Current Emergency Department and Fast Track wait times and other information about usage are now available on Sault Area Hospital’s website as part of our ongoing efforts to improve the patient experience and access to care.
Launching this new system reinforces our commitment to be transparent and accountable by communicating information in real time that will help those we serve make more informed decisions about their care. The ED Wait Time Clock initiative is part of Sault Area Hospital’s (SAH) Patient Flow Redesign efforts to improve the patient experience and access to care.
Four key pieces of information are now available 24/7 to the public:
• wait times to see a physician in our ED and Fast Track;
• the number of people currently registered and waiting;
• the number of people currently being treated;
• when the ED/Fast Track is busiest over the next six hours based on the previous 30 days.
“Wait times in our ED and Fast Track are among the most frequently asked questions by our patients and families. This information is now located in one place on the SAH website in an easy-to-understand format,” says Dr. Derek Garniss, Medical Director of the Emergency Department “Our automated system refreshes the data every 10 minutes, allowing us to provide up-to-date information about what patients can expect when and if they come to one of our Emergency Department or Fast Track.”
Those with life- or limb-threatening injuries or illness should always call 911, or go to the Emergency Department for care. Fast Track treats patients with minor injuries and illness.
“SAH is one of a few hospitals in the country that provides this real-time information to the public. This information is powered by Oculys and is based on research into activity patterns and flow in our ED and Fast Track, says Shauna Hynna Director of Transformation.
Many factors can affect pressures in Emergency Departments and changes can take place quickly and significantly depending on patient need. The sickest patients are seen first. The wait time on our website is an estimate based on computer calculations. It is not a guarantee of the length of time patients will wait.
The wait times can be found by clicking on the clock on our homepage: www.sah.on.ca
To find out more about SAH, visit: www.sah.on.ca
