Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is Health Vision Sea to Sky?
VCH is developing an integrated high-level master plan for health services in the Sea to Sky corridor. The plan will encompass three components: a forward-looking clinical service plan for the Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton areas, a long-term infrastructure development concept for each area and a high-level master plan that integrates the clinical service plans and infrastructure plans regionally (including North Shore health services and Lions Gate Hospital).
Starting in June 2023, VCH is beginning community engagement over 18 months in three phases with the goal to improve and enhance health and wellbeing in the region. The engagement will include a broad cross section of interested and impacted groups and communities including VCH staff and medical staff, First Nations communities, residents, local governments and other interested parties.
What are the goals and objectives of this initiative?
The goals of the initiative are to engage with local First Nation partners, local communities, local municipalities, staff and medical staff and other interested parties on the vision for future health service delivery in the region. VCH will be collecting data, analyzing current health-care metrics, studying demographics and future projections, assessing the condition of health facilities and will develop clinical service plans and other plans. It will be important to incorporate diverse voices in the planning process.
Who can participate in the community engagement sessions?
VCH will be inviting a wide range of interested parties to participate in the engagement sessions, including impacted VCH staff and medical staff, residents of the Whistler, Squamish and Pemberton areas, First Nations, local businesses and other interested parties.
How can I get involved?
1) Visit the engagement webpage (engage.vch.ca) to learn about the initiative and register to stay informed.
2) Complete the online survey.
3) Watch for more information about future workshops and opportunities to provide further feedback.
4) Submit a question online. This tool is regularly monitored and allows us to share questions and answers with others who may have same questions. You can also email a question or comment to healthvisionSTS@vch.ca.
When will I be able to participate?
Engagement begins in June and anyone can participate in the online survey. Detailed information about future public engagement opportunities will be shared through VCH and in local news media outlets and on social media, or you can visit engage.vch.ca for more information.
How can VCH staff and medical staff get involved?
Staff and medical staff opinions are important. VCH recognizes the challenges staff and medical staff continue to face while delivering health services to residents of rural and remote and fast-growing communities. As such, staff and medical staff (including contracted staff) will be invited to complete an online survey and to participate in engagement sessions in Phase 1 and 2, anticipated for the summer and fall of 2023. Information about the survey is available on engage.vch.ca and staff engagement sessions will be promoted at all the work sites.
Can family physicians participate?
Family physicians in the Sea to Sky corridor can complete the survey or participate in the community engagement. They may also send an email with feedback to healthvisionSTS@vch.ca.
Is VCH planning to consult with Indigenous people and First Nations communities?
VCH continues to take every opportunity to collaborate with First Nations and partner organizations in the design and delivery of health services and is committed to creating a culturally safe health system that will lead to the best health outcomes for Indigenous patients, clients and residents. VCH will be meeting with First Nations communities to introduce the initiative and share the plan. Then we will meet with each community to listen to and understand their unique needs when it comes to health care.
What will VCH do with the information collected?
The information collected in the survey and during the engagement sessions will help VCH address and plan for future health-care challenges by developing an integrated high-level master plan and site plans for the Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton areas. All the information collected will be included in a final report in 2024.
Will I be updated on the results?
VCH is committed to transparency and sharing the results at various stages of the initiative. For example, VCH will follow up with interested parties and will share a final report in 2024. Participants may choose to subscribe on the project page for project updates by email. Updated information will also be available on this page.