Skip to content

One year until Penticton Regional Hospital Tower opens

Construction on track at the Penticton Regional Hospital
11567453_web1_171027-PWN-PRHbeam10
Construction crews helped strap up a beam in 2017, after it was signed by dozens of people, to send it up to the Penticton Regional Hospital’s upcoming patient tower, where it will help support an elevator shaft. Western News file photo

The David E. Kampe Tower at the Penticton Regional Hospital is expected to stay on track for its official opening next year.

Construction of the David E. Kampe Tower is Phase 1 of a $312.46 million project that will enhance care for patients at the hospital with a new ambulatory care centre, five new operating rooms, 84 new single patient rooms, a rooftop helipad and space for the UBC Faculty of Medicine program to expand. It is expected to open on April 29, 2019.

Related: Hospital tower to be named for local philanthropist

“We are one year away from the opening of the David E. Kampe Tower, the PRH redevelopment that will make accessing services easier for patients in Penticton and the surrounding region. It is exciting to reach this milestone and be turning into the home stretch,” said Dr. Doug Cochrane, Interior Health board chair. “Our staff, physicians and volunteers continue to bring their expertise and energy to this project so that the services and healing environment will be ready for the opening, one year from now.”

At six-storeys, the new David E. Kampe Tower will combine services that are currently dispersed throughout the hospital together in one convenient location, giving patients better access to services such as cardiology, neurology and orthopedics.

Related: Physicians still a driving force behind hospital expansion

“We are thrilled to see this project getting closer to reality,” said Judy Sentes, vice-chair of the Okanagan-Similkameen Regional Hospital District. “The next year will see a lot of the finishing touches put on the project as we move towards ensuring quality health care for South Okanagan residents.”

The David E. Kampe Tower will feature five operating rooms, three minor procedure rooms, two endoscopy rooms and one cystoscopy room. The tower will also include a new medical device reprocessing department, a parkade with 480 parking stalls as well as room for commercial space.

Related: The changing faces of rural doctors

“I’m excited to see the progress being made on the Penticton hospital tower project,” said Carey Bornn, executive director of the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation. “It’s an exciting milestone to be getting closer to seeing this project become reality. We continue to enjoy great community support from all of our donors, helping to provide state-of-the-art equipment for the project.”

Construction began on the Dave E. Kampe Tower in the spring of 2016. Phase 2 of the project will commence in the summer of 2019 and will include renovations to the emergency department, pharmacy and material stores.


@PentictonNews
newstips@pentictonwesternnews.com

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.