Kamloops is the regional health center for the Thompson Nicola Regional district. Medical services in Kamloops are extensive, and cover a wide range of resources and supports.
Royal Inland Hospital (RIH), the regional acute care and health facility for the region, is Kamloops' largest employer, responsible for approximately 2,117 jobs. RIH is one of two tertiary referral hospitals in the Southern Interior, which in addition to providing regular acute-care services to local residents, provides trauma and other specialized services to patients throughout the region. For example, RIH is home to a respiratory rehabilitation program designed to maximize the quality of life for people with chronic lung disease and has a regional community cancer center linked to the BC Cancer Agency's provincial cancer care program.
The $17 million Hillside Centre, the second of two new state-of the-art mental health facilities built in Kamloops is a tertiary level facility, providing highly-specialized mental health services for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness or neuropsychiatric disorders whose care needs are beyond what is available in an acute-care hospital or community-based setting. Kamloops also has several private and specialty clinics specializing in such areas as obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics, urology, autism, opthalmology and surgery ranging in severity from severe to less traumatic. Both therapeutic treatments offered by traditional and naturopath health professionals are available. The Chris Rose Therapy Centre for Autism also provides therapy for children with autism, pervasive development disorders, sensory/motor dysfunction and specific syndromes.
As Canada's Tournament Capital Centre, Kamloops' desire of sporting excellence has developed a cluster of international caliber medical support services that are available to our resident and visiting athletes. With a long history of internationally ranked sports medicine professionals, Kamloops is the proud home to several national team physiotherapists, massage therapists, past Olympic and Commonwealth Games medical staff and the Chief Medical Officer for the 2010 Paralympic Games.
With our incredible climate and lifestyle opportunities, Kamloops has seen a recent increase in the number of baby boomers moving to the area in preparation for their retirement years. As a result, the number of retirement residences has grown over the past few years. This growth area has created a cluster of support services to meet their needs, offering many different options for both independent and assisted-living residences.
In January 2009, the Cancer Care Clinic at RIH officially marked completion of a $3 million renovation project which resulted in additional exam and patient-treatment spaces, in addition to the creation of a modern and warm, welcoming environment for patients and their families.
Kamloops has entered into the forefront of MRI technology with the first and only upright MRI scanner in Canada. Upright MRIs allows all parts of the body, particularly the spine and joints, to be imaged in the weight bearing state or positional state. Imaging in different positions: standing, bending, and flexing, is more effective in the detection of instability which improves the odds of finding the cause of the pain.
The Red Carpet Program is a medical professional attraction and retention program developed to increase the number of medical health practitioners. It offers visiting medical professionals contemplating a move to Kamloops the opportunity to experience the lifestyle and business advantages of Kamloops through the presentation of gifts and services from the area.
Started in 1983, Royal Inland Hospital Foundation has been raising funds for patient care equipment, students studying health sciences, and other special programs at RIH and other regional health facilities. The Royal Inland Hospital Foundation raises money annually for essential equipment needs that are not funded through other sources.
Venture Kamloops acts as a confidential liaison between clients, companies, local governments, educational institutions, workforce, development agencies, industry associations and business leaders.
"The Welcome Back MRI and Pain Management Centre is a world-class medical facility, proudly located in Kamloops, B.C. Kamloops is home to Canada's only dynamic MRI scanner and the only private 3-D fluoroscopy in the country. ....
Kamloops is an excellent location for the Welcome Back Centre because we are geographically located in the centre of British Columbia with easy access to metropolitan communities. There is an excellent business climate in Kamloops and opportunities to participate in research and business development with Thompson Rivers University. There are also diverse medical subspecialties in the region which allow for a multi-disciplinary medical team to network and collaborate on health care innovations. We are connected to the world by the high speed community fiber optic network. The local government and Kamloops Chamber of Commerce in addition to Venture Kamloops provide many resources for helping newcomers to establish and grow their successful business.
Kamloops is an ideal place to live, work and play. The Welcome Back Centre is at the center of excellence in Kamloops, B.C."
Michael Koehn, Welcome Back MRI and Pain Management Centre