Patients in Kamloops are benefiting from enhanced emergency care services at Royal Inland Hospital (RIH), as Interior Health marks the completion of the acute treatment area in the Teck Emergency Department (ED). The newly opened area represents a significant step in the multi-year RIH Patient Care Tower project.
"These enhancements make a real difference during what can be concerning and vulnerable times for patients and loved ones," said Lorne Sisley, VP Infrastructure and Support Services, Interior Health. "With the remaining emergency department expansion set to be completed next spring, this brings significantly expanded patient care areas to RIH and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality care for people in the region."
The acute treatment area is a specialized section of the emergency department designed for patients requiring urgent attention, close observation and rapid access to tests and treatments. Staffed by specially trained health-care professionals, the area enables timely interventions and focused care for patients whose conditions may change quickly.
The upgraded area features a modern, spacious design, an improved layout to support flow of patients coming through the area, as well as enhanced patient monitoring capabilities. It also incorporates features to improve safety, comfort and privacy for patients, families and caregivers.
The new area includes eight examination rooms, a waiting area, two care team stations, a medication room, and a family room connected to the previously completed mental health and substance use space. Existing treatment spaces have also been upgraded from curtained bays to fully enclosed rooms with walls, hand hygiene sinks and sliding doors, enhancing both privacy and infection control practices.
In collaboration with Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc, Indigenous artwork and ceremonial blessings have been integrated to support culturally safe care and create a welcoming environment for all.
“Health care is not only about treating illness—it is also about ensuring people feel safe, respected and connected,” said Kúkwpi7 Rosanne Casimir, Tk̓emlúps Te Secwépemc. “Through our partnership on this project, Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc helped incorporate meaningful Indigenous artwork and cultural elements that support healing and contribute to a more culturally safe experience for Indigenous patients, families and caregivers.”
Renovation efforts at the hospital will now shift to the final stage of the RIH Patient Care Tower Project, which will expand the trauma and resuscitation zone of the Teck Emergency Department. This will include two additional trauma bays and two new resuscitation rooms, a first for the site. The new space will be open to patients in spring 2027.
The RIH Patient Care Tower project is a major redevelopment initiative that includes the already completed 107-bed Phil and Jennie Gaglardi Patient Care Tower, opened in 2022, as well as extensive renovations to existing hospital spaces. Once complete, the emergency department will be approximately 68 per cent larger, increasing from 47 to 73 treatment spaces to better meet the growing needs of the region.
Interior Health continues to focus on recruiting and retaining health-care workers to support expanded services, noting that the upgraded spaces are already having a positive impact on staff experience and patient care delivery.
The $490.28 million project is funded by the Province of British Columbia, Thompson Regional Hospital District and Royal Inland Hospital Foundation. We are also grateful to Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc, Le7 te Melámen Health Society and Two Rivers Métis Society for their engagement contributions on this multi-phased project.
Learn more about this project in the RIH Patient Tower Project Overview.
Quotes:
Dr. Justin Kopp, Emergency Medicine Department head, RIH
"This new acute care space is an exciting transformation for our department. The larger modern rooms afford greater privacy, comfort and confidentiality for patients during their assessment and treatment. Additionally, the enhanced workspaces for staff improve our ability to collaborate and focus on providing high-quality care.”
Mike O'Reilly, chair, Thompson Regional Hospital District
"The TRHD Board welcomes these upgrades to the emergency department at RIH. This is the closest emergency room for many Thompson-Nicola residents, and it's now a larger and more comfortable space for people going here to seek emergency care."
Heidi Coleman, chief executive officer, Royal Inland Hospital Foundation
“The completion of the Acute Treatment Zone in the Teck Emergency Department is another exciting step forward in RIH’s transformation and a powerful example of what can be achieved when a community comes together. This specialized space will ensure patients with the most urgent and complex medical needs receive timely care when every moment matters."
Phil Wallace, general manager, Highland Valley Copper at Teck
“We are proud to be part of Royal Inland Hospital’s ongoing transformation and to mark the completion of the Acute Treatment Zone—an important milestone in improving care for patients and families across the region. We recognize the importance of thoughtful design that reflects local communities, including the integration of Indigenous perspectives, to create a welcoming and culturally respectful care environment.”
