Fraser Health Authority campaign reduces ER congestion, gets expansion

SURREY (NEWS 1130) – A new campaign to help reduce congestion within Fraser Health Authority (FHA) emergency departments has reduced non-emergency visits to Peace Arch Hospital by more than 1,000 in its first year, according to health officials.

The Use the ER Wisely program involved putting up posters and signs throughout White Rock and South Surrey to remind people there are other health care options aside from the emergency room, like doctors’ offices and walk-in clinics.

“It is important for our patients to know that when they have a non-emergency ailment, they have options available to them beyond the Emergency Department, including a same-day appointment in a local clinic,” says Dr. Grace Park, family physician, White Rock-South Surrey Division of Family Practice. “Delivering the right care to our patients in the right place is important because we know the treatment of non-emergency health concerns in a community setting helps strengthen the relationship between a person and their physician.”

“What we noticed over the last year in Peace Arch [Hospital] is there’s been a decrease in low-acuity, the least sick emergency department patients, between three and eight per cent every month,” says Dr. Neil Barclay regional medical director for emergency medicine.

Peach Arch sees about 50,000 patients a year and 40 per cent of all FHA ER visits are non-emergencies, so Barclay says even an eight per cent decrease can have a large impact on congestion.

The program’s success is being expanded to the whole health region, starting with Chilliwack and Mission next month, with plans to start up in more communities later in the year.

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