Emergency Department
Accessing Emergency service
For every emergency visit, please bring your health card. It is also helpful to bring a list of prescribed medications.
Overview
Woodstock Hospital’s Emergency Department (ED) puts our patients first, while striving for continuous improvements toward providing the best possible emergency care to all age groups. Our 10,000 square foot, 29 room modern ED utilizes advanced technology to help deliver and monitor care provided. Our goal is to deliver efficient and high quality care by reducing wait times which helps to increase capacity. Click here to see how Woodstock Hospital compares to other Ontario hospitals in terms of how long patients are spending in our ED on average. Our ED team consist of emergency trained physicians, nurses, clerks, and other allied health professions including pharmacy technicians, radiology technicians and specialty trained crisis nurses.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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What can I expect on arrival to the ED?
- REGISTRATION Stop at the registration desk. The registration clerk will need your health card or travel insurance information, family doctor’s name and emergency contact information. If the injury occurred at work, the clerk will require your employer’s name, address and date of injury. The clerk will also ask for any allergies. The clerk will then apply a wristband with personal information.
- TRIAGE Triage Assessment will be completed by a specialty trained Registered Nurse. The triage nurse will assess how quickly you need treatment and in which area your care will be given. You will be asked questions about what brought you to the Emergency Department and about your general health. The nurse will also ask a number of screening questions with this assessment. Your pulse, blood pressure, temperature and breathing will be measured and notes will be made of any allergies or current medications being taken.
- TESTS The triage nurse may order lab work, x-rays, ECGs and dispense medications if the patient meets the criteria.
- WAITING ROOM After triage, you may be brought directly into the main ED, or into a separate room for lab or x-rays, or redirected back to the main waiting room to wait. One visitor or support person is allowed to remain with the patient.
- Please report any change in condition while you are waiting. A nurse may also reassess you during your wait.
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What Should I bring with me?
When coming to the ED, please bring:
- Your Health Card or travel insurance
- Emergency Contact Information
- A list of all your prescribed medications including any supplements or herbal remedies
- Any medical history documents that may be related to your visit
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What is the Wait Time in the ED?
- The sickest patients are always seen first. Patients are assessed during triage based on medical need. All hospitals in Canada use the same tool to identify and prioritized patients based on five triage levels ranging from critical to non-urgent.
- We recently have been experiencing higher than average wait times especially on evening and nights. This fluctuates depending on a number of factors including volumes of patients, patient acuity, and available resources and staffing within our physician and nursing group. Everyone who registers will be seen by a Registered Nurse and triaged. Patients will be seen by a trained ED Physician related to their medical needs and prioritizes according to standardized guidelines. Patients may not be seen by arrival time.
- If you are not having an emergency, please consider other options including contacting your family physician, specialist, walk in clinic or Health Connect Ontario.
We appreciate your patience as we work toward providing safe care to our community.
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Items NOT allowed into the Hospital
Patient, visitor and staff safety is our first priority. WH does not allow knives, guns, firearms, fire hazards, WH does not allow knives, guns, firearms, fire hazards, no illegal drugs, no alcohol. Patients that arrive with these items will be asked to have them locked in a secure location until discharge.
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Treatment of my Condition
Treatment is administered based on how severe your symptoms are when you are seen by the triage nurse. In the treatment area, a primary nurse will assess your condition and be responsible for your care while you are in the Emergency Department. This may include cardiac monitoring, additional tests, crisis nursing assessment, treatment for medical condition including medications or interventions and consults with other members of the health care team.
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What happens when I go home?
You are an important part of your emergency experience and we encourage you to ask questions to clarify information prior to discharge. Be sure to have a support person with you if you may not be able to understand or communicate on your own.
- Ask questions so you understand follow-up appointment/test information.
- Understand the discharge instructions prior to leaving
- Clarify changes to any medications or new medications you have been prescribed.
- You may be asked to return if your condition worsens. This does not mean nothing was wrong, it simply means the full nature of your illness may not yet be determined and may require another visit to the ED.
- You may be asked to follow-up with your family physician after your ED visit. Please do so.
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How can I provide feedback about my visit?
Your compliments, concerns and suggestions are an important part of providing the best care for our patients and their families. All concerns are kept confidential. ( link )
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What are some alternatives to the ED in our community?
- Contact your family doctor, nurse practitioner or primary care provider
- Health Connect Ontario
- Book a virtual appointment with Urgent Care Ontario. Your health card is required for booking
- Local walk in clinic are listed on the link at the top of this page
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Strategies that Woodstock Hospital have implanted to improve ED wait times
- We have created a FLIP (Front Line Improving Performance) which helps front line staff find improvements in their own workflows and provide education on Lean Methodology.
- Our IT Department has created real time data tools to show staff their performance metrics while they are working.
- Worked with our Inpatient Units to streamline getting our admitted patients to their inpatient bed in 1.5 hrs or less.
- Added pharmacy technicians and crisis workers to assist with assessing our patients.
- Added more physicians and staggered their start times to meet peak demands of arriving patients.
- Added more nursing hours to work with those physicians.
- Expanded our Fast Track area until 11:30 pm to treat patients presenting with minor conditions.
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How can I register for a family doctor or nurse practitioner?
Register with Health Care Connect, which refers people without a family health care provider to those accepting new patients in their community. Call 1-800-445-1822 or register online.
Pediatric Care Information and Resources
Brantford Children’s Urgent Walk-In Clinic
Address:
225 Fairview Drive,
North Plaza
Brantford ON
For hours:
Visit:
Home | Brantford Childrens Walk-In Clinic (brantfordchildrensclinic.com)
or
Call: (519)304-5460
Children After-Hours Clinic
*** Appointments Only ***
Address:
1653 Richmond St N
London, ON
Appointment Booking:
Visit:
Children’s After-Hours Clinic – southwesthealthline.ca
or
Call: 519-850-3800
LHSC Virtual Emergency Clinic
Virtual Resources for Children
Visit:
Urgent Care Ontario
or
Call: 519-685-8735
Elder Care Information
Home and Community Care Support Services
healthcareathome.ca
Ontario’s 14 Home and Community Care Support Services organizations coordinate in-home and community-based care for thousands of patients across the province every day.
Friendly Callers provides weekly check-ins, supportive listening and assists with access to community and social supports for older adults in communities across Middlesex, Elgin and Oxford Counties.
Call: 519-434-9191 ext. 2223
or
visit: Friendly Callers – CMHA Thames Valley | Addiction and Mental Health Services (cmhatv.ca)
Helpline – Ontario Caregiver Organization Ontario Caregiver Helpline – Ontario Caregiver Organization A lot has changed since we published last year’s Spotlight Report. Most Ontarians are vaccinated, Covid-19 restrictions have eased, and many programs and services have re-opened. What hasn’t changed is the impact caregiving is having on caregivers. There are far too many Ontarians struggling to cope physically and emotionally. Our health care system is in crisis. There are fewer nurses and personal support workers adding more pressure on caregivers to deliver care that would otherwise fall to a health care professional. While 66% of caregivers are fairly new to the role (less than 3 years), many find themselves on the brink of collapse, feeling helpless and burnt out. In fact, 63% of caregivers say they reached their breaking point over the past year but still had to keep going. Visit Ontario Caregiver Helpline for support Unpaid caregivers are increasingly in need of support and care; it is crucial to shed light on their needs and the needs of the patients they look after.
DELIRIUM, DEMENTIA AND DEPRESSION: What is the difference? (Elder Care)
HEFS_Delirium_dementia_and_depression
Many older adults are affected by delirium, dementia and/or depression. These conditions are not part of normal aging. Delirium, dementia and depression are different from one another, but it can be hard to distinguish between them because their signs and symptoms may be alike. Sometimes a person has more than one of these conditions at the same time. Alert health-care staff if you or someone you know shows any of these signs or symptoms.
The Alzheimer Society Southwest Partners is the local community agency dedicated to supporting individuals living with dementia and their care partners. We are part of a network of Alzheimer Societies operating across Ontario offering a variety of services in our region.
We support people living with dementia, care partners and allied health care professionals within our geographic area, including the counties of:
- Elgin
- Middlesex
- Oxford
We focus our programs and services around three pillars of care including:
- Dementia education
- Counselling and support services
- Therapeutic recreation, health and wellness activities
We employ a team of highly skilled professionals, including registered social workers, to ensure our programs and services meet and exceed the needs of our clients. Our team of over 350 dedicated volunteers help to run our education, recreation and support programs and services.
Who we serve
We provide programs and services for individuals, families, care partners living with a variety of memory concerns. From pre-diagnosis and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), to those living with a dementia diagnosis (Alzheimer’s disease, Frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body dementia, vascular dementia and others), we are here to help.
Visit our website Alzheimer Society Southwest Partners (alzswp.ca)
Urgent Care Information
Walk-In Clinics
Trusty Care Walk-In Clinic
Address:
925 Dundas St, Unit 2
Woodstock, ON
Call: 519-537-2992
Walk-in Clinics | ON | Skip the Waiting Room
Northwood Medical Centre Walk-In Clinic
Address:
35 Springbank Ave
Woodstock, ON
Visit:
Northwood Medical Centre Walk-In Clinic –
southwesthealthline.ca
or
Call: (519) 537-6147
Delhi Community Health Centre - Walk-In Clinic
Address:
105 Main St
Delhi, ON
Visit:
Public Walk-In Clinic – Delhi Community Health Centre (dchc.ca)
or
Call: 226-549-4004 ext 236
Urgent Care Clinics
Tillsonburg Medical Centre - Urgent Care Clinic
Address:
200 Broadway St, Unit 13
Tillsonburg, ON
Visit:
Tillsonburg Medical Centre -Urgent Care Clinic -southwesthealthline.ca
or
Call: 519-842-4231
St. Joseph’s Hospital - Urgent Care Centre
Address:
268 Grosvenor St, B0-504
London, ON
Visit:
St Joseph’s Health Care London – St Joseph’s Hospital- Urgent Care Centre – southwesthealthline.ca
or
Call: 519-646-6100 ext 67020
Willett Urgent Care Centre
Address:
238 Grand River St. North
Paris, ON
Visit:
The Willett Urgent Care Centre – BCHS (bchsys.org)
or
Call: 519-442-2251
Virtual Care Options
*** There may be a charge as not all virtual services are covered by OHIP. ***
Grey Bruce Health Services - Virtual Urgent Care Clinic
Visit:
Virtual Urgent Care -Grey Bruce Health Services
Appointments
Monday – Saturday
Cover Health - Virtual WalkIn Clinic
Visit:
Cover Health – Doctors Online + Prescription Delivery
Appointments:
Monday – Saturday,
Telemed – Virtual Walk-In Clinic
Visit:
Telemed MD – See a Doctor, Wherever You Are.
Appointments:
Monday – Friday
Mental Health Care Information
Reach Out is a confidential 24/7 information, support and crisis service for people living with mental health or addictions concerns in Elgin, Oxford, Middlesex and London. Home – Reach Out 24/7 (reachout247.ca)
Talk-In Counselling is a drop-in program designed to support residents of Oxford County or patients affiliated with an Oxford County physician, who are experiencing mental health issues or concerns.
Oxford-County-WIC-talkin-postcard-July2021-digital.pdf
(cmhaoxford.on.ca)
CMHA Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services is an integrated mental health and addiction agency providing community-based supports and services to individuals aged 12 and up across Elgin, Middlesex, and Oxford Counties.
Thames Valley Homepage – CMHA Thames Valley | Addiction and Mental Health Services (cmhatv.ca)
The RAAM clinic is an easy to access walk-in clinic that people can visit to get help for substance use without an appointment or formal referral.
Oxford County RAAM – Oxford County Rapid Access Addiction Medications (oxfordraam.ca)
Support Line provides confidential listening and support to individuals 16+ any time of day or night. Whether you are anxious, depressed, lonely, overwhelmed or just need to talk something through with someone, you will find a supportive and caring person at our end of the line.
Woodstock Hospital Outpatient Mental Health Services Talk – in Clinic
Talk-In Counselling is a drop-in program designed to support residents of Oxford County or patients affiliated with an Oxford County physician, who are experiencing mental health issues or concerns. A single session therapy approach addresses the immediate problem that is identified by the person seeking support. This program is offered through a collaborative partnership with other community agencies.
This service is also available to children and their families.
Mental Health – Woodstock Hospital
The Talk-In Counselling Clinic at Woodstock Hospital is available on Thursdays from noon-7:00 pm (Registration ends at 6:00 pm).
Suicide Crisis Helpline
A safe space to talk 24/7.
Dial 988 or www.988.ca
Pediatric Mental Health Care Information
One Stop Talk
offers children, youth (within 18 years of age) and their families immediate access to free mental health support. The program provides single session counselling support and ensures direct referral to additional service when needed. Services are provided through an integrated network of infant, child and youth mental health agencies across Ontario
Call: 1-855-416-8255 or 1-855-416-TALK
website: www.OneStopTalk.ca
WellKin-Child & Youth Mental Wellness
provides confidential, Quick Access Therapy Services (QATS) to infants, children, youth and their families, at no cost.
Call: 1-877-539-0463
or
visit: Quick Access Therapy Services – Wellkin Home
Tandem
(formerly The Crisis and Intake Team – CIT) is a 24/7 Crisis Support
Services and Intake team for children under 18 years old.
Call: 519-433-0334
or visit: tandemhelps.ca
Kid Help Phone
provides online and telephone counselling and volunteer-led, text-based support in English and French to youth across Canada. Kids Help Phone also provides information on how to access community support services for youth.
Call: 1-800-668-6868 or Text: 686868
or visit:Get support with these mental health resources – Kids Help Phone
Woodstock Hospital Outpatient Mental Health Services Talk – in Clinic
Talk-In Counselling is a drop-in program designed to support residents of Oxford County or patients affiliated with an Oxford County physician, who are experiencing mental health issues or concerns. A single session therapy approach addresses the immediate problem that is identified by the person seeking support. This program is offered through a collaborative partnership with other community agencies.
This service is also available to children and their families.
Mental Health – Woodstock Hospital
The Talk-In Counselling Clinic at Woodstock Hospital is available on Thursdays from noon-7:00 pm (Registration ends at 6:00 pm).
Pediatric Outpatient Mental Health Services Psychiatric care is available to children, youth and adults who may require an assessment for diagnostic and/or treatment recommendations. All referrals to outpatient psychiatry require a physician’s referral. The referral form is available on the Mental Health – Woodstock Hospital
First Five A program for children aged 0-5 years old who do not have current access to primary care. To register, call 519-539-1111 or visit www.oxchc.ca. Clinics held in Ingersoll, Tillsonburg, and Woodstock. The program is here to assist families and their children with:
- The regular schedule of Well Baby Checks
- Maintaining their child’s vaccination schedule
- Developmental screening for physical and mental health
- Resource navigation
- Dietary support
They do NOT provide acute care to acute illnesses (i.e ear infections, coughs, colds, vomiting etc.), care for children 6 years or older, or pregnancy care. Health Services for People Without a Family Doctor or Nurse Practitioner
For additional health care options, visit: Health Services for South West – southwesthealthline.ca or Health Services for Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant – hnhbhealthline.ca or Search – 211 Ontario
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