Vancouver Coastal Health Authority

Vancouver Coastal Health Authority (VCHA) is a regional health authority that provides health care services to residents in the Vancouver, Richmond, North Shore, Coast Garibaldi, Sea-to-Sky, Sunshine Coast, Powell River, Bella Bella, and Bella Coola areas of British Columbia, Canada. It is one of five publicly-funded regional health authorities within the province, overseen by the British Columbia Ministry of Health.

History

The Vancouver Coastal Health Authority was established in 2001 as part of a province-wide restructuring of health care delivery systems by the British Columbia Ministry of Health. This restructuring aimed to improve the coordination and integration of health services across the province.

Services

VCHA provides a wide range of health care services to more than one million people, including acute care, community-based residential and home health care, mental health services, population health, addiction services, and public health. It operates 13 hospitals, a number of primary care clinics, community health centres, and residential care homes.

Acute Care

Acute care services are provided in hospitals and include emergency care, surgeries, and inpatient treatment. The largest hospital in the VCHA is the Vancouver General Hospital, which is also one of the largest in Canada.

Community-Based Care

Community-based care includes services such as home health, mental health and substance use, public health, and primary care. These services are provided in a variety of settings, including community health centres, clinics, and individuals' homes.

Mental Health and Substance Use Services

VCHA provides a range of mental health and substance use services, including prevention, early intervention, treatment, and recovery support. These services are provided in both hospital and community settings.

Governance

The Vancouver Coastal Health Authority is governed by a Board of Directors appointed by the British Columbia Ministry of Health. The Board is responsible for overseeing the management of the health authority and ensuring that it meets its mandate to provide health services to the residents of its region.

See Also

• Healthcare in Canada
• Healthcare in British Columbia
• List of hospitals in Canada