Providing expert care to the province’s most seriously ill or injured
Royal Columbian Hospital (RCH) is among the oldest hospitals in British Columbia and one of the busiest in the Fraser Health region. We look after some of our province’s most seriously ill and injured patients, serving 1 in 3 British Columbians.
Royal Columbian Hospital
New Westminster, B.C.
RCH is the only hospital in B.C. with Trauma Level One, cardiac care, neurosurgery, high-risk obstetrics, neonatal intensive care and acute mental health care all on one site.
The hospital also serves as a clinical academic campus providing training to University of British Columbia (UBC) medical students as well as residents from some UBC residency programs.
Advancing medical excellence
Royal Columbian Hospital is committed to ongoing education and professional development, ensuring the hospital remains at the cutting edge of medical advancements. Health professionals have access to extensive training programs, conferences and research opportunities.
Check out the latest news, stories and innovations at Royal Columbian Hospital.
Medical services
For a growing and diverse population
Services include 24/7 emergency, outpatient, ambulatory care and inpatient services which are supported by a range of community services.
Some referral services include a variety of medical and surgical specialties which include mental health and substance use, internal medicine, cardiology, gastroenterology, nephrology, orthopedics, otolaryngology, gynecology, urology, ophthalmology, plastic surgeries and a very well-established maternal, infant, child/youth program offering levels one, two and three obstetrical care, levels one and two nursery, neonatal intensive care and pediatric inpatient service.
Building a digital foundation with an electronic health record.
Royal Columbian Hospital became the fourth site in the Fraser Health region to switch to a fully electronic health record. This move from paper charts to digital records helps doctors and nurses access patient information in real-time, reduces paperwork and makes it easier for different health care providers to work together. It also sets the stage for future digital tools.
The electronic health record is part of a larger program called Advance, which includes other projects like speech recognition, handheld devices for bedside care, barcode scanning for medication and better tools for pharmacy, lab and medical imaging services.
Royal Columbian Hospital has transitioned to a modern Electronic Health Record (EHR) system. EHR gives staff more time to provide patient care by allowing them to streamline their work and review clinical information all in one place.
Enhance patient care
Health care providers are able to deliver more personalized and higher quality care by providing instant access to comprehensive patient records and real-time clinical decision support, ensuring timely and informed medical decisions.
Streamline operations
Operations are streamlined, paperwork reduced and routine tasks are automated, leading to significant improvements in workflow efficiency.
Support collaboration and integration
There is seamless collaboration between different health care providers fostering a more coordinated approach to patient care across the region.
The program also incorporates several companion projects including front-end speech recognition, roaming desktop and medication reconciliation.
“I can easily log into any available computer on any floor, dictate my notes, and move on to my next patient in another ward or floor.”
Dr. Lavraj Lidher, Medical Resident, Royal Columbian Hospital
Located in the vibrant community of New Westminster, B.C.
Royal Columbian Hospital is located in New Westminster overlooking the Fraser River and is the only hospital in the Lower Mainland that is immediately adjacent to a Skytrain station providing easy access to Greater Vancouver.
With breathtaking views, a strong sense of community, and close proximity to Vancouver’s bustling city centre, New Westminster is the ideal place to work and call home.
Royal Columbian Hospital
Royal Columbian Hospital provides care on the traditional, ancestral and unceded shared territories of the qʷɑ:nƛən [Kwantlen] and Qayqayt [key-kite] First Nations, and is home to the North Fraser Métis Association.
A balanced and vibrant lifestyle
At Royal Columbian Hospital, staff experience a culture that deeply values and supports work-life balance. With flexible scheduling, comprehensive mental health resources, and wellness programs, the hospital fosters a healthy and fulfilled workforce.
Step outside the hospital and you’ll discover a vibrant community surrounded by parks and pathways, perfect for outdoor physical activities. You’ll also find a variety of cafes, restaurants, and shopping options to explore, making it an ideal place to live and work.
Royal Columbian Hospital Redevelopment Project
We're building the future of health care.
Royal Columbian Hospital’s (RCH) three-phase redevelopment will elevate patient-centred care, introduce advanced medical technologies, replace aging buildings, and add more beds to increase the hospital’s capacity by about 50 per cent, helping it to address the significant increase in patient volumes seen in recent years.
The project is expected to be complete by 2026.
Redevelopment project highlights
- Additional beds for intensive care, cardiac care, obstetrical and medical/surgical patients.
- A larger, state-of-the-art Emergency Department with 75 treatment bays and the ‘Ginetic’ integrated satellite medical imaging unit, which allows physicians to perform imaging to patients right where they receive emergency care.
- A new cutting-edge ‘superfloor’ that will house more operating rooms alongside advanced interventional radiology and cardiac suites.
- An expansion to the maternity unit that will directly connect to a larger Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Learn more about the redevelopment project and explore recent project updates and milestones.
“We are one of largest teaching sites in the province. Having the ability to pass on your knowledge and experience to the next generation is something to be proud of.”
Dr. Da Roza, Site Medical Director
“RCH is always supportive of advancing practice and wanting to keep employees that are keen and want to continue growing and learning.”
Jessica, Registered Nurse
“You get to work and play in such a beautiful environment. That was something that was absolutely paramount for me.”
Dr. Randhawa, Hospitalist and Local Department Head
Join our team at Royal Columbian Hospital
Join a dynamic team of world-class health professionals who are healing, teaching, leading and advancing medicine together. Explore the rewarding career opportunities available at Royal Columbian Hospital and experience how we can help you practice, grow and live your best life.
Browse careers in occupational and physiotherapy, respiratory therapy, pharmacy and more.
Explore nursing careers in critical care, emergency, perioperative, medicine, and more.
Explore practice opportunities at Royal Columbian Hospital.
Join our team at Royal Columbian Hospital
Browse opportunities or join our talent network.
Join our team at Royal Columbian Hospital
Featured Jobs
Registered Nurse, Surgical Services - Perioperative Clinical Leader
Registered Nurse, Cardiac Services – Interventional Cardiology - Cardiac Cath Lab
Are you currently a Fraser Health employee? Browse and apply for jobs on the internal job portal.
Talent Speaker Series
Hear from passionate health professionals on our team as they share their inspiring stories and the incredible benefits of working in health care. Listen in to discover what makes this profession so rewarding and why our team loves what they do.
Together, we are building the future of health care.
Fraser Health is generously supported by a network of health care foundations. Donations to our health care foundations build upon government health care funding to help support priority equipment, education, research, facility enhancements and/or other projects in our hospitals and surrounding communities.
