Changes are coming to the emergency departments at the London Health Sciences Centre as part of major updates to improve service delivery.
In a statement, Murray Glendining, president and CEO at LHSC, said "After comprehensive work over the past two years to map a new course and redesign key care processes, LHSC will soon begin to introduce a series of changes in practice and process across the hospital, including a new model of care."
He adds the goal is to improve processes to reduce wait times to see emergency room doctors, reduce wait times for hospital admission and reduce the length of stay in hospitals.
The $2-million renovations are expected to start soon at both city emergency rooms, at Victoria Hospital on May 26 and at University Hospital on June 16, in each case lasting about six weeks.
Both emergency rooms will remain open throughout renovations, and have been scheduled during the summer months when there are typically lower patient volumes, according to LHSC.
But it's not just the emergency rooms that are being impacted, said Dr. Mark MacLeod, chief medical officer at LHSC.
“The changes planned across all clinical services will ensure that patients are better served and the staff and physician experience is improved, through a high quality, safe, integrated, streamlined and sustainable care system.
“As an outcome of this work, the hospital has targeted an average occupancy level of 95 per cent while maintaining or improving quality and safety, to ensure that we create a system that provides the right care, the right way, every time.”
The new model of care will be phased in starting in the fall of 2015.
“A key component of this work has been engagement of many of our front line staff and physicians, as well as patients and families and community and health system partners,” added Glendining.
What's involved in the new model?
Under the new format, patients will be directed to three 'Care Bubbles,' each designed for patients with different needs and based on the acuteness of their condition.
All patients in the so-called 'Front Care Bubble' will be seen for assessment and treatment within minutes, then some will be discharged.
Patients directed to the 'Middle Care Bubble' are expected to be treated and likely discharged within three hours while those directed to the 'Back Care Bubble' will need more than three hours of treatment before being discharged or admitted.
The model is based on a first in, first seen philosophy, but officials say it still ensures immediate acces to care for the most severely ill or injured.
No staffing changes are expected to implement the new model.
