Let’s Make Emergency Rooms Better: MULVIHILL

This summer, the average wait time for an assessment at hospitals in Ottawa was five hours.

That exceeds the provincial average at all Ottawa hospital emergency rooms.

Health Quality Ontario figures show the provincial average time for a first assessment, triage, in an emergency room was two hours in August. The average time waiting to be seen by a doctor was five hours.

Having recently gone to emergency myself, changes are definitely needed. Almonte Hospital was the chosen site given that posted wait times at Ottawa hospitals that day were in the 12- to 15-hour range. Registration, triage, x-ray, doctor’s assessment came in at a shade more than five hours.

While waiting at Almonte Hospital, there were a few who gave up waiting and left. So was it really an emergency? Apparently not. Is the first order of business to rush to the hospital for a fever or cough or headache?

Perhaps there could be a registered practical nurse (RPN) on duty who could review x-rays and make a determination if a bone is broken; if bronchitis or pneumonia is present; if a clean-up and spider stitches need be applied; if the need exists to take the examination to the next step. Is it possible to have RPNs in all ERs to help off-load patients from paramedic care? Would this not allow for paramedics to return to service in a more timely manner to possibly save a life?

There are some physicians who have a RPN in office specifically for non-urgent matters. Why can’t ERs do the same? Not all who visit an ER for care need the specific services of a doctor. In many cases, when there is not a need for admission to hospital or a complex diagnosis, a RPN would suffice.

Is this a somewhat simplistic approach? Yes. Does change have to start somewhere and soon? Yes.

Nurses and doctors are suffering from burn-out. Do we really want to be on the receiving end of more ERs closed due to lack of staff?

Donna Mulvihill is a community activist and former hospital coordinator

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