Rushing to the hospital? New wait-time clock lets patients know before they go

Hospital waiting times. (FILE IMAGE)

Have you ever rushed to the hospital and found yourself wondering how long the wait would be? Now, picture arriving at the emergency doors and knowing exactly what to expect.

Southlake Health is enhancing the experience for all patients by introducing a new online Emergency Department (ED) wait-time clock. This feature provides patients and their families with real-time estimates of how long they may wait to see a physician.

“In the Emergency Department, uncertainty can add to the stress patients and families are already experiencing,” said Gaurav Puri, MD, chief of Emergency Medicine at Southlake Health. “By sharing real wait-time information, we’re giving people more clarity and reassurance during a difficult moment. It’s another way we’re putting patients first and making sure they feel informed, supported, and confident in the care they receive at Southlake.”

Southlake’s ED sees more than 120,000 visits annually. This means a new patient arrives at the hospital roughly every four and a half minutes.

Officials say this number is expected to skyrocket as the hospital serves some of the fastest-growing and aging communities right across the province.

How it works

According to health officials, the ED wait-time clock eases the stress of an ED visit by supporting transparency, reducing uncertainty, and empowering patients with timely information.

Patients can access it on Southlake’s website before or during their visit to see all the new information on the estimated time it takes to see a physician for an initial assessment.

“Southlake’s Emergency Department is one of the busiest in Ontario, yet we continue to maintain one of the shortest wait times for initial assessment,” said Katrina Scott, director of the Emergency Department at Southlake Health. “The wait-time clock builds on that strength by giving patients timely information they can trust and reducing uncertainty, so people can better prepare for their visit and know what to expect.”

Southlake’s ED is open all hours of the day. Knowing where to go for care can help patients avoid long wait times and ensure there is space for those who need it most.

According to health officials, as of September, the average wait time for an initial assessment by a doctor at Southlake Health is approximately 42 minutes. This is one of the shortest wait times in Ontario, significantly below the provincial average of two hours.

The ED wait-time clock can be accessed here.

Looking for more options?

The Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre in Barrie is currently experiencing high patient volumes, with many units at or over capacity.

The local health centre offers a similar wait-time system called the Smart ED Queue, which provides a rough estimate of emergency wait times.

Patients may even be eligible for the ED Minor Ailment Patient Pathway system, which allows for same-day or next-day arrival time pre-bookings. This system can be helpful when taking care of minor injuries or conditions.

To check your eligibility and to learn more, click here.