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Please see the attached document to learn more about the look, contamination, and risk associated with the current drug alert.

Interior Health (IH) is proud to be recognized once again as one of British Columbia (B.C.)’s top employers for 2026, an achievement that reflects the incredible people who make IH such a great place to work. This is the eleventh time IH has received the award, which recognizes exceptional workplaces where culture cultivates collaboration, engagement and innovation. “Our 31,000 staff members are Interior Health,” says IH President & CEO Sylvia Weir. “Our people are at the heart of what we do – making a meaningful impact on the lives of the hundreds of thousands we serve in the interior. It’s the entire team at Interior Health that makes this such a unique and fulfilling place to work.”  Weir notes that the complexities of today’s health-care systems demand that IH looks beyond traditional recruitment and retention. In conjunction with the Province’s Health Human Resources Strategy, IH is advancing initiatives under four key pillars to strengthen its workforce and enhance care delivery across the Interior region: Recruiting for the Future IH partners with schools, communities and the Province of B.C. to attract new health-care workers through incentives, relocation support, pathways for internationally trained professionals, new graduate transition programs, and initiatives that guide high school students toward in-demand health careers Retaining and Training Staff IH is strengthening workplace culture and professional growth through diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, peer support and mentorship, leadership development, “Earn and Learn” programs, and specialty nursing training pathways. Supporting Health and Wellness IH is committed to providing safe, supportive workplaces by expanding occupational health and safety resources, implementing a violence prevention framework, enhancing protection services at major sites, and broadening the employee and family assistance program. Redesigning the Way We Work IH is modernizing systems and practices by implementing workload standards through implementation of provincial minimum nurse-to-patient ratios, expanding associate physician and nurse practitioner roles, optimizing nursing and allied health scope of work, growing virtual care in rural and remote communities, and introducing an integrated system for workforce planning. In addition, IH’s Indigenous Health & Wellness Strategy serves as a framework for staff to provide high-quality, safe and effective health services to Indigenous Peoples and communities.  “People choose to join, grow and build lasting careers because they experience a strong sense of belonging, purpose and opportunity. We are committed to continuing to find ways to support career education, development and exploration and growth, because when people feel seen and supported they return that to the patients we serve,” says Susan Dolinski, vice president, People & Engagement. The focus on supporting employees is helping with retention rates. For example, IH’s new graduate nurse attrition rate – the number of nurses leaving before completing their first year of employment - has fallen to an all-time low of two per cent. IH nursing specialty education programs also see over 14,000 hours of education delivered annually. A partnership with schools that facilitates nursing students to gain specialty training to prepare for emergency, perioperative, and critical care roles has helped achieve over 90 per cent retention in those specialties.  The BC Top Employer award is an annual competition that considers a wide range of criteria, including diversity and inclusion; benefits; physical workplace; student/new graduate opportunities and training; recruitment and retention; employment standards; community involvement; and more. Watch the IH Top Employer video to learn more about why IH is one of the best places to work in B.C. Find in-depth coverage in the Vancouver Sun. With more than 31,000 staff, IH provides a wide range of integrated health services across B.C.’s southern Interior. Since its inception in 2001, IH has been working and partnering for the health and well-being of almost 900,000 people living in a region spanning 215,000 square kilometres and located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Dãkelh Dené; St’át’imc; syilx; Tŝilhqot’in; Ktunaxa; Secwépemc; and Nlaka’pamux Nations. Explore exciting new career opportunities with IH at Jobs.Interiorhealth.ca.

Interior Health is increasing hours of service at the Cranbrook Urgent and Primary Care Centre (UPCC) to better meet the needs of the community. Starting Feb. 13, the Cranbrook UPCC will be open seven days a week, including statutory holidays. Hours will be Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and statutory holidays. People who access the UPCC will continue to be assessed by a nurse and triaged to an appropriate health care provider such as a physician, nurse practitioner, physiotherapist, social worker or mental wellness clinician depending on the situation. UPCCs support people who are experiencing non-life-threatening conditions and need to see a health-care provider within 12 to 24 hours, but do not require an emergency department visit. Patients requiring emergency care should always call 911 or proceed to the nearest hospital. The Cranbrook UPCC is a collaboration between Interior Health, Ministry of Health, Kootenay East Regional Hospital District, East Kootenay Division of Family Practice and Ktunaxa Nation. The Cranbrook UPCC is part of the East Kootenay Primary Care Network (EK PCN), a group of regional health care providers who work together to offer comprehensive, person-centered health care that is equitable and culturally safe. The UPCC is located at the Baker Street Professional Centre at 1311 2nd St. N in Cranbrook. The UPCC is a team-based environment that currently offers urgent care, maternity care and allied health services. More details are available here.

Please see the attached document to learn more about the look, contamination and risk associated with the current drug alert.

Construction begins today on the new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suite at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital (KBRH) in Trail, marking a major milestone in strengthening medical imaging and diagnostic services for people across the Kootenay Boundary region. “Investing in modern health-care infrastructure is essential to making sure communities across British Columbia have access to the services they rely on,” said Bowinn Ma, Minister of Infrastructure. “The new MRI expansion at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital reflects our government’s commitment to building the facilities needed to support growing communities and to strengthen the delivery of critical services close to home.” The new MRI suite will replace the current mobile MRI and be located in an integrated space within the hospital, supporting KBRH’s role as a Regional Oncology Centre, Level 3 Trauma Referral Centre, and Regional Stroke Centre. Once complete in early 2028, people in Trail will have access to a permanent, more accessible MRI suite inside the hospital, including a new 1.5T MRI scanner. “People in the Kootenay Boundary region can look forward to enhanced care with expanded MRI services at KBRH,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “Patients will be able to access timely diagnostics, supporting earlier and faster treatment, which can be critical for those needing timely care.” The expanded MRI suite and new MRI scanner will significantly increase diagnostic capacity at KBRH, raising annual MRI volumes from about 4,400 to as many as 7,000 scans. The upgraded technology will improve imaging accuracy and efficiency, with faster scan times and smoother workflow. “For people in rural and remote communities, having diagnostic services close to home makes a real difference,” said Steve Morissette, MLA for Kootenay-Monashee. “This new MRI suite at KBRH means fewer long trips, faster answers, and better care for families throughout the region.” The additional space and equipment will also enable more complex exams to be performed on site, reducing the need for referrals to larger centres and helping patients receive timely medical care. “By expanding MRI services at KBRH, we are reducing barriers to diagnostic imaging and helping patients and families receive the care they need—close to home,” said Sylvia Weir, president and CEO, Interior Health. “A modern MRI suite inside the hospital will help our teams provide faster, more connected care for patients and families for many years to come.” Following a competitive bidding process, Interior Health selected Ledcor Construction Ltd. for the KBRH MRI suite expansion project. Mobilization and construction are set to begin on Feb. 2, 2026. The project is expected to be complete and ready to receive patients in mid 2028. “We are thrilled to see construction begin on the MRI expansion at Kootenay Boundary Hospital, a project that will bring vital diagnostic services closer to home,” said Everett Baker, West Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital District Board Chair. “The West Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital District Board is proud to advocate for rural and remote communities, and this milestone is a testament to what can be achieved when we work together to invest in local health care. Every resident, no matter where they live, will benefit from faster, better access to the care they deserve.” To ensure MRI services continue throughout construction, the existing mobile MRI will be relocated to an interim on-site position and accessed through a renovated area of the hospital’s administration wing. This approach will keep MRI operations running with minimal disruption to patients. “We are proud to support this significant investment in regional health care for the Kootenay Boundary,” said Lisa Pasin, Executive Director, KBRH Health Foundation. “The MRI expansion is critically important and will greatly benefit patients, their families, and our health-care teams.” The project also includes upgrades to hospital parking, scheduled to occur during summer 2026 and summer 2027. “This new MRI suite marks a major step forward from our ageing, trailer-based MRI service, transforming how we care for our patients,” said Dr. Gonzalo Ansede, department head, medical imaging, KBRH. “By improving patient flow and expanding the range and quality of MR imaging we can offer on site, it allows our team to work more efficiently and deliver a better experience and better outcomes for our community.” The total project cost is estimated at $35.86 million and will be shared by the provincial government through Interior Health, the West Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital District, and the KBRH Health Foundation.

Please see the attached document to learn more about the look, contamination, and risk associated with the current drug alert.

Please see the attached document to learn more about the look, contamination, and risk associated with the current drug alert.

Please see the attached document to learn more about the look, contamination, and risk associated with the current drug alert.

Please see the attached document to learn more about the look, contamination, and risk associated with the current drug alert.