Who's to blame for ER congestion?

Data suggests people with non-urgent problems are not flooding busy emergency departments

- KENYON WALLACE

In early January, health networks and hospitals across the GTA posted statements on social media or their websites asking patients with non-urgent medical issues to consider alternative care options, such as family doctors, community health clinics, pharmacists or virtual care.

Amid long wait times and overcrowding at emergency departments across Canada, hospitals in the GTA have recently been urging patients to consider other options if their medical issue is "non-emergent." It has not been a popular message.

Emergency physicians say it runs the risk of discouraging patients who may need urgent care from visiting the ED and leaves the impression that non-urgent patients are flooding the sites.

In fact, data compiled by the Star from 19 emergency departments across 10 health networks and hospitals in the GTA and Ottawa makes clear that the vast majority of people in those crowded EDs need to be there. In other words, patients with sore throats, allergies or needing prescription renewals are not flooding the waiting rooms of the busiest EDs in the province. And even if they were, emergency physicians say that's not what causes backups at EDs.

"On most of my shifts, the vast majority of people who come should be there," said Dr. Lisa Salamon, a Toronto emergency physician, noting that she disagrees with hospital messaging asking patients to think twice about going to the ED.

"You may have issues that can be dealt with elsewhere, but that doesn't mean you're coming inappropriately. (Patients) absolutely should come because we can do the investigations that are necessary to ensure they're actually OK. I've seen too many people waiting too long to come in because they felt they shouldn't."