RIH Clinical Services building closing in on completion

Jun 2, 2016 | 3:09 PM

KAMLOOPS — The new clinical services building on Columbia street is nearly two months away from opening. 

Crews are touching up the outside of the building, and landscapers are planting trees and scrubs to make everything look pretty.

Inside, workers have the odd touch-ups still to finish off, working on doors and wiring inside of the over 5,000 square meter building, leading up to the August 15 opening.

WATCH: Full report by Chad Klassen
 

“They’re painting, they’re finishing things off, there’s always electrical little pieces that you have to finish off. We have to get the air balance properly for the building,” says Interior Health President & CEO Chris Mazurkewich.

Thursday marked 75 days until the new building opens, and staff, politicans, and media got to see first-hand how the work is progressing. 

“We got to see in this building today the kind of services that will be available, and of course much better access in terms of parking and pedestrian access into the main hospital,” says Health Minister Terry Lake.

There will be four floors of hospital space, offering various outpatient services, in addition to commercial space. 

“So IV therapy, would therapy, other outreach to patients will be available in the clinical services building, and supporting the UBC-O medical training program,” says Lake. 

There is a lecture hall, donated by the RIH Foundation, on the second floor of the new building — where medical students will learn their craft. 

“That’s going to support young physicians training in Kamloops, and hopefully continuing to practice in Kamloops as well.”

For patients and those visiting friends and family at the hospital, there will be 350 parking stalls for added convenience. The parking will open three weeks earlier on July 25. 

“One of the biggest stressors people have when they visit people in the hospital, or have to come here for services, is finding parking,” notes Lake. 

The keys will be handed over to Interior Health shortly before the August 15 opening. Then, the focus shifts to the proposed surgical tower, which is in the planning stages. The business plan will be submitted by year’s end.