Emergency Room

How do ER staff determine the urgency of a health problem?

You will have a first assessment by a triage nurse. Depending on your condition, the nurse will assign you a priority level:

• P1 = Immediate
• P2 = Very urgent
• P3 = Urgent
• P4 = Semi-urgent
• P5 = Not urgent

If you have to wait, a nurse will reassess you to monitor your condition. You can always consult the nurse as needed. Wait times in the ER depend on the urgency of cases.

To help the triage process go smoothly, please remove your coat or jacket, get your health insurance card and hospital card ready, and have your list of medications handy (if you don’t have it, try to get an updated list).

Once you get into the exam room, please undress and put on and fasten your hospital gown.

You may need to wait 8 to 12 hours for any wound that requires stitches.

Only one person is allowed to accompany patients seeing a doctor in the ER.

For news about a family member at the ER, please help the nurses by designating a person who will communicate with other family members. Patients can return their own calls if their condition allows.

Below are some instructions for different health problems:

If you have a fever and cough, wear a mask, wash your hands, and notify the ER triage nurse.

If you have had a head injury, watch out for headaches, drowsiness, vomiting, and nausea. For more advice, talk to the nurses.

If you need to see a doctor because your child has a fever, take your child’s temperature every 4 hours and administer Tempra as needed. If the fever persists after 48 hours, go to your CLSC or a walk-in clinic.

Are you pregnant? Don’t forget to tell the doctor and X-ray technician.

If you have a sprain, apply ice for 10 minutes every 2 hours for the first 48 hours and then apply heat for 10 minutes every 2 hours.

If you have gastroenteritis with nausea/vomiting and diarrhea, have you tried a liquid diet? Talk to a nurse about stomach flu recovery diets.

If you need to have a blood sample taken, the results are usually available in about 2 hours.

For mothers who are breastfeeding or bottle feeding: While you wait, breastfeed your child as needed. For bottle-fed babies, make sure you bring enough formula for the time you’ll have to wait.

If you get treated, don’t stop your medication without talking to your doctor.

Did you know?

Volunteers are here to help you. Don’t hesitate to talk to them if you need assistance.

The flu vaccine is recommended during the high flu season (November to March). Protect others from your flu symptoms.

CLSCs run education clinics on different topics: asthma, diabetes, hypertension, and cholesterol. Get more information from your CLSC.

A list of medical clinics is available at the triage desk.

To make your ER visit and exam go smoothly, bring your medication list along with handy items like tissues, diapers, sanitary napkins, etc.

It is important to have a family doctor. Your doctor knows you and your family and is a liaison between specialists depending on your needs. Your doctor also gives you advice and regularly checks your health.

During heat waves, make sure you drink plenty of water and avoid sun exposure and physical activity.