The Emergency Room
24-hour emergency room service is provided at a primary level by on-call physicians and is intended to meet severe medical needs that require the immediate care of a physician and hospital services. Patients presenting to the Emergency Department are triaged in accordance to the Canadian Triage & Acuity Scale (CTAS):
Level I - Resuscitation
Level II - Emergency
Level III - Urgent
Level IV - Less Urgent
Level V - Non Urgent
How long will you have to wait?
Once you have been triaged by the Emergency Department Nurse, how soon you are seen by a doctor depends on how sick or badly injured you are. For example, the doctor will see someone with a heart attack before someone with a sprained ankle or sore throat. Patients are seen by a doctor in order of need, not time of arrival.
If your wait is longer than you expected, please understand that we are busy attending to patients who need immediate care. Sometimes we may also have to wait for a special room or equipment to be available before we can take care of you.
If your condition worsens while you are waiting, please let the nurse know.
Before you leave
Before you leave, be sure that you understand the doctor’s instructions. If you are not sure, ask the doctor or nurse to explain them to you again.
How can you help?
- Have a valid Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) card when you present (or, if you live outside of Ontario, your medical insurance information).
- Have a list of all medications that you take on a regular basis and any other important information (eg. allergies).
- Bring a supply of your medications with you, just in case you have a long wait, or you need to be admitted to the hospital.
- Please do not eat or drink without first checking with a nurse.
- If you decide to leave before being seen by a doctor, please speak with a nurse.
