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The numbers’ release is coupled with a provincial'stmtegy to reduce wait times: the goal is to reach an average of four hours for uncom- plicated cases and eight for more complex ones Trying to reduce wait times isn’t new at Markham Stoufiville Hos- pital. Numbers for 128 Ontario hospi- tals were released to increase trans- parency and accountability, said health and long-term care minister David Caplan. BY KEBLY GRASSER Staff Reporter Most have had the experience of waiting at the emergency depart- ment, but at Markham Stoufiville Hospital, your wait is a bit shorter than the average. The Markhhm figures, which were captured in October and reflect the maximum amount of time spent in the ER before admis- sion or discharge by nine out of 10 patients, show uncomplicated cases spent 4.1 hours and complex cases spent 1 1.6 hours in the emer- gency department. 7 The [irovincial figures are 4.6 and 13.5 hours Figures released by the province last week show the hospital’s wait times for both uncomplicated and complex ER cases are lower than Ontario’s average. HOSPITAL ER WAIT TIMES BEAT AVERAGE 4160-1931 Avenue, Markham (balsam Warden 8 Kumedy) 905-887-1127 - mm “We’ve been working on this invites you to go green with Boomerang Recycled Paint 16 TRENDY. PRE-MIXED COLOURS $15.99 A GALLON Beautiful, Affordable, Eco-friendly ...because we care! '[he Quegnsbridge Mlll 5812 “III! 8L, Siouflvllla me Queensbridge Mm Time you'll spend waiting at Markham Stoufli/ille emergency room shorter than in much of province Dr. Austin gives the example of a 95-yearâ€"old woman with pneumo- nia. After three days of treatment, “When everyone .is starting to recognize is the reasons patients wait a long time in the ER is because there’s no beds in the hos- pital. There’s nowhere to go," he explained. The province is tackling this issue in its strategy, saying it will work toward ensuring beds are available for patients by ensur- ing faster discharge of hospital patients better suited to other ser- vices, like home care or nursing homes. for a long time," said David Austin, the hospital’s chief of staff, adding there are two pieces to the wait- time puzzle: emergency room flow and in- patient beds He said the hospital works hard to alleviate bed gridlock. Every design project, starts with determining your colour scheme. We understand how confusing that can be. That's why we want to help by offering you a free ln-store consultation Monday to Friday. Bring in your pictures and your wish list and spend 30 minutes one on one with a member of our design team who will help you create the perfect palette and offer you solutions to your decorating dilemmas. Creating beautiful homes is our business. Don't miss this ~ opportunity to design the home of your dreams. / Paint Away The Winter Blues! Mnrflmnsumfivme MSH-Uxbridgesite York Central North York General Scarborough General Scarborough Grace 11.6 7.3 14.1 15.3 21.5 19.9 17 ngesmfiwambermmmfleadwmi- mumamowuofa'mespenrin theemergemy mom befiuedisdwgeor admission bym'ne out diagram-nu vaimjal average Celebrate the coming of spring with a fresh new look. Nothing transforms a room more dramatically and least expensiver than changing the colours of your walls. That’s why we call it MAGIC IN A CAN! 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Come see what a fresh coat of eco-friendly paint and seaside accessories can do to rejuvenate the spirit. 13.5 In a perfect world, the hospital wouldn’t have 100 per cent of its beds occupied and patients would be able to go directly from the emergency department to a bed, ifthey needed the care, Dr. Austin said. “People wouldn't be waiting for 10, 15, 20 hours for a bed." Tliere are many initiatives the hospital is taking to improve flow, He added the hospital continues to work With its community part- ners like community care centres, long-tenn care facilities and nurs- ing homes to develop a partnership to get patients out of the hospital and into the appropriate care as soon as possible. The province is also trying to increase capacity and improve pro- cesses the emergency room. The hospital’s cbntinuously doing this, Dr. Austin said. she may no longer need acute care, he said, but has other undertying conditions that mean she can't go home. Instead, she waits at the hospi- tal until a bed in a long-term care home comes up. Sometimes there are up 18 people waiting for alternative care in the hospital, Dr. Austin said, explaining this can cause a backlog in the emergency room. That’s why emergency and alter- native levels of care are linked, he Breathe newlifeintoyourhome. loin GregNicholson, floral designer, from the Village Grocer as he shows you simple seasonal arrangements to refresh your surroundings in honour of spring. Greg will also demonstrate how to revitalize your outdoor urns from DRAB TO FAB just in time for Easter. Refreshments are served. For an appointment, call (905)887-1127. Live in the colours you love! The Queensbridge Mill offers a range of seminars on design, entertaining and cooking. We are pleased to partner with the Village Grocer to present: FLOWER POWER: Date: Wed. March 11th (2:30pm-3z30pm) Cost: $12.95 plus gst (call (905)-887-1127 to reserve your seat). The Queensbridge Mill, 4160-19th Ave., Markham, Ontario (905)887-1127 www.queensbrldge.com Other initiatives include their fast track unit, dedicated to uncom- plicated cases, efiorts to use their space as efficiently as possible and working toward getting a nurse position in the department to help get patients off ambulance stretch- ers quickly, Dr. Austin said. according to Dr. Austin. These include opening a couple of unfunded beds, a new trial pro- gram that has physician assistants providing support to doctors and having hospitalists â€" doctors with only a hospital-based practice â€"â€" on staff. . DR. DAVID A0511": Hospital’s chief of staff says expansion ‘can't come soon enough'. As part of its strategy, the prov- Stoufl‘vflle Sun-THbune I Saturday. Feb. 28, 2009 l \l a lighting installations (pot lights) 0 electric service upgrades - knob and tube retrofit 0 new home construction 0 new installations (recepticals switches) FREE ESTIMATES ince is also educating Ontarians about appropriate alternatives to the emergency room. Dr. Austin said there is a en belief” that people are misusing the emergency room. Most patients have no other option, for instance because of the time of day or the treatment they need may not be pro- vided at a walk-in clinic. A new website, ontario.ca/ healthcareoptions, is designed to help Ontarians make decisions about where to go to get immediate care in their communities. These choices include family doctors, family health teams, walk.- in clinics and urgent care centres. Markham provides all of these venâ€" ues, including a new non-hospitalâ€" afliliated urgent care clinic at 110 Copper Creek Drive in Box Grove. It treats ailments like cuts and broken bones. The area’s growth is another challenge, he said, explaining the hospital, built to serve a popula~ tion of 100,000 in 1990, is sewing a catchment area of 350,000. “We don't see people, for the most part, coming to the ER for something frivolous,” Dr. Austin They work with 20 stretchers in the ER and 200 in-patient beds. The hospital’s in-the-works expansion “can’t come soon enough, believe me” Dr. Austin said. contact John at 416 676 5646 contact Henry at 416 676 3303 email jvirdiramo@live.ca