The Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians is “concerned” by comments from Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé just before Christmas, who suggested that unnecessary visits to emergency rooms had contributed significantly to overcrowding.
However, people should not hesitate to go to the emergency room if they think they need emergency medical care, a spokesman for that association said in an interview with The Canadian Press on Wednesday.
On December 19, Minister Dubé told reporters in Montreal that this was the case A large proportion of people who go to the emergency room don't have an urgent problem – I'm not saying they don't worry, just that they don't have an urgent problem – and who shouldn't go in an emergency
.
Minister Dubé urged these people to instead use other available options, such as family medicine clinics, or turn to specialized nurses and pharmacists who can also offer professional advice.
The minister made this statement a few days after receiving a letter from the Regroupement des chefs d'urgence du Québec deploring the situation dramatically worsened
and what became out of control
. The regroupement condemned thisinertia
the government at the time The crisis is getting worse
.
On December 30, the Ministry of Health issued a press release urging Quebecers to do so Utilize non-emergency options to address non-urgent healthcare needs
.
Systemic problems
The number of patients in emergency rooms is still high at the height of respiratory infection season, but the overload is largely due to systemic problems that have been reported for years, Dr. Michael Herman, an emergency physician at Queensway Carleton Hospital, on Wednesday. from Ottawa, who spoke on behalf of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians.
The congestion problems are actually related to hospital flow rather than the number of patients showing up to the emergency room, Dr. Herman. When hospitalized patients wait 24, 48, sometimes 72 hours to get a bed on the floor, it takes up space in the emergency room that cannot be used to treat the next patient.
If people did it Fast access
Going to the GP can be a good option for those who don't have serious symptoms, the emergency doctor admitted. But they shouldn't hesitate to go to the emergency room if they fear something more serious
he emphasized.
The decision lies with the patient [propre] Emergency.
“It’s our job, it’s our role”
However, the government is urging people in embassies not to go to the emergency room unless this is the case necessary
could prevent them from getting the care they need, complained Dr. Herman.
It is the patient who is worried about his symptoms and well-being and therefore comes to the emergency room for an examination. It's our job, it's our role.
We made this clear on Thursday in Minister Dubé's office All patients with urgent needs must go to the emergency room
. But we repeat that tooThere is still too large a proportion of patients who go to the emergency room with viruses and can be treated directly at home or by consulting another healthcare professional
.
For this reason we have implemented additional options such as: B. Winter Clinics, 811, the Pediatric Hotline and the First Line Access Desk.
writes Minister Dubé's office in an email. It is also possible to consult a self-care tool online or visit your pharmacist.
In addition, as part of a central measure, we will free up more than 500 additional accommodation places in the coming weeks to provide patients, often seniors, who are in hospital and are no longer needed there, with a living environment adapted to their needs
we added.
Similar situation in New Brunswick
Last Friday, heavy traffic forced New Brunswick's Vitalité Health Network to ask people to avoid emergency rooms at Caraquet and Campbellton hospitals unless necessary Emergency and intensive care
. And on Wednesday, Réseau Vitalité again called on the people of Madawaska to limit visits to Edmundston Hospital.
In addition, the emergency room at the Stella Maris de Kent Hospital in Sainte-Anne-de-Kent was closed at night during the holiday season due to a shortage of nurses.
Emergency physicians met with health ministers from across Canada last fall to discuss the problems hospitals and emergency rooms continually struggle with.
Challenges facing Canadian emergency services such as overcrowding, long wait times and limited resources have existed for far too long
lamented Michael Howlett, president of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians, in a press release issued Oct. 12.
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