The emergency and how it works

Healthcare professionals working in the emergency department are extremely busy. They see people daily with urgent physical or mental health problems requiring assessment, stabilization, or treatment. Understanding how the emergency department works can help you determine if it's the best healthcare option for you. By making an informed decision, you can avoid unnecessary wait times and receive the healthcare you need.

If you are unsure, consult the pages Before Going to the Emergency Room and Alternatives to the Emergency Room . You can also contact Info-Santé/Info-Social by dialing 811 so that a nurse can advise you on the best option for you.

What does a visit to the emergency room involve?

Here are the steps involved in a visit to the emergency room:

1. Arrival: Upon arrival, you must take a number and then wait for a member of the nursing staff to call you. Make sure you have your health insurance card with you; you will need it when you go through triage.
2. Triage: When your number is called, you will be asked to go to triage, where a member of the nursing staff will assess your condition and assign you a priority rating. This rating determines the order in which people arriving at the emergency department will be seen by a doctor. Therefore, your arrival time or the transportation you used to get to the emergency department does not affect your order of appearance. In the emergency department, the severity of your medical condition is the primary consideration.
3. Registration: In order to open your file, an administrative agent will take your contact details and those of a contact person to communicate with in case of emergency.
4. Consultation: At this stage, you will meet with the doctor, who will provide the necessary care. If you are unavailable after three calls, your file will be closed, and you will have to restart the entire process to obtain a consultation.

Did you know? If your health condition worsens while you are waiting, you can take another number, in order to go through triage again and be reassessed.

How does triage work?

Based on rigorous criteria established according to the Canadian Triage and Severity Scale, nursing staff assign a rating on a five-level scale. Level P1 represents the most severe cases, while level P5 represents the least urgent cases.

Levels P1 to P3 are assigned to people requiring immediate care. Levels P4 and P5 are designated for people who could be treated elsewhere than in the emergency room.

What is reorientation?

When your condition allows, staff can offer you an alternative to the emergency room that is better suited to your needs. When you are redirected, it is essential that you go to the location recommended by the nursing staff. This way, you will receive a diagnosis and treatment appropriate for your health condition.

What is the waiting time for a visit to the emergency room?

Waiting times vary considerably. They depend on the number of people in the waiting room and the condition of those being observed. Some people require more intensive care than others, depending on their health issues. The doctor must ensure their condition is stable before seeing another patient and must also reassess their condition regularly. Therefore, waiting times are constantly changing, depending on several factors.

To find out the occupancy rate of emergency rooms in the region, visit the IndexSanté website .

Is it possible to visit a loved one who is in the emergency room?

Visiting hours at hospitals in Abitibi-Témiscamingue are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. However, certain rules of conduct must be followed to ensure everyone's well-being and safety. To learn more about these rules, visit the Visiting Hours section .

In some cases, a relative may be able to stay with the person they are accompanying outside of visiting hours. Consult a healthcare professional for more information.

To locate the emergency room closest to your home, consult the list of facilities of the CISSS de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue.