Our Emergency Department (ED) offers 24 hour care / 7 days per week. There is a physician on call to the ED at all times. Registered Nurses that are specially trained in emergency care are there to support patients and families.
When you arrive you will be assessed by the Triage nurse. This assessment creates a priority list based on the urgency of your medical condition. Patients are seen by the physician based on their triage score and not on a “first come, first served” basis. Wait times may vary and your patience is appreciated.
When you come to the emergency room or for any hospital or medical visit, be sure to bring:
Upon arriving to the Emergency Department you will first need to see the triage nurse. The triage nurse has special training to assess how quickly you need treatment and in which room your care needs to happen. The triage nurse will ask you questions about what brought you to the Emergency Department and about your general health. The triage nurse will also start the registration process.
The triage nurse will then ask you to proceed to registration to complete your registration or send you directly into the Emergency Department.
Once patients are assessed by the triage nurse they are moved into a line based on the severity of their symptoms. This line is being changed and revised constantly, so people who have arrived after you may be seen before you.
We do our best to move patients through the Emergency Department as efficiently as possible things can change quickly in the Emergency Department and delay your care. Patients requiring the most urgent care must be treated first. There may also be delays while we wait for your test result from the laboratory or imaging department. Please understand that our aim is to provide you with the most efficient service possible. If you have to wait a nurse will be nearby to answer your questions and monitor your condition. Your patience is appreciated.
Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital encourages family centred care. In the best interests of the patient, we request the following:
- That families follow instructions given by the nurse or physician with regards to limiting the number or visitors and noise level.
- That visitors respect the privacy of the other patients and not wander freely through the department.
- That families have one person to act as their spokesperson to decrease confusion and make communication between staff and family members easier.
- All visitors and patients must abide by our hospital code of conduct. Aggressive behaviors will not be tolerated in our Emergency Department.
For advice on the right place to receive the care you need, you can get help through these sources:
A valid Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) card covers most hospital services, but there are a few things that are not covered:
If you are not covered by OHIP or your OHIP card has expired, you will be charged for your hospital visit as well as a physician fee.
If you receive any of these services, please see the cashier to make payment before you leave the hospital.