Patients with less severe conditions advised to avoid the emergency room

Thunder Bay - The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is advising patients with less serious illnesses, such as the common cold, to avoid the emergency room.

The hospital's emergency department saw 800 additional patients last month, which, according to Adam Vinet, Vice President of Patient Experience, has led to the waiting room sometimes being full, and patients with less urgent medical issues staying longer than usual.

Vinet said, "With the arrival of the high season for respiratory illnesses, we are seeing an increase in the number of patients coming in."

He said wait times vary from day to day, but "we always prioritize the most seriously ill patients and treat them first, while those with less urgent conditions sometimes have to wait longer."

Even those arriving by ambulance may not necessarily be treated faster.

Vinet advises members of the public with minor ailments to visit their primary care physician, urgent care clinics, as well as walk-in clinics or virtual clinics.

211 Ontario regularly updates the list of walk-in clinics in the city.

The Northwest Virtual Care Clinic is an online clinic led by nurse practitioners, working with local healthcare providers to help patients access faster care.

People can also seek health-related advice from registered nurses by calling Health Connect Ontario at 811 or searching online for "Health811", a search tool that helps find doctors, nurse practitioners, specialists, and health services.

Source: https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/patients-with-less-serious-illness-advised-to-avoid-er-10201950