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Embracing the vision: meet the dedicated staff bringing life to the new Paul Myers Tower
Lions Gate Hospital is building a new six-floor acute tower projected to open to patients in early 2025. The Paul Myers Tower, named after Paul Myers, a North Shore businessman and philanthropist is supporting the hospital expansion through a donation. To learn more about this exciting project, we spoke with Dr. Victor Chow, Surgeon, Urology who began his medical career as an intern at Lions Gate Hospital 30 years ago.
How did you get involved with the Lions Gate Hospital Redevelopment Project?
I first got involved with the Lions Gate Hospital Foundation through fundraising and meeting with donors. The level of excitement from the donors was contagious and once a position came up for an Operating Room lead, I couldn't turn it down. It's been extremely fun and exciting to put conceptual ideas into a working plan and the chance to work with a large team of architects, engineers and medical staff. It's really special to be involved in a project from planning to build.
What does the new Paul Myers Tower mean to you and your patients?
Lions Gate Hospital is where I had my first internship over 30 years ago. The hospital has a great reputation with excellent services and staff who provide exceptional care. The new hospital will be refreshed and modern with state-of-the art equipment to allow for enhanced patient care. The new operating rooms will have efficient layouts and well-organized equipment which lead to smoother procedures. It will provide more comfort and healing space for our patients and will be a great facility for staff to enjoy as well.
How will our operating rooms be improved in comparison to our existing current operating rooms?
The space will be built to the latest industry standards with a larger working space to accommodate equipment better. Infection control will be improved with an enhanced layout and design that will also help with efficiency. Beds are placed to support a logical flow of tasks and activities during a surgery and equipment will be on one floor for easier access. During COV-19 we learned the importance of having an airborne room, so during the planning of Paul Myers we wanted to ensure we took all infection control practises into the design of the operating rooms. We ensured these operating rooms will remain a state-of-the-art, safe and efficient environment for many years to come.
How will our Progressive Care Unit (PCU) patient bays be improved compared to our existing prep/recovery space?
Our new PCU patient bays will allow more patient privacy as they are single patient rooms with more personal case allowing us to improve the quality of care we provide. The individual patient bays are a great advantage staff as well to increase infection control and are ergonomic with the ability to expand beds.
What are some other unique features of the surgical care centre that staff and patients will experience?
The new Paul Myers Tower will have an updated staff lounge, additional quiet areas, new call rooms, consultation rooms, working rooms, and a new Anesthesia workroom. There will also be a private area for families and technology monitors everywhere to help us engage with the learners including medical students and other healthcare professionals.
What are you most excited about for the new Paul Myers Tower?
I can't wait to get in there! The ability to work in a modern facility and to operate in the newest Operating Room in the province is going to be fantastic. This goes a long way to attracting staff, and we want to attract the best and brightest medical staff.