New, online tool provides an approximate wait time to see a physician in the Emergency Department
DURHAM REGION — To help improve the patient experience in the Emergency Department (ED), Lakeridge Health has launched a new online ED Wait Times Tracker. This new online tool now provides patients with an approximate wait time to see a physician in any one of the four Lakeridge Health EDs.
“We are excited to launch this new, online tool that will enable patients to have a better understanding of their approximate time to see a physician in any one of Lakeridge Health’s four Emergency Departments,” said Dr. Ilan Lenga, Chief Information Officer, Lakeridge Health. “Many people have requested this service, and now we are proud to be able to deliver this new tool that will help to enhance the patient experience.”
The web-based tool is available on Lakeridge Health’s website, www.lh.ca. The data on the website will be refreshed every 15 minutes and is based on an estimate that is calculated using the last four hours of data.
“Pinpointing the exact amount of time a person will wait to see a doctor in the ED is complex,” said Dr. Michael Howlett, Chief of Emergency Department, Lakeridge Health. “While the ED Wait Times Tracker provides an approximate wait time based on an estimate, providing this information to people will help to ease some of the distress, discomfort, and anxiety that is associated with coming into a hospital.”
The time it takes for a patient to be seen by a physician in the ED is often impacted by staffing and the volume and acuity of patients. The sickest people, those who are experiencing life-threatening incidents or trauma or have been in serious accidents, are seen first.
“ED wait times continue to be a focus for many people in our community,” said Cynthia Davis, President and CEO, Lakeridge Health. “Though our wait times remain longer than usual, I’m so grateful and proud of the tireless effort, compassion, and dedication shown by our Lakeridge Health teams. Despite tremendous pressures, our staff and physicians continue to work quickly and efficiently to provide care to all patients.”
Lakeridge Health’s four EDs are open 24/7 for all people in need of emergency medical care. For more urgent or non-life-threatening situations, we urge our community to make use of Urgent Care options. For a list of Urgent Care options in Durham Region, please visit www.lh.ca.
The new ED Wait Times Tracker is part of our commitment to revitalize Lakeridge Health’s EDs and improve the patient experience.
With five hospitals, four emergency departments, three critical care units, a long-term care home, a full range of medical and surgical specialties, and more than 20 community health-care locations, Lakeridge Health offers some of the broadest and most comprehensive range of acute care, ambulatory care, and long-term care services in Ontario.
Lakeridge Health is home to several regional specialty centres and services, including the Central East Regional Cancer Program, R.S. McLaughlin Durham Regional Cancer Centre, The Shoulder Centre, and eye care and chronic kidney disease services. Additionally, we are proud to serve our community with a full suite of inpatient, ambulatory, and community-based mental health and addictions services, as well as provide safe, high-quality, compassionate care in our state-of-the-art long-term care home, Lakeridge Gardens.
Guided by our vision of One System. Best Health. and supported by a dedicated team of more than 7,700 staff, physicians, and volunteers, Lakeridge Health is working in collaboration with its Durham Ontario Health Team, primary care, and community partners to foster a truly integrated, regional system of care. Together, we are focused on empowering people to live their best health and fostering an accessible, inclusive, and equitable environment for all.
For more information please contact:
