Students and community members now have improved access to urgent and primary care with the recently- opened UBC Urgent and Primary Care Centre.
The new facility is located at 6165 Agronomy Road and is open from 8 a.m to 10 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays, including statutory holidays.
“This centre is a part of our commitment to ensuring everyone has access to primary care in their community,” said B.C. Premier and Vancouver-Point Grey MLA David Eby, as noted in a press release issued by the provincial government.
Minister of Health Josie Osborne said the UBC Urgent and Primary Care Centre (UPCC) will offer team-based services and intends to ease pressure on the emergency department at UBC Hospital, which remains open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for patients requiring life-threatening medical attention due to illness, injury, or overdose.
The centre provides care through an interdisciplinary team-based model, bringing together physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses and other health professionals. In a press release, the B.C. government said at full capacity the centre will be supported by 19 clinical staff and up to nine non-clinical staff.
People who have urgent, non-life-threatening conditions such as fever, minor cuts that may need stitches, burns, headaches, earaches, and sprains requiring X-rays but who do not require emergency department services, will have access to health care at the centre.
Care is delivered primarily through in-person visits, with virtual care provided as needed.
The Ministry of Health, with Vancouver Coastal Health, approved over $6 million in annual operating costs as well as one-time amounts of $330,000 for startup costs. The total capital cost is approximately $17.6 million, funded jointly by the Province and Vancouver Coastal Health, according to the B.C government.
Dr. Sharmila Anandasabapathy, dean of UBC’s faculty of medicine and vice-president of health, said the opening of UPCC improves healthcare services for community members, students, staff, and faculty.
“The new urgent and primary care centre is part of a diverse and growing set of health services on campus that are expanding access to timely, high-quality care,” she said.
“Importantly, the team-based model aligns with how UBC is training the next generation of health professionals to work collaboratively across disciplines to deliver innovative, patient-centred care.”
Improved health services for students
In addition to the UPCC, UBC also opened the Gateway Health Building earlier this year. Located on the northwest corner of Wesbrook Mall and University Boulevard, Gateway provides health and wellbeing services for UBC students in one location, including doctors and mental health counselors.
An interprofessional teaching clinic providing healthcare to the public is also expected to open later this year in the same building.