The Emergency Department is staffed at all times by specially trained emergency physicians, nurses and allied health professionals. HSN is a
teaching hospital affiliated with the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Laurentian University, Cambrian College and Collège Boréal. During your visit to the hospital, you will be seen by a team of health care professionals, some of which may be in training. Individuals in training will identify themselves to you as learners or medical residents. Working under the close supervision of hospital staff and attending physicians, they play an important role in the care and treatment of you and your family.
Why do I have to wait?
The Emergency Department does not operate on a first come, first serve basis. All patients are seen by a triage nurse and assigned a triage level based on the Canadian Triage Acuity Scale. Patients are seen in the order of their triage level, not on time of arrival. This Triage approach allows us to give priority to those patients whose ailments are most severe and acute.
Reasons for delays
The Emergency Department may appear quiet in the waiting room, but it may be very busy in the area where patients are being treated. We do our best to care for you as quickly as possible. Your co-operation helps us provide more timely care.
Your treatment in the Emergency Department may take several hours depending on the following:
- Whether or not you require tests
- Whether or not you require immediate test results
- Whether or not the emergency physician needs to consult a specialist
If admission to the hospital is required, a bed will be arranged for you. Note that if it is an emergency admission and not a scheduled one, a bed may not be immediately available.