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Staff at local hospitals are doing everything they can to ensure the best service possible to the people they serve during the province-wide staff shortage.
We spoke with the President and CEOs at the Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital, the Carleton Place District Memorial Hospital, and the Almonte General Hospital to see what the public can do to help make visits to our Emergency Departments (also called ERs) run smoothly.
They say for the most part those attending their hospital’s emergency departments have been very understanding.
Number one on that list for hospital users is patience.
Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital President and CEO Michael Cohen says the weight of two years of the pandemic is having an effect, and they have nothing but respect and admire the job their people are doing especially during the shortage.
Cohen says users and patients can help by understanding they prioritize cases.
Cohen says people sometimes don’t see the frustrations felt by hospital workers who work short-staffed and long hours. They carry that with them, so he says treating them kindly goes a long way.
President and CEO of the hospitals in Carleton Place and Almonte, Mary Wilson-Trider, reminds hospital users that the staffing shortage and associated issues aren’t the hospital staff’s fault, so don’t blame them.
When it comes to helping out, Cohen says patients need to consider if the Emergency Department is where they should be headed.
He says that if there’s uncertainty, don’t risk it. Head to emergency.
Wilson Trider says in rural hospitals such as those serving our listening area there’s often only one physician and two, or maybe three, nurses on shift at any given time.
So be ready to wait.
Both say that patients and users being prepared before heading to the ER helps a lot too.
That means making sure health cards and lists of medications are readily available. Bringing food or water, or if you have a young child extra diapers and snacks, also makes a long wait easier.
Wilson-Trider says people need to realize their conduct affects everyone else who is waiting. Someone acting up or getting upset with staff takes resources and time away from everyone waiting.
In short, be patient as you could be waiting awhile and treat staff and others in the waiting room with respect.
Both Wilson-Trider and Cohen are eager to hear more details on the province’s plan to help ease the situation.
As it stands the Ford Government has given the colleges governing nurses, physicians and surgeons two weeks to come up with a plan to expedite the certification of internationally trained workers. There are literally thousands of them who want to help.
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