Fraser Health wins award for mental health program

SURREY, BC – The Canadian College of Health Leaders is proud to announce that Fraser Health’s Urgent Care Response Centre was named recipient of the 2022 Award of Excellence in Mental Health and Addictions Quality Improvement. The Urgent Care Response Centre (UCRC) is an outpatient mental health centre, located on the campus of Surrey Memorial Hospital, the largest acute care site in the Fraser Health Authority.

The UCRC is a great example of creativity in the delivery of healthcare to meet the increasing demands for mental health and substance use services.

The centre plays an integral part in supporting those in need by providing accessible, timely and effective service. The UCRC provides a central point of access for adults who are experiencing mental health and substance use issues and who require urgent care, but do not require hospitalization. Patients receiving services significantly reduced their emergency department visits, acute admissions and acute bed days.

The Award of Excellence in Mental Health and Addictions Quality Improvement honours a hospital, health authority, community based mental health and addictions program/service, or a leader in the field that demonstrates evidence-informed and sustained quality improvements (QI) in the area of mental health and addictions.

The award is sponsored by the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC), an organisation that leads the development and dissemination of innovative programs and tools to support the mental health and wellness of Canadians. Through its unique mandate from the Government of Canada, the MHCC supports federal, provincial, and territorial governments as well as organizations in the implementation of sound public policy.

Dr. Victoria Lee, president and CEO of Fraser Health, visited clinicians and staff at the Surrey UCRC to congratulate them and present the award to lead psychiatrist Dr. Marietta Van Den Berg (pictured). “It feels like recognition that we are on the right track,” said Dr. Van Den Berg. She attributes the UCRC’s success to their “willingness to deliberately choosing change, and constantly seeking better ways to serve and produce better outcomes.”