Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is Health Vision Sea to Sky?
Health Vision Sea to Sky is a high-level planning process to help align local health-care services with the evolving health-care needs of the region.
As part of the planning process, VCH has developed a draft clinical services plan for the Sea to Sky region and community plans for Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton. These plans consider historical data and trends, industry best practices, population projections, as well as input from the Sea to Sky community, the six First Nations in the Sea to Sky corridor and staff and medical staff.
Once finalized, these plans will provide a vision for future health-care services at a regional and community level. They will help inform a five-year project program supporting the long-term infrastructure and clinical service needs identified through Health Vision Sea to Sky. Moving forward, VCH will work with the B.C. Government and other relevant partners to further coordinate, engage and advance the recommendations outlined in Health Vision Sea to Sky, as appropriate.
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 has collected data, analyzed current health-care metrics, studied demographics and future projections, assessed the condition of health facilities and developed clinical service plans and other plans. It has been important to incorporate diverse voices in the planning process.
Who can participate in the community engagement sessions?
VCH invited 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?
The engagement for Health Vision Sea to Sky is now complete and all in-person and online sessions, and opportunities to provide input online have now been completed.
1) Visit the engagement webpage (engage.vch.ca) to learn about the initiative and register to stay informed. .
2) 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 has been completed. These opportunities were shared through VCH and in local news media outlets and on social media.
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) were invited to participate in an in-person or online engagement session. Staff and medical staff engagement sessions were promoted at all the work sites.
Can family physicians participate?
Family physicians in the Sea to Sky corridor were invited to 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 met with First Nations communities to introduce the initiative and share draft plans. We met 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 during the previous engagement sessions and online survey has helped VCH address and plan for future health-care challenges and develop a draft clinical services plan and community plans for the Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton areas. In Phase 2 engagement, we shared summaries of the draft plans. Your feedback on the draft plan was shared with the planning team.
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 2025. Participants may choose to subscribe on the project page for project updates by email. Updated information will also be available on this page.