Photo courtesy of www.prhc.on.ca
Peterborough Regional Health Centre is expanding its Emergency Department fast-track program this summer to include a wider range of minor illnesses and injuries, as pressure on emergency services continues to grow.
Beginning July 1, the hospital’s Streamlined Treatment and Evaluation Pathway (STEP) will accept patients with conditions such as bug bites, rashes, urinary tract infections, respiratory symptoms and a broader list of low-acuity concerns.
The expansion comes just months after the program launched in January 2026, during which more than 1,300 patients have already been treated through STEP, according to the hospital.
STEP is designed to redirect patients with minor conditions away from traditional emergency wait times. Before arriving at the hospital, patients complete an online screening survey and, if eligible, receive confirmation by email. They are then assessed in the Emergency Department by a dedicated physician assigned to the STEP stream.
The expanded list of eligible conditions will now include respiratory symptoms such as coughs, sore throats and sinus congestion, minor limb injuries and urinary tract infections. New additions also include stitch and staple removal, wound care, tetanus boosters, rabies follow-up care, acute back pain, sexually transmitted infection assessment and treatment, and other routine follow-up services.
“With the summer months upon us, the ED expects to see an increase in minor illnesses and ailments, so this is the ideal time to expand STEP criteria,” said Jessica Jackson, Director of Emergency, Critical Care, Respiratory Services and Trauma at PRHC.
“Patient feedback about STEP has been overwhelmingly positive. We’re so proud of the incredible work being done by this team to improve the ways our patients access care through the ED.”
A dedicated STEP physician is available Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to noon, seeing patients on a first-come, first-served basis for those who qualify through the screening tool.
PRHC notes its Emergency Department handles more than 75,000 visits annually, with a new patient arriving approximately every seven minutes. Hospital officials say demand for emergency care has steadily increased over the past decade, driven by growing patient volumes and increasing complexity of cases.
The STEP program is intended to ease some of that pressure by diverting lower-acuity cases into a faster, more structured care pathway, while allowing emergency staff to focus on more urgent and complex patients.
Patients must complete the online screening form before arriving at the hospital to be considered for STEP eligibility.
