PEOPLE living in Richmond East will benefit from having better access to team-based, same-day and comprehensive primary health care with the opening of an urgent and primary care centre (UPCC) at 95-10551 Shellbridge Way on Tuesday, April 2.
“We know people in B.C. want more access to timely health-care services within their community, including Richmond,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, on Thursday. “That’s why our government is opening the new Richmond East urgent and primary care centre to meet the health-care needs of the growing population of Richmond, so more people can get help for concerns that are not an emergency but require same-day care, such as minor injuries, skin infections, less serious child illness, hypertension, and so on. This UPCC will also help attach patients to a primary care provider and reduce their need to visit the local hospital emergency department.”
The centre will provide care for people with non-life-threatening conditions who need to see a health-care provider within 12 to 24 hours, but do not require an emergency department, such as people with minor cuts or burns, headaches and sprains, as well as those experiencing mental-health and substance-use challenges. For urgent care, it will be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
In the coming months, a new family practice clinic, Shellbridge Family Practice, will provide longitudinal primary care services within the UPCC. In partnership with the Richmond Division of Family Practice as part of the Richmond Primary Care Network, the clinic will help attach patients to primary care providers.
When fully operational, urgent and longitudinal services at the UPCC will be staffed by 36.8 full-time equivalent (FTE) health-care workers, including the equivalent of 10.2 FTE family physicians, 5.8 FTE nurse practitioners, 15 FTE registered nurses, 5.8 FTE allied health professionals (social workers, dietitians and pharmacists) and support staff.
To help create a culturally safe space and a welcoming environment, Vancouver Coastal Health collaborated with Coast Salish artist Kelly Cannell from the Musqueam Nation, who painted a mural called Legends of the Land and Sea that adorns the walls of the waiting area.
“Our government continues to make historic investment in team-based primary care for people in Richmond, so we can get the care we need and live our healthiest lives,” said Aman Singh, MLA for Richmond-Queensborough. “The new Richmond East urgent and primary care centre will make a meaningful difference for Richmond families as it will offer them more options for health-care service that is patient-centred, easy to understand and in a comfortable space.”
The UPCC will be approximately 975 square metres (10,500 square feet) and will include reception, consultation room, triage/assessment room and 20 exam rooms, along with additional areas to aid with patient flow and treatment. The total capital cost of the UPCC is estimated to be $9.4 million.
