Message from Dr. Penny Ballem
Board Chair, Vancouver Coastal Health
Our team of more than 30,000 staff, medical staff and volunteers provide care to over 1.25 million people at Vancouver Coastal Health.
Every day, our staff and medical staff come together to help solve some of the great challenges we face today in health care, whether it’s addressing the unregulated toxic drug crisis, mitigating the health impact of climate change, championing health equity or improving access to health services in rural and remote areas.
The 2023/24 VCH Impact Report highlights our work over the past year and the impact that work has had on our health-care system and the lives of everyone living in the region, who rely on us to deliver the best quality care now and in the future. That work includes delivering a wide array of programs and services and improvements such as easier access to mental health services for children and youth, expanding our network of Urgent and Primary Care Centres or connecting Indigenous families to specialized maternity care.
We remain focused on our patients, clients, residents and their families. Throughout this report, you will see examples of how we are enhancing the patient experience. This includes making significant investments to upgrade, expand and enhance our health-care infrastructure, incorporating art to create more welcoming, culturally safe spaces and expanding programs that focus on traditional healing practices and cultural needs.
I want to thank you, our patients, clients, residents and families, who continue to have confidence in our outstanding team of health-care professionals, medical staff, support staff and volunteers who come to work to serve a higher purpose of ensuring healthy lives in healthy communities.