treatment rooms
• Crisis interview room
• Quiet bereavement room
• Enclosed, heated double bay ambulance garage
• Site security office for improved safety

Engagement Initiatives

Celebrating 1-year of construction and our amazing staff!

In collaboration with local leadership, the DCDH Project Management Office hosted a lunch celebration for Hospital, Health Unit and Rotary Manor staff to celebrate 1-year of construction on the new hospital. 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 and Dawson Creek Co-op donated cold drinks and cookies for dessert!

Deep Physio Summer Solstice Run

On Saturday, June 22, Deep Physio hosted their 10th 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!

NH Spring Leadership Forum

On May 8 and 9, we showcased the project at the annual Northern Health Spring Leadership Forum in Prince George. This year’s forum brought in over 100 leaders from across the region for two days of education, collaboration, and networking. The leaders were also able to experience 50+ demo pods centered around Digital Health, SaferCare, and HealthSpaces.

The project booths featured draft renderings, construction progress photos, video walk-throughs, sample materials and finishes boards, live construction cameras, swag and giveaways, and two 3D printed cranes!

Interested in learning more?

Visit Let’s Talk DCDH

Here are some stories, photos, videos and documents that have been shared recently:

• Highlight: Inpatient Rooms
• Highlight: Mental Health Unit
• 10th annual Deep Physio Summer Solstice Run with the DCDH Foundation
• June Progress Photos
• Highlight: Maternity Unit
• List of local and regional businesses - As of June 1 2024 (PDF)
• Construction camera timelapse - May 2024 (VIDEO)
• Monthly labour report - As of May 31, 2024 (PDF)
• Highlight: Emergency Department
• May Progress Pictures
• Partial road closure: May 24
• Showcase at the Northern Health Spring Leadership Forum
• Northern Lights dancing above the tower cranes
• Construction camera timelapse - April 2024 (VIDEO)
• Monthly labour report - As of April 30, 2024 (PDF)
• A Project Update: April 2024
• Site comparison - June 2023 to March 2024 (PHOTO)

By registering for Let’s Talk DCDH, you can share your thoughts on the project by commenting on recent stories or you can ask questions directly to the project team through the Q&A tool.

Contact us directly

Email us at LetsTalkDCDH@northernhealth.ca.

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