Hamilton Spectator
2/19/2013
Four hospitals in the Hamilton area Local Health integration Network are in the bottom five in the province for ER wait times.
The Hamilton Spectator is quoting Health Ministry data for the most recently reported quarter, the summer of 2012.
On the list are Burlington's Joseph Brant Hospital, Hamilton General, Juravinski, along with the St. Catharines General and Welland County Hospital.
The wait time at the Hamilton General had one in 10 urgent cases spending at least 19 hours in the emergency department.
Joe Brant was worse with one in 10 urgent ER cases requiring longer than 20.3 hours.
Overall, our Local Health Integration Network had the longest wait time out of Ontario’s 14 LHINs.
Hospitals in Hamilton have begun experimenting with new pilot programs to help reduce both ER demand and wait times.
But it will take months to years to assess the success of the programs.
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