{{Short description|Hospital in British Columbia, Canada}} {{Use Canadian English|date=January 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Infobox hospital | name = Vancouver General Hospital | org_group = [[Vancouver Coastal Health]] | image = Vancouver General Hospital.jpg | caption = Aerial view of Vancouver General Hospital | location = 899 West 12th Avenue | region = [[Vancouver]] | state = [[British Columbia]] | country = Canada | coordinates = {{coord|49.2612|-123.1230|display=inline,title}} | helipad = {{Airport codes||||CBK4|p=n}} | healthcare = Medicare | type = Teaching | speciality = Bone marrow transplant and leukemia, burns and plastics, epilepsy surgery program, organ transplant, spinal cord injury, quaternary-level trauma care | standards = <!-- optional if no national standards --> | emergency = Yes, [[Level I Trauma Center]] | affiliation = [[UBC Faculty of Medicine]] | beds = 1,000+ | founded = 1906 | website = {{URL|https://www.vch.ca/en/location/vancouver-general-hospital}} }} '''Vancouver General Hospital''' (locally known as VGH, or Vancouver General) is a medical facility located in [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]]. It is the largest facility in the [[Vancouver Hospital and Health Sciences Centre]] (VHHSC) group of medical facilities. VGH is Canada's third largest hospital by bed count, after [[Hamilton General Hospital]], and [[Foothills Medical Centre]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Healthcare |first=Definitive |title=Top 25 Largest Canadian Hospitals by Bed Count |url=https://www.definitivehc.com/resources/healthcare-insights/top-largest-canadian-hospitals |access-date=2023-06-14 |website=www.definitivehc.com |language=en |archive-date=January 31, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240131035225/https://www.definitivehc.com/resources/healthcare-insights/top-largest-canadian-hospitals |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[Vancouver Coastal Health]] (VCH) is responsible for all operations at Vancouver General Hospital.
==History== The [[Canadian Pacific Railway]] (CPR) first opened in 1886 a nine-bed tent, its primary use to treat railway workers. On June 13, 1886, a fire destroyed the tent hospital and by July, a new, one-storey building was built. In September, the City of Vancouver took over the facility, which became the '''City Hospital'''. In 1888, located at the southern edge of the original [[Gastown]] settlement, a 35-bed hospital opened, as the tent infirmary became too small. The upstairs ward was for female patients, the downstairs ward for males.<ref>{{cite web |title=First City Hospital {{!}} Vancouver Heritage Foundation |url=https://placesthatmatter.ca/location/first-city-hospital/ |website=Vancouver Heritage Foundation |access-date=12 September 2024 |archive-date=July 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240723060011/https://placesthatmatter.ca/location/first-city-hospital/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1899, the Vancouver City Hospital Training School for Nurses was opened.<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Portraits in Time |url=https://bcnursinghistory.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Volume21Number3Fall2010.pdf |access-date=2024-09-11 |magazine=B.C. History of Nursing Society News |publisher=B.C. History of Nursing Society |page=1 |language=en-ca |format=PDF |volume=21 |issue=3 |archive-date=September 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912003518/https://bcnursinghistory.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Volume21Number3Fall2010.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1902, British Columbia provincial legislature transferred control from the city's board of health to a board of 15 directors.<ref>{{cite web |title=An Act to Incorporate the Vancouver General Hospital |url=https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/hstats/hstats/609220108 |website=bclaws.gov.bc.ca |access-date=12 September 2024 |language=en-ca |format=PDF |date=June 21, 1902 |archive-date=September 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912003517/https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/hstats/hstats/609220108 |url-status=live }}</ref> Vancouver City Hospital was renamed to '''Vancouver General Hospital'''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vancouver General Hospital - City of Vancouver Archives |url=https://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/vancouver-general-hospital-12 |website=searcharchives.vancouver.ca |access-date=11 September 2024 |archive-date=September 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912003457/https://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/vancouver-general-hospital-12 |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 1906, in Fairview Ridge, overlooking [[False Creek]], a new building, the Heather Pavilion, began housing staff and patients.<ref>{{cite web |title=Heather Pavilion |url=https://www.heritagesitefinder.ca/location/2733-heather-st-heather-pavilion-vancouver-bc |website=www.heritagesitefinder.ca |access-date=11 September 2024 |archive-date=September 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912003522/https://www.heritagesitefinder.ca/location/2733-heather-st-heather-pavilion-vancouver-bc |url-status=live }}</ref> The University of British Columbia Medical School opened clinical facilities at VGH in 1950.<ref>{{cite web |title=Home Page {{!}} BCMD10 (CLF) |url=https://bcmd10.med.ubc.ca/ |website=bcmd10.med.ubc.ca |access-date=11 September 2024 |archive-date=March 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240304010356/https://bcmd10.med.ubc.ca/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 1959, VGH opened the "Centennial Pavilion" (named in commemoration of the centennial of the founding of British Columbia as a [[Colony of British Columbia (1858–1866)|British Crown colony]], in 1858),<ref>{{cite web |title=Centennial Pavilion Vancouver General Hospital opened June 20, 1959 : [description of pavilion] - City of Vancouver Archives |url=https://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/centennial-pavilion-vancouver-general-hospital-opened-june-20-1959-description-of-pavilion |website=searcharchives.vancouver.ca |access-date=11 September 2024 |archive-date=September 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912003429/https://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/centennial-pavilion-vancouver-general-hospital-opened-june-20-1959-description-of-pavilion |url-status=live }}</ref> which at the time was the largest part of the VGH facilities.<ref>{{cite web |last1=O’Hanley |first1=Jean Ann |title=Earthquake Risk Mitigation of Hospital Facilities: A Case Study of Vancouver General Hospital |url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/media/download/pdf/831/1.0086284/1 |website=library.ubc.ca |access-date=11 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207183401/https://open.library.ubc.ca/media/download/pdf/831/1.0086284/1 |archive-date=2020-02-07 |pages=126-127 |language=en-ca |format=PDF |date=September 1993 |url-status=live}}</ref> It was renamed for Leon Judah Blackmore in 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 24, 2017 |title=VGH wing renamed in honour of Leon Judah Blackmore after $18M donation |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vgh-donationa-leon-judah-blackmore-1.4129792 |access-date=June 25, 2024 |publisher=CBC News |archive-date=June 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240625224421/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vgh-donationa-leon-judah-blackmore-1.4129792 |url-status=live }}</ref>
In the 1960s, VGH built Canada's first [[Neonatal intensive-care unit|intensive care nursery]], equipped with the first effective apparatus used for natural breathing in infants with [[respiratory failure]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Canadian Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths - CFSID |url=http://www.sidscanada.org/segal.html |website=sidscanada.org |access-date=11 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509054150/http://www.sidscanada.org/segal.html |archive-date=2008-05-09 |language=en-ca |date=9 May 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Obituary for Sydney Segal (Aged 76) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vancouver-sun-obituary-for-sydney-se/82675676/ |access-date=11 September 2024 |work=The Vancouver Sun |agency=The Vancouver Sun |date=25 June 1997 |page=5 |archive-date=September 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240911235311/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vancouver-sun-obituary-for-sydney-se/82675676/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 1996, VGH opened the first three floors of its newly constructed Laurel Pavilion. In 2000, the Laurel Pavilion was renamed to the [[Jim Pattison]] Pavilion and construction of the final 12 floors began in 2001. The Jim Pattison Pavilion opened in 2003.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Services |first1=Office of the Premier, Ministry of Health |title=Jim Pattison Pavilion Tower Opened at VGH |url=https://archive.news.gov.bc.ca/releases/archive/2001-2005/2003otp0032-000446.htm |website=archive.news.gov.bc.ca |access-date=12 September 2024 |date=8 May 2003 |archive-date=September 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912003429/https://archive.news.gov.bc.ca/releases/archive/2001-2005/2003otp0032-000446.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2004, construction of the new Gordon and Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre began. This new building, adjacent to the Jim Pattison Pavilion, opened in August 2006 to provide acute day care services in a variety of areas.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bellett |first=Gerry |date=October 21, 2006 |title=$95-million VGH health centre opens |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vancouver-sun-95-million-vgh-health/150063930/ |access-date=June 25, 2024 |work=Vancouver Sun |page=B5 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=September 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912003430/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vancouver-sun-95-million-vgh-health/150063930/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
The Lung Centre specializes in the treatment of pulmonary conditions such as asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, lung cancer, occupational and environmental lung diseases, sarcoidosis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, [[pulmonary hypertension]] and interstitial lung disease.<ref>{{cite web |title=About |url=https://centreforlunghealth.ca/about/ |website=Centre for Lung Health |access-date=12 September 2024 |archive-date=August 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806034110/https://centreforlunghealth.ca/about/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
The Blusson [[Spinal cord|Spinal Cord]] Centre, the world's largest, most advanced and most comprehensive facility devoted to [[spinal cord injury]] research and patient care was opened in November 2008. The six-storey, $45-million centre is home to ICORD (International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries), the Rick Hansen Institute and the Brenda and Davide McLean Integrated Spine Clinic and is a partnership of the [[University of British Columbia]], the [[Rick Hansen]] Foundation, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, and the [[VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Blusson Spinal Cord Centre |url=https://vancouverspinesurgery.com/blusson-spinal-cord-centre/ |website=VSSI |access-date=11 September 2024 |archive-date=September 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912003430/https://vancouverspinesurgery.com/blusson-spinal-cord-centre/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Blusson Spinal Cord Centre |url=https://makeprojects.ca/project/blusson-spinal-cord-centre/ |website=Make Projects |access-date=11 September 2024 |archive-date=May 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240523213224/https://makeprojects.ca/project/blusson-spinal-cord-centre/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
The [[Robert Hung-Ngai Ho|Robert H.N. Ho]] Research Centre, opened in September 2011, is a seven-storey, {{Convert|69350|sqft|abbr=on}} facility that houses three of VGH's key research programs: the [[Vancouver Prostate Centre]] at VGH; the Centre for Hip Health and Mobility; and the [[Ovarian cancer|Ovarian Cancer]] Research Initiative.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Thompson |first1=Matthew |title=Robert H. N. Ho Research Centre |url=https://www.mcmparchitects.com/projects/robert-h-n-ho-research-centre/ |website=MCM Architects |access-date=11 September 2024 |language=en-CA |date=27 January 2024 |archive-date=July 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709060836/https://www.mcmparchitects.com/projects/robert-h-n-ho-research-centre/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Facilities and amenities== [[File:BCEHSHeli2017.jpg|thumb|BCEHS critical care team on the helicopter pad on the top of Vancouver General Hospital following the offloading of a patient]] [[Image:VGH-2.jpg|thumb|Vancouver General Hospital's Centennial Pavilion]]
VGH is the largest hospital in British Columbia, offering specialized and [[Tertiary care|tertiary services]] to adult patients (18 and above) in Vancouver. The hospital accepts patients referred from other parts of the province requiring highly specialized services. Approximately 40% of the hospital's cases come from outside the Vancouver region.<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Hospitals and Health Care Centres |url=https://vghfoundation.ca/about/our-hospitals/ |website=VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation |access-date=11 September 2024 |language=en |archive-date=January 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116091305/https://vghfoundation.ca/about/our-hospitals/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Vancouver General Hospital is an [[internal medicine]] hospital,<ref>{{cite web |title=Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) {{!}} Vancouver Coastal Health |url=https://www.vch.ca/en/location/vancouver-general-hospital/about |website=www.vch.ca |access-date=11 September 2024 |language=en |archive-date=September 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912003205/https://www.vch.ca/en/location/vancouver-general-hospital/about |url-status=live }}</ref> with pediatric and maternal care services in the Vancouver region being offered by [[BC Children's Hospital]] and [[BC Women's Hospital & Health Centre]], located roughly 2.5 km south of Vancouver General.<ref>{{cite web |title=Directions & Parking |url=http://www.bcchildrens.ca/our-services/directions-parking |website=www.bcchildrens.ca |access-date=11 September 2024 |language=en-CA |archive-date=March 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240301180104/http://www.bcchildrens.ca/our-services/directions-parking |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Directions & Parking |url=http://www.bcwomens.ca/our-services/directions-parking |website=www.bcwomens.ca |access-date=11 September 2024 |language=en-CA |archive-date=May 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524163649/http://www.bcwomens.ca/our-services/directions-parking |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:VanGenHospitalBroadway.jpg|thumb|Street view of Vancouver General Hospital from West Broadway]]
In addition to providing specialized and tertiary medical services, VGH is also a [[teaching hospital]] in affiliation with the University of British Columbia [[UBC Faculty of Medicine|Faculty of Medicine]], providing training and advanced education to students from all disciplines. Unique in Canada is the Gordon and Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre at VGH which includes the UBC Faculty of Medicine facilities. The facility houses teaching space for about 250 third and fourth year [[Medical school|medical students]] and 500 postgraduate residents, and nine Faculty of Medicine programs as well as the UBC medical school library.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gordon and Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre {{!}} Division of Endocrinology |url=https://endocrinology.medicine.ubc.ca/gordon-and-leslie-diamond-health-care-centre/ |website=endocrinology.medicine.ubc.ca |access-date=11 September 2024 |archive-date=March 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240329041657/https://endocrinology.medicine.ubc.ca/gordon-and-leslie-diamond-health-care-centre/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=UBC Biomedical Branch (BMB) Library Services {{!}} Woodward Library |url=https://woodward.library.ubc.ca/services-at-hospitals/bmb/ |website=woodward.library.ubc.ca |access-date=11 September 2024 |archive-date=September 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912003052/https://woodward.library.ubc.ca/services-at-hospitals/bmb/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Program Sites |url=https://mdprogram.med.ubc.ca/about/distributed-program-sites/ |website=MD Undergrad Education, UBC Faculty of Medicine |access-date=11 September 2024 |archive-date=September 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912003053/https://mdprogram.med.ubc.ca/about/distributed-program-sites/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
VGH's main [[cafeteria]], Sassafras Cafeteria, is located on the second floor of the Jim Pattison Pavilion. The pavilion also has a café at its main entrance called Café Ami.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) {{!}} Vancouver Coastal Health |url=https://www.vch.ca/en/location/vancouver-general-hospital/plan-your-visit |website=www.vch.ca |access-date=11 September 2024 |language=en |archive-date=May 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240515205046/https://www.vch.ca/en/location/vancouver-general-hospital/plan-your-visit |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Facts and figures== * One [[emergency department]] * 24 [[Operating theater|operating rooms]] * 40 outpatient clinics * 27,400 inpatient (overnight) visits per year * 294,300 clinic visits per year * 94,348 emergency department visits per year (15/16 fiscal) * 23,000 outpatient and inpatient [[Surgery|surgical]] cases per year
==Divisions== * Respiratory Medicine and Thoracic Surgery * [[Alzheimer's disease|Alzheimer]] Clinic * BC Injury Prevention Centre<ref>{{Cite web |title=BC Injury Prevention Centre |url=http://www.injuryfreekarma.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006171150/http://injuryfreekarma.com/ |archive-date=2016-10-06 |access-date=2011-05-17}}</ref> * Centre for [[Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation|Cardiac Rehabilitation]] and Risk Factor Management * [[Domestic violence|Domestic Violence]] * Eye Care Centre, established in 1983 with funds raised with the help of [[Stephen M. Drance]] * [[Leukemia]]/[[Bone marrow|Bone Marrow]] [[Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation|Transplant]] Program * Mary Pack [[Arthritis]] Centre * [[Trauma (medicine)|Trauma]] Services/[[Orthopedics|Orthopedic]] [[Trauma center|Trauma Service]] * Outpatient [[Psychiatry]] Clinic * [[Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce|CIBC]] Centre for Patients and Families<ref>{{Cite web |title=CIBC Centre for Patients & Families |url=http://www.vch.ca/find_services/find_services/?&program_id=1400 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716201955/http://www.vch.ca/find_services/find_services/?&program_id=1400 |archive-date=2011-07-16 |access-date=2024-09-11 |website=vch.ca}}</ref> * [[Vancouver Prostate Centre]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=UBC & VGH Centre of Excellence {{!}} Vancouver Prostate Centre |url=https://www.prostatecentre.com/ |access-date=2024-09-11 |website=www.prostatecentre.com |archive-date=September 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240902215340/https://www.prostatecentre.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> * Short Term Assessment and Treatment Centre (STAT) * Skin Care Centre<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Skin Care Centre – BC's Centre for Dermatologic Science – Home |url=http://www.skincarecentre.ca/ |access-date=2024-09-11 |website=www.skincarecentre.ca |archive-date=October 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022172030/http://www.skincarecentre.ca/ |url-status=live }}</ref> * Work Adjustment Program * Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute<ref>{{Cite web |title=VCH Research Institute |url=https://www.vchri.ca/ |access-date=2024-09-11 |website=VCH Research Institute |language=en |archive-date=September 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240902003802/https://www.vchri.ca/ |url-status=live }}</ref> * Centre for [[Hip]] Health
==''Emergency Room'' documentary series==
In 2014, [[Knowledge Network]] premiered "[[Emergency Room: Life + Death at VGH]]" a six-part documentary series directed by Kevin Eastwood which follows several VGH [[emergency department]] staff and patients over a period of 80 days between February and May 2013. The series won twice at the 2014 [[Leo Awards]], taking home Best Documentary Series and the People's Choice Award for Favourite TV Series.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Leo Awards, All Winners 2014 |url=http://www.leoawards.com/2014/winners_all/ |access-date=11 June 2014 |archive-date=June 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140607155937/http://www.leoawards.com/2014/winners_all/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
The second season of ''Emergency Room: Life + Death at VGH'' began on April 12, 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 April 2018 |title=Emergency Room: Life and Death at VGH |url=https://www.knowledge.ca/er |access-date=April 5, 2016 |archive-date=April 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412175458/https://www.knowledge.ca/er |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Notable deaths== *[[Errol Flynn]], Australian-American actor<ref>{{cite book |last1=McNulty |first1=Thomas |title=Errol Flynn: the life and career |date=2004 |publisher=McFarland |location=Jefferson, N.C |isbn=978-0-7864-1750-6 |page=5}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{Official website|https://www.vch.ca/en/location/vancouver-general-hospital}} * [https://www.worldclasshealthcare.ca/ VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation]
{{UBC}} {{Hospitals in Metro Vancouver}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:Hospital buildings completed in 1886]] [[Category:Hospital buildings completed in 1959]] [[Category:Hospitals in Vancouver]] [[Category:University of British Columbia]] [[Category:Hospitals established in 1906]] [[Category:Heliports in Canada]] [[Category:Certified airports in British Columbia]] [[Category:1906 establishments in British Columbia]] [[Category:Level 1 trauma centers]]