Emergency

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I need to bring to the Emergency department?

• Your Ontario Health card or applicable medical insurance information if you're not an Ontario resident.
• A list of all your medications.

Why do some patients have to wait and others are seen right away?

• Every patient is seen by a Registered Nurse (RN) upon arrival in the Emergency Department.
• The RN determines the level of urgency to ensure that those with the most urgent conditions are seen on a priority basis.
• Highest priority is given to those who are critically ill.
• This system of assessing patients to determine who should be treated first is called 'triage' and is based on Canadian guidelines.

What is the purpose of triage in the Emergency Department?

• To rapidly identify patients with life threatening conditions;
• To determine the most appropriate treatment;
• To decrease congestion in emergency treatment areas.

What if I get worse while I am waiting to see the doctor?

• Patients should let the nurse know if their condition worsens while they are waiting to see the doctor.

Why does the ER clerk ask if I am a smoker?

• The Dryden Regional Health Centre is a partner in a research project on smoking that is being conducted across northwest Ontario.
• Our role is to survey all patients who come to the emergency department or who are admitted to the inpatient service.
• The numbers are submitted to the project: patient identification is never attached to the information.
• You may choose to not answer the question: the care you receive will not be affected in any way.

What will happen if patients need to be transferred to a larger hospital with specialized care?

• Clients requiring specialized care can be transferred to larger centres through the provincial Critical Call system and the ORNGE air ambulance.
• The majority of patients who require more specialized care are transferred to Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre or Winnipeg Health Sciences Centre, St. Boniface General Hospital.
• Your care team will work to facilitate patient transfers in a manner that is clearly understood and provides the best opportunity for a full recovery
• If you are admitted to another hospital and are discharged from that hospital, and do not require further in-hospital treatment, you will be responsible for finding your own transportation home.

Can I bring a family member with me to accompany me in the Emergency Department?

• Yes, you can bring a family member or a support person to the ED but this is limited to one person per patient because of the limited space. It is not appropriate for children to visit in the ED as it is a high traffic area and may become very hectic and congested.

I was seen in Emergency and someone called me from the Family Health Team to arrange my appointment.

• The Patient Navigator (Community Service Guide) follows-up with patients who are seen in Emergency to ensure that any referrals to other healthcare providers have been received and appointments made.