Big Changes Have Come to the Emergency Room at Mississauga Hospital
Published December 19, 2018 at 8:00 pm
Visiting the emergency room is never fun, but the experience doesn’t have to be compounded by confusion and uncertainty.
For that reason, Mississauga residents might be relieved to hear that some changes have come to the emergency department at Mississauga Hospital.
Recently, Trillium Health Partners (THP) announced the official opening of a new Rapid Assessment Zone (RAZ), marking the expansion of the emergency department at the Mississauga Hospital.
For those who are unaware, the RAZ is one of the assessment and treatment areas in the emergency department where patients are transitioned from physician diagnosis to a treatment zone for any necessary medical interventions.
The Mississauga Hospital RAZ assesses and treats approximately 100 patients a day, and the new and more modern space will better equip health care providers to care for the growing Mississauga community.
Features of the new RAZ include:
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- 5,000 square feet of newly renovated and modernized space – double the size of the current RAZ;
- Enhanced privacy, including eight separate assessment rooms;
- Dedicated areas for patient intake and treatment; and
- An identified zone lead who will monitor the area to ensure patients are being treated in an organized and timely manner.
THP sees the second highest volume of emergency and urgent care patient visits of any hospital in Canada, with 273,650 patient visits in 2017/18.
“Last year, our emergency departments and urgent care centres received 273,650 patient visits. This number will only increase in the future,” says Alison Quigley, Vice President, Patient Care Services, Trillium Health Partners.
“The new ED RAZ provides more space to help manage the increasing demand for care. We must continue to invest in future projects to ensure we meet the health care needs of our community today, and tomorrow.”
The new RAZ at Mississauga Hospital, along with the recently expanded emergency department at THP’s Credit Valley Hospital, aims to alleviate some of the current pressures.
That said, the demand for health care continues to increase every year.
Residents should also note that the winter months are particularly busy for all hospitals, partially because of influenza (for that reason, health professional recommend that residents get flu shots on an annual basis).
THP says the hospital is currently developing two long-term care homes that will add 540 new long-term care beds in the community. THP has also received approval for a hospital expansion project that would add over 500 new hospital beds and replace over 500 hospital beds at the Mississauga Hospital and Queensway Health Centre.
“The new RAZ will allow our health care teams to work more proficiently and provide more privacy and comfort to patients,” says Dr. Ted Everson, Physician and Emergency Medicine Site Lead, Mississauga Hospital & Queensway Health Centre, Trillium Health Partners.
“The additional space and privacy will allow our providers to focus on adequately assessing and treating the needs of our patients. We are committed to providing patients with experiences that lead to the best possible health outcomes. The new RAZ will make a big difference in ensuring we are able to do so.”
In addition, residents are also reminded to learn more about their healthcare options. Not all illnesses and injuries require a visit to the emergency department, as some can be managed by walk-in clinics and family doctors.
- For information on how to find a family doctor, contact Health Care Connect at 1-800-445-1822 or visit: www.health.gov.on.ca
- For a list of walk-in clinics, physicians, and other health care options in the community visit www.myhealth365.ca or www.MississaugaHaltonHealthline.ca
- For free, confidential access to a Registered Nurse 24 hours a day, 7 days a week please call Telehealth Ontario at: 1-866-797-0000 (TTY: 1-866-797-0007)
- For non- life-threatening conditions that require immediate attention, the Urgent Care Centre at the Queensway Health Centre is open daily from 8 a.m.-10 p.m.
- For serious conditions that require immediate attention, the Emergency Departments at the Mississauga Hospital and Credit Valley Hospital are open 24 hours 7 days a week.