Latest news with #emergencyrooms
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Data shows spike in patients leaving B.C. emergency rooms without receiving care
Provincial data obtained through a freedom-of-information request reveals that the number of patients in B.C. leaving emergency rooms without receiving care has spiked by 86 per cent — with the largest increases seen in the Fraser Health and Vancouver Island Health authorities.
CBC
6 days ago
- Health
- CBC
Data shows spike in patients leaving B.C. emergency rooms without receiving care
Provincial data obtained through a freedom-of-information request reveals that the number of patients in B.C. leaving emergency rooms without receiving care has spiked by 86 per cent — with the largest increases seen in the Fraser Health and Vancouver Island Health authorities.
CBC
6 days ago
- Health
- CBC
Data reveals dramatic spike in patients leaving B.C. emergency rooms without receiving care
Provincial data obtained through a freedom-of-information request reveals that the number of patients in B.C. leaving emergency rooms without receiving care has spiked by 86 per cent — with the largest increases seen in the Fraser Health and Vancouver Island Health authorities. The data reveals the number of unscheduled visits to emergency rooms across B.C.'s health authorities between 2018 and 2025, and breaks down patient visits by their Canadian triage and acuity scale (CTAS) — a system used to categorize patients based on the urgency of their case. It also includes another category of patients titled: Left Without Being Seen (LWBS). According to the numbers compiled by the B.C. Ministry of Health, in the 2018-2019 fiscal year, 76,157 patients in B.C. left emergency rooms without receiving care. By 2024-2025, that number grew to 141,961. When broken down by health authority, the numbers show that, in some regions, cases of LWBs worsened significantly in the past two years. Across B.C., the number of patients that left emergency rooms without receiving care grew 18 per cent between 2023 and 2025. 'Significantly outside acceptable range' The Vancouver Island Health Authority saw a particularly large increase in patients who left before they received care, with 11,513 cases recorded in 2018-2019, 20,925 cases recorded in 2023-2024, and 29,997 cases recorded in 2024-2025. That represents growth of 160 per cent over seven years. An Island Health authority document on performance measures published in January 2025 said that while the authority's target for LWBs is two per cent, it was currently seeing 7.3 per cent of patients leave before seeing a physician. "As of November 2024, Island Health was not meeting the target for this measure," says the document. "Performance is significantly outside acceptable range." The document says that "occasionally, people who seek care at Emergency Departments are registered and receive a triage assessment from a nurse, but then they leave the Emergency Department (ED) before seeing a physician." "If a person sought care at an ED, but left before seeing a physician, it is possible they did not receive the care they needed." The document also notes the factors contributing to the high rate, noting "increased Emergency arrivals and inpatients being held in an Emergency location contribute to crowding and longer wait times to see a physician. When Emergency visits and crowding increase, the rate worsens [increases]." The population served by Island Health grew by 11 per cent between 2018 and 2024, according to Statistics Canada. In the Fraser Health Authority, the largest health authority in B.C., there were 34,678 LWBs recorded in 2018-2019. That number jumped to 55,415 in 2023-2024, and spiked to 64,972 in 2024-2025, representing overall growth of 87 per cent. Fraser Health's population also grew by around 4.6 per cent during that time, according to B.C. Stats. The population in the health authority is expected to grow by 32 per cent over the next 15 years. The Vancouver Coastal Health Authority recorded 13,353 LWBs in 2019-2019, up to 21,475 in 2023-2024, and a slight dip to 20,898 in 2024-2025. CBC News has contacted the B.C. Ministry of Health for comment. In a statement, B.C.'s opposition Conservatives called the figures "devastating." Data backs patient stories The data comes after a series of high-profile stories about deteriorating conditions in B.C. emergency rooms, that described lengthy wait times, undignified conditions for patients and their families, and violent attacks against medical staff. Emergency room physician Kaitlin Stockton launched an explosive lawsuit against the Fraser Health Authority in June, alleging her job was threatened after she tried to warn patients of "unacceptable" wait times. Two nurses in the same health authority also came forward detailing brutal attacks they say they suffered at the hands of patients while working in B.C. emergency rooms. In an interview with CBC following the two stories, Health Minister Josie Osborne said that patients with the most critical needs are seen first, which results in longer wait times for less urgent cases. She said the province is currently undertaking a review of every health authority in B.C. In a statement, Doctors of BC, which represents over 16,000 physicians, residents, and medical students, said it "has been calling for the creation of an emergency department stabilization plan for some time." "Physician shortages are also impacting emergency departments, and recent efforts to recruit U.S. physicians and the new SFU medical school are certainly helpful, but more needs to be done to recruit and retain physicians, nurses, and other health-care professionals to meet the needs of patients," it reads.
CBC
15-07-2025
- Health
- CBC
New urgent-care centre years in development expected to open this fall
Work to turn the former Costco building in St. John's into a new urgent-care centre has been underway for some time, but members of the media got a first-look tour of the facility on Tuesday ahead of a projected opening in the fall. As the CBC's Jessica Singer reports, officials hope it will lessen the burden on overwhelmed emergency rooms.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
ER visits for tick bites near record levels this summer across US
Emergency rooms across the country are seeing a spike in tick bite cases, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. July has already seen the highest number of tick-related ER visits since 2017, with the Northeast region reporting the most cases, the CDC said. Young children and elderly adults appear particularly vulnerable, with those under 10 and over 70 years old having the highest rates of emergency room visits, according to the CDC. For residents in the New York tristate area, the threat is particularly severe. The Fordham Tick Index, which monitors tick activity in southern New York, Connecticut and Northern New Jersey, currently rates the bite risk as "very high" – 9 out of 10 on its scale. The CDC reports that climate change may be contributing to the increasing numbers. In regions where Lyme disease is already present, milder winters result in fewer disease-carrying ticks dying during cold months, the agency notes. MORE: Male infertility: 5 lifestyle factors that could be hurting your fertility According to CDC data, May typically marks the annual peak for tick-bite emergencies. These rising numbers have prompted health officials to remind the public about the dangers posed by these tiny insects. The CDC warns that ticks can transmit various diseases through their bites, many of which share similar symptoms. Most people who visit emergency rooms report fever and chills, headaches, fatigue and muscle aches. Some patients also develop distinctive rashes, particularly those associated with Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. With outdoor activities in full swing this summer, the CDC has issued several recommendations to prevent illness. The agency advises avoiding wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter, and staying in the center of trails when hiking. It also recommends using Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellents containing DEET, Picaridin, or other approved ingredients. The CDC recommends treating outdoor clothing and gear with permethrin, which remains effective even after multiple washes. Those planning to use both sunscreen and insect repellent should apply sunscreen first, followed by the repellent. Health officials are also emphasizing that no area is immune to tick activity.
