Islanders are now able to view estimated emergency department wait times for both the Queen Elizabeth and Prince County Hospitals online, says Health and Wellness Minister Doug Currie.
“This initiative is designed to help improve access to emergency services as part of the province’s commitment to providing better access and better care for Islanders,” said Minister Currie. “Making these estimated wait times available online and in the waiting rooms of our two busiest hospital emergency departments will help Islanders make an informed choice as to where best to access emergency care and ensure that those patients already in our waiting rooms are also informed and have context to what is happening in that hospital’s department.”
The new Emergency Department Wait Times website page is an online information tool allowing residents to check the average wait times in real time at the province’s two largest hospital emergency departments. Additionally, this same wait time information is being displayed on monitors within each hospital’s respective emergency department waiting room.
The estimated emergency department wait time is a reflection of approximately how long a patient waits to see a physician from the time they are registered as a patient in the emergency department and is an average of the wait times experienced by similar patient types over the previous few hours. Emergency department triage nurses assess a person’s health condition based on their presenting symptoms and categorize them as one of three patient types: most urgent, urgent, or less than urgent. The estimated wait times for each patient type are updated every five minutes.
“We know that the environment in our emergency departments can change quite quickly and dramatically based on the number of patients coming into the department and how sick or critical they are, which often impacts how long other patients may have to wait to be seen by a physician,” says Dr. Richard Wedge, Health PEI CEO. “Providing the public with information on emergency department wait times is an innovative use of technology that not only offers real time information, but also offers an educational component to help the public better understand how our emergency departments prioritize patient care.”
The Emergency Department Wait Times website page is intended to provide the public with information to help them determine where to access care for themselves and their families. Islanders with life-threatening emergencies should always call 9-1-1. For health information, Islanders can call the tele-health service by dialing 8-1-1.
Estimated wait times will be provided for the emergency departments at Queen Elizabeth and Prince County Hospitals only at this time. This information is available on Health PEI’s website at www.healthpei.ca/waittimes.
Q&A – Understanding Emergency Department Wait Times:
Q: What is the ‘Wait Time’?
A: The estimated wait time is approximately how long it will take from the time you are registered to the time you are seen by a physician.
Q: How is the estimated wait time determined?
A: The wait time is determined using an average of the wait times experienced by patients assessed in the same condition category based on presenting symptoms over the past few hours.
Q: What does each patient condition mean?
A: Emergency department staff will assess a person’s health condition based on their presenting symptoms and categorize them as one of three patient types: “Most Urgent,” “Urgent” or “Less than Urgent.”
• “Most Urgent” patients have potentially life-threatening conditions and require immediate emergency medical care.
• “Urgent” patients are individuals whose health conditions have the potential to become serious.
• “Less than Urgent” patients are individuals who have non-life-threatening conditions.
Q: Why are other people being seen before me?
A: Persons arriving at a hospital’s emergency department are quickly assessed to determine their current health condition based on presenting symptoms and other factors. In an emergency situation, persons who are most sick or have critical, life-threatening health conditions are cared for first. All Canadian health care facilities use the same standard tool to determine the seriousness of a person’s illness and care for them appropriately.
Q: Why are the wait times always changing?
A: Emergency demand can change quickly. Wait times will change due to unforeseen circumstances such as a high number of critical patients who require more intense care.
Q: How often are wait times updated?
A: The wait times are updated every five (5) minutes.
Q: What if my condition isn’t an emergency and I don’t know where else to go?
A: If you are unsure where you should seek appropriate treatment, please dial 8-1-1 and an experienced registered nurse can help.
If you do go to an emergency department, it is important that you do not leave the emergency department without first talking to staff about what other treatment/ care options may be available that are safe and appropriate. If your condition is not an immediate emergency there may be other options for care such as seeking care at your family physician’s office or at a walk-in clinic.
• Walk-in clinics provide medical care for individuals with non-urgent health care needs. There are several walk-in clinics located in the Charlottetown area; please call ahead to confirm clinic hours. For more information on walk-in clinics located across Prince Edward Island, visit www.healthpei.ca/walkinclinics.