General Information:
The Midland site’s Emergency Department provides 24-hour emergency service to the residents and visitors of North Simcoe. Emergency staff sees an average of 100 people a day, with volumes sometime doubling during the summer months. Annual emergency visits last year were more than 41,000.

Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) was one of 15 hospitals participating in Ontario’s Emergency Department Process Improvement Program (PIP) for 2010. PIP is a structured program that focuses on long-term sustainable changes that improve access to care in both the Emergency Department and inpatient units.

GBGH had some 41,000 visits to the Emergency Department last year (representing almost 73% of the permanent population the hospital serves) and was able to meet provincial wait time targets in 9 out of 10 instances. That placed GBGH in the top 10 performing hospitals even before improvements were identified and implemented.

In September of 2010 the department introduced a See and Treat area for less urgent needs. The area is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

The Emergency Department at GBGH is staffed by in-house physicians, registered nurses and, registration staff 24 hours per day. More than 75% of our Emergency nursing staff is specially trained having obtained their Emergency Certificate from either Georgian College or Humber College. As well, they have certifications in ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support), PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support), and TNCC (Trauma Nursing Core Course). Additionally, the medical staff has obtained certificates in ACLS, PALS, and ATLS (Advanced Trauma Life Support).

The emergency department uses the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale. The system does not mean waiting times will be shorter but, it does ensure quick action for people with high risk conditions. Less urgent cases are monitored by the triage nurse and treated appropriately if their condition worsens.

Critical patients requiring transfer to a hospital offering another level of care are transferred using CritiCall, a provincial service which finds an accepting hospital and also makes the arrangements for transport.

The emergency department is supported by internal medicine, general surgery, ophthalmology, dentistry, obstetrics, and gynecology services. Patients requiring other specialties are referred to other health care facilities.

Tips for Using the Emergency Department

Come to the ED only when necessary:
•    If you have a family doctor close by, call the office first during open hours to determine whether you can be seen there.

If you go to the ED, go prepared:
•    If possible, come in the morning - waiting times can be shorter then.
•    Come prepared with your health card and at least one other piece of identification that includes your current address (make sure your health card has not expired).
•    Bring reading materials, knitting, or other hobbies to help pass the time.
•    Do not bring any more people with you than absolutely necessary. This will help lessen congestion in the waiting room.

Be a "patient" patient or family member:
•    Patients are seen based on the severity of their condition. You may have arrived first, but a patient in critical condition or an ambulance carrying car accident victims may arrive during the same time period and they will usually require our immediate attention.
•    Please remember that the ED staff and doctors are working very hard and often under stressful situations, but you will be cared for as soon as time allows.

What happens when you arrive in emergency?
When you arrive you will first be triaged by a certified registered nurse using the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale. This is a five category system ranging from very critical or life threatening to non urgent. Once the nurse has completed the triage assessment you will be asked to register at the reception area. The registration clerk will ask you for your health card and at least one other piece of identification. Please ensure your health card is valid by checking the expiration date. Once you have registered and depending on your condition, you may be asked to wait in the waiting room.

How long do I have to wait?
Emergency patients are seen in order of priority and not time of arrival. The waiting time is constantly changing depending on what is happening within the Emergency Department. For example, if the department is busy with critical patients from a car accident, less urgent cases will have to wait until such time as the staff can return to them.

Your patience is appreciated.

Privacy
In order to respect the privacy of other patients you are asked to wait your turn in the waiting room rather than stand in the halls. Family members and/ or visitors are restricted to one at a time and may be asked to wait in the waiting room at certain times.

Drug Stores
The hospital does not have a pharmacy for dispensing drugs for Emergency patients. The staff can provide information on local pharmacies upon request.

Emergency Parking
There is emergency parking for dropping off patients which has a 15 minute limit. This area and the handicapped parking spaces outside the Emergency entrance are patrolled by the town parking authority as well as the hospital’s contracted parking partner. The hospital is not responsible if a violation ticket is issued. After dropping off a patient, your car should be moved to the hospital parking lot where you will be required to pay $2 per hour up to a maximum of $6 for a 24-hour period. Pay and display parking tags are available from one of 10 parking towers located throughout the parking lot. We suggest that because of the nature of the Emergency Department people assume you may need to purchase a tag at the maximum $6 rate so that you don’t have to return to your vehicle during your ED visit.