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.