RIH prepares to open Clinical Services building Monday

Aug 13, 2016 | 6:39 AM

KAMLOOPS — The brand new Clinical Services building at Royal Inland Hospital will be open to patients on Monday. 

Health Service Director Kris Kristjanson said equipment would be moved in over the weekend, causing some disruption to outpatient lab services. 

“Because of the move, and of course we need to move over equipment that we’re using in the existing space, on Saturday, Aug 13, the lab will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., so it’s going to close one hour earlier than usual, and we’re going to be closed all day on Sunday,” Kristjanson said. 

Once the Clinical Services building opens on Monday morning, the outpatient lab will continue with its regular hours. 

Kristjanson said the massive project towering over Columbia Street consists of a large parkade, education space for the staff, and clinical outpatient services.

“The current clinics going in there are such things as IV therapy, cardiology, the neurodiagnostics and sleep lab, pre-surgical screening, and of course the outpatient lab,” he said. 

Kristjanson added the project was not without its challenges. 

“I’m really impressed with the building, because … it was a design challenge to excavate that entire hill, and reinforce it, and place a building down there along Columbia, but it’s on target and on time.” 

RELATED VIDEO: RIH Clinical Services building closing in on completion (Aired June 3)