Video summary

Why are ER wait times so long?

Main summary

Key takeaways

News and Commentary

Overview

Emergency department (ER) wait times in Canada are being described as a longstanding, worsening “crisis,” rather than a sudden one. Experts argue the system has been deteriorating for years, and data from across the country shows average and maximum waits are rising.

Key Points

  • Growing wait times nationwide

    • Tracking data shows the longest waits can be extremely high. For example:
      • PEI: about 5 hours 19 minutes
      • Quebec: about 13 hours 3 minutes

  • System failing factors

    • The problem is described as complex and driven by:
      • Burnout leading to staff shortages
      • Lack of family doctors, pushing more patients to rely on ERs

  • Main cause highlighted: “bed block” / boarded patients

    • The biggest contributor to long waits is said to be patients who have been admitted but can’t leave the ER because receiving units are full.
    • These patients remain in the emergency department, increasing delays for others.

  • Patients walking out due to delays

    • People are sometimes leaving before being treated. Reported walk-out rates include:
      • ~5% in Ontario and BC
      • ~10% in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador
      • ~12% in Quebec, Nunavut, and New Brunswick
      • Higher rates in Manitoba and PEI (noted as “even higher” in the text)
    • One patient’s testimonial notes they felt they were “put in jeopardy.”

  • Efforts to reduce delays through faster physician assessment

    • A referenced approach aims to reduce the “gray zone” between triage and physician evaluation by increasing overnight/late-evening coverage, funded by private donations.
    • This intervention is reported to have reduced waiting time before initial physician assessment by about 30 minutes.

  • Why earlier physician contact matters

    • Experts emphasize that the period after triage but before a physician sees the patient is uncertain.
    • Patients could deteriorate (“get sicker”) during that time, so earlier assessment is viewed as crucial.

Presenters / Contributors

  • Dr. Frasier Mai — Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians
  • Dr. Hall (first name not provided) — interviewee discussing the initiative to prevent patient walkouts

Original video