Frequently Asked Questions:
Emergency Department
Cases can be classified under five different triage groups:
Level I – Resuscitation
Conditions that are threats to life or limb (or imminent risk of deterioration) requiring immediate aggressive interventions.
Level II – Emergent
Conditions that are a potential threat to life limb or function requiring rapid medical intervention or delegated acts.
Level III – Urgent
Conditions that could potentially progress to a serious problem requiring emergency intervention. May be associated with significant discomfort or affecting ability to function at work or activities of daily living.
Level IV – Less Urgent (semi-urgent)
Conditions that are related to patient age, distress, or potential for deterioration or complications would benefit from intervention or reassurance within 1-2 hours.
Level V – Non Urgent
Conditions that may be acute but non-urgent as well as conditions which may be part of a chronic problem with or without evidence of deterioration. The investigation or interventions for some of these illnesses or injuries could be delayed or even referred to other areas of the hospital or health care system.
Your treatment in the Emergency Department may take several hours depending on the following:
You may require tests.
You may have to wait for test results.
The emergency physician may need to consult with a specialist.
If admission to the hospital is required, a bed will be arranged for you. Because this is an emergency admission and not a scheduled one, a bed may not be immediately available.
To help us better assess your medical history; please remember to always bring a listing of:
- Medications you are currently taking, including all prescription, non-prescription and herbal remedies. Please indicate drug name, dosage and how often you are taking it.
- List of known allergies (including any to medication)
- Medical history (heart disease, diabetes, etc.)
- If you are bringing a child in, please remember to bring along diapers and your child’s favourite toy or activity books and snacks.