Niagara, ON - The Niagara Health System (NHS) operates the largest system of Emergency Departments (EDs) in Ontario, with five 24/7 EDs and a 14/7 Prompt Care Centre across the Niagara region, and a combined total of 200,250 patient visits during the 2006/07 fiscal year.
Given the increased activity in the EDs over the last several weeks, the NHS will hold a media briefing on Thursday, January 17, 2008, at 11 a.m., to update the media on issues and challenges in Emergency Department care in Niagara.
The one-hour session will take place at the Ontario Street Site, 6th Floor Boardroom, and will be followed by a brief tour of the Prompt Care Centre on the First Floor.
Participants in the briefing will include: Dr. William Shragge, Chief of Staff; Anne Atkinson, Site Vice-President for the St. Catharines General and Ontario Street sites; Dr. Keith Greenway, Chief of Hospital Medicine; Marcia Ladouceur, Acting Health Program Director, Emergency Services; Karen Ouellette, ED Permanent Charge Nurse, St. Catharines.
Topics to be discussed will include: impact of influenza and other seasonal pressures; increased bed pressures; understanding wait times; proper use of the ED and Prompt Care Centre in St. Catharines.
