Emergency

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» What to Expect in Emergency
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What to Expect in Emergency

Within the first 15 minutes of your arrival in the emergency department, you will be seen by a triage nurse who will assess and classify your condition based on the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale, a system used nation-wide. Following this assessment, a decision is made regarding the seriousness of your injury or illness. Your information is documented and you will be registered. Based on the urgency of your situation, you will be taken to a treatment area, or return to the waiting room. Please keep in mind that patients are seen based on the severity of their condition. We encourage you to speak with the triage nurse if you have any concerns, or if your condition changes while you are waiting.

The triage nurse will assess and classify your condition based on the following five point scale:

• Resuscitation
• Emergent
• Urgent
• Less urgent
• Non urgent

This process allows the triage nurse to:

• Promptly identify patients requiring immediate care
• Determine the appropriate area for treatment within the emergency department
• Provide continued assessment or re-assessment of waiting patients
• Give information to patients and their families