NEW ROYAL JUBILEE HOSPITAL

When the new Royal Jubilee Hospital opens for patients in 2011, it will provide residents of Victoria and southern Vancouver Island with a state-of-the-art facility that is a Centre of Excellence in elder care, attracts and retains health-care professionals and minimizes the impact on the environment.

Centre of Excellence Highlights:

· Over 80 per cent of the rooms are single-bed patient rooms to maximize patient privacy and comfort, and reduce hospital acquired infection rates.

· The patient room and bathroom is designed to reduce the risk of falls, particularly important for an elderly population.

· Rooms have been designed to allow family members to participate in patient care and provide support that will result in better health-care outcomes.

· Patient rooms are spacious and can easily adapt to provide different levels of care, based on what the patient needs. This will decrease the need to move patients from one clinical setting to another during their hospital stay, which will result in fewer infections, falls and staff injuries.

· Large opening windows with views will maximize natural light and help create a healing environment.

· Effective and efficient wayfinding, including the use of donated art within the building, will help orient patients, staff and visitors.

Health Care Professionals:

· Ergonomic design elements have been incorporated into patient rooms and staff areas, including overhead lift capability which is expected to significantly decrease staff injury rates.

· Decentralized care-team stations will minimize walking distances for staff and bring information and supplies to point of care.

· As part of the Island Medical Program, a variety of formal and informal teaching spaces throughout the facility will allow health care professionals to engage in continual learning.

· Quality indoor and outdoor respite spaces, staff locker rooms with showers and bike lockers for storage will be provided.

Green Hospital Design:

· The Royal Jubilee Hospital will be designed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification.

· The building will maximize the use of sustainable building products and furnishings, and be energy efficient.

· Design incorporates crime prevention through environmental design.

· The public will have access to garden space with the incorporation of donated art features on the grounds.

· Opportunities for alternative transportation such as transit, bike lockers, carpooling and walking will be maximized.

· The design will focus on surface water management, storm water retention and re-use and xeriscape landscaping.

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Media contact:	David Karn Public Affairs Officer Ministry of Health Services 250 952-2689	Shannon Marshall Communications VIHA 250 370-8270

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