Headwaters Health Care Centre has introduced a real-time wait clock for the Emergency Department (ED). The wait clock will give up-to-date information on the estimated wait time to see a doctor. Wait times are now posted in the ED and on the
Headwaters website.
If people need serious medical attention, they are still urged to go to their nearest ED. For life-threatening, time-critical emergencies, call 911.
Online access to the real-time wait clock gives patients and their families more information to plan their visit. The wait clock will show:
- The total number of patients currently in the ED (including the number of patients who have and have not seen a doctor)
- The estimated time (in hours) it will take to see a doctor
- Expected wait times for the next six hours
The online wait clock also lists other care providers/alternatives to the ED such as walk-in clinics and family doctors to help patients experiencing minor health problems make an informed decision before arriving at the hospital for care.
The wait clock makes sure that everyone, including staff, patients, and volunteers, can access and see the same information at the same time.
Due to rapidly changing demands in the emergency department and the need to see the sickest patients first, wait times are not guaranteed and may vary from the time displayed.
Quotations
“Sharing Emergency Department wait times in our hospital and on our website perfectly aligns with our strategic direction of Getting Even Better. Our patients are at the heart of everything we do and we fully support providing patients and their supports with more information, so they can have access to timely and efficient services."
-- Kim Delahunt, President & CEO, Headwaters Health Care Centre
“The number one question patients want to know when they arrive at the emergency department is how long they will wait. The real-time wait clock is a crucial communication tool that will give those who visit our emergency department a real-time estimate of the anticipated wait. Having this information available on public-facing platforms will assist with planning, allow patients to make decisions about the “when and how” of their care, and alleviate various anxieties associated with visiting the emergency department. As we continue to focus on patient-centered care at Headwaters, utilizing tools as such the wait clock within the organization is an important piece to enhance the overall patient experience.”
– Juliann McArthur, Manager, Patient Relations, Headwaters Health Care Centre
“No one comes to the ED to report how 'great' they feel, there is always a level of concern, stress and unknown. While patient care is the number one priority, the process takes multiple steps. As an ED volunteer, it is one of my roles to help patients through the process. The real-time wait clock will aide in helping to reduce some of the stress and unknowns for the patients.”
– Thom Grace, Volunteer, Emergency Department, Headwaters Health Care Centre