Automation is coming to Cowichan District Hospital to help increase the standard of care for all patients across the valley.
The system was tested in Victoria last year and was successfully implemented.
Island Health executive director Kelsey Kozoriz says automating the current hospital and new facility works will speed up even the smallest of tasks.
“We’re moving away from paper and fax machines for processing orders and getting into a system that directly allows us to order our medications and tests,” she says. “This will make care in our hospitals more efficient, reduce errors and increase safety.
“These are some real positive changes we’re seeing with this system.”
She says while the system was tested in Victoria, some regions north of the Malahat already have similar systems in place but adds, technology changes and it’s important to make sure each system is adapted to the region.
“I think Island Health has done a good job at taking a measured approach and going site by site to make sure they’re ready and trained,” she says. “We’ll continue to see further sites in the coming months, and years, across the island so we’ll all be on the same system.”
No clear indication has been given when regions from Comox to the North Island will be online with the new system, but Kozoriz says some announcements should be coming in the following months.
The new system will also be utilized in the new facility without any effort to be transferred over to help modernize the region.
She says this way residents will have increased care when needed.
“This system will be transferred over to the new CDH in 2027, so we’ll have the most modern and up-to-date system by the time it opens.”
Island Health says while the system is implemented and rolled out, you should expect longer than normal wait times, and if your condition doesn’t require immediate service, consider an urgent care clinic before the emergency room.
