What is Mission Memorial Hospital?

Mission Memorial Hospital (MMH) is a community hospital providing quality humane services in Mission. It provides hospital services at the community level in cooperation with our sister hospitals in the province especially with our regional hospital, Abbotsford Regional Hospital (ARH). 

History

Like every small community hospital, general practitioner physicians provided most services at MMH including maternity, anesthesia, surgery, emergency and pediatrics. The increasing complexity of providing these services brought consultant care to the community with GPs supporting the visiting consultants. Consultant care required more supportive services which are not available in smaller facilities requiring centralization of some services, such as pediatrics and obstetrics. Our hospital, like other smaller hospitals, had some services relocated, but continues to provide many needed services to the community.

What services does Mission Memorial Hospital now provide?

• 24/7 Emergency Room staffed by physicians and nurses with training in Emergency Medicine
• 50 beds for adults with a wide variety of conditions including a PATH unit, a unit designated for patients with complex discharge problems
• Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Social Work for inpatients
• Hospitalists, physicians with special interest in inpatient care, provide care to those in hospital until 11 PM every day and are on-call overnight
• Consultant Internal Medicine support for inpatients, emergency patients
• Chest pain clinic for patients with possible heart problems. Includes exercise stress testing
• Rapid access Internal Medicine clinic for patients with complex problems
• Diabetes Education Clinic
• Dietician, Speech Therapy visits for inpatients
• Full Laboratory Services including transfusion of blood products
• Imaging services including x-ray, ultrasound
• Consultant Radiologist on site with ultrasound guided procedures
• Mental Health support for patients from trained Psychiatric Nurses and visiting Psychiatrists
• Ambulatory Daycare Unit for outpatient procedures, IV antibiotics, medication infusions, transfusions
• Gastroenterologists on site Tuesday and Thursday performing inpatient and outpatient gastroscopy and colonoscopy, and inpatient consultation

What progress has recently occurred?

• Better support from the Fraser Health Authority (FHA) who recognizes the value of Mission Memorial Hospital and its role in providing care to the community
• Improved support and cooperation with Abbotsford Regional Hospital  Including access to consultants, education, quality of care, transfer of patients when required.
• Great support from our Executive Director, Brendan Abbott, who is responsible for the communities of Abbotsford and Mission, from our on-site Director, Gavin Wallace, and from our previous on-site Director, Laurel Schleffler.
• CT scanner coming thanks to Ministry approval, FHA funding, fund raising with the Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation
• Number of patient beds has increased
• On-site training provided for emergency physicians
• Use of and training for portable ultrasounds by some physicians who use the donated device
• Increased training opportunities for emergency nurses
• Increased on-site education for physicians and nurses

Yes, there are good reasons to attend Mission Memorial Hospital

• Outcomes for patients are similar to other hospitals.
• You stay in your community with easier access for family and friends
• Generally shorter wait times to be seen in the Emergency Room
• Humane personal care in a smaller facility
• Access to consultant care on site or via transfer to ARH
• Generally shorter wait times for your ultrasound
• Easy access to Internal Medicine consultants
• Free parking