Peterborough Regional Health Centre is giving patients and families a new tool to see real-time Emergency Department wait times before and during visits.
The online wait-time clock provides estimates of how long it may take to be seen by a physician, helping to reduce uncertainty and improve communication. PRHC’s Emergency Department handles more than 75,000 visits each year, with a new patient arriving roughly every seven minutes. Rising demand over the past decade has continued to put pressure on the department.
Hospital officials say the tool supports transparency and helps patients plan their visit, while emphasizing that care is always prioritized based on the urgency of a patient’s condition. Wait times can change quickly depending on new or more serious emergencies.
The online ED wait-time clock is available on the hospital’s website at prhc.on.ca/healthcare-services/ed-wait-times/. The site also provides information about non-emergency care options in the community.
