Having the shortest wait times for accessing an emergency department physician in Ontario is seeing Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket receive provincial recognition.
Minister of Health and Long-Term Care Deb Matthews visited the hospital today, June 4, 2013, for a tour of the improvements.
The visit is an honour, says Southlake president and CEO Dr. Dave Williams.
“We pride ourselves on taking a leading role building the patient-focused, excellence-driven model of care that our patients and community deserve,” Williams says in a news release.
Technology and process improvements have reduced emergency department wait times, the hospital says. A new department to speed up testing and determine next steps for patients coming in through the ER has also contributed.
On average, wait times at Southlake have decreased to 23 minutes. The time from when a patient is first registered or triaged in the ED until the initial assessment by a physician is about 54 minutes at Southlake – the shortest in the province.
CTV Barrie will have more from the minister's tour on the News at 11 p.m.
