Emergency Departments (EDs) are the busiest areas of any hospital, with care teams working quickly to assess and respond to patients with a wide range of needs. To help prioritize patients’ care needs, Brightshores is introducing new digital technology in the Southampton and Owen Sound EDs, which will make the triage process faster, easier, and more efficient.
Brightshores and the newly founded Brightshores Research Institute (BRI) are partnering with EmergConnect, a Canadian company, to introduce a digital triage process that assesses and prioritizes patients based on the severity of their condition and the urgency of care they require.
Patients can use their device or access a tablet at the two Brightshores EDs to use EmergConnect and speed up the triage process. Before seeing the triage nurse, patients can use the app to enter their symptoms, share relevant medical history, and indicate the severity of their condition. The app also provides estimated wait times, helping patients stay informed about their visit.
“With this tool, patients can contribute important information in advance to help our team make informed decisions quickly,” said Rebecca Wuerth-Sarvis, Brightshores Owen Sound ED Manager. “This new digital application will also support our staff to spend more time caring for patients.”
Triage nurses receive advanced training to assess patients quickly and accurately based on a standardized scale used in EDs across Canada. Triaging ensures that patients who need immediate attention for life-saving care are seen first, while those with less urgent needs may wait longer.
“This new process will help an increased number of patients move through the ED more smoothly while also supporting our staff in delivering high-quality care,” said Melissa Wnuk, Manager of the Brightshores Southampton ED. “Using the app enhances the triage process by providing the triage nurse with important patient information to support their clinical assessment.”
Patients who cannot or do not wish to use the EmergConnect app can share their information directly with a triage nurse when they arrive at the ED.
“We want to support patients in being more informed and healthcare workers having more time to care for patients directly,” said Neil MacLean, Executive Director of BRI. “We’re interested in seeing how this technology impacts the patient and staff experiences and identifying potential opportunities to adopt this technology at other hospitals in Canada.”
This partnership is supported by the Coordinated Accessible National (CAN) Health Network. This federally-funded organization works directly with the country’s leading healthcare operators to identify their most significant challenges and match them with Canadian-made technology solutions.
Patients should call 9-1-1 in an emergency or go to the nearest ED.
