- Unlike a walk in clinic, you are not seen in order of arrival, but based on the urgency of your need. Urgent patients will be seen according to priority.
- Estimated wait times are updated every 15 minutes but they are approximate and can change very quickly.
- Wait times are estimated from when the non-urgent patients are registered to when they enter the department. They do not include the time it takes to be assessed by a physician or reflect the total length of stay of a visit.
- Due to rapidly changing demands and the need to see the sickest patient first, your own wait time may be more or less than the time displayed here.
Time spent in the Emergency Department
Wait time to see a physician
*Wait times are updated every 15 minutes and are estimates from when non-urgent patients are registered to when they’re seen by a physician.
Due to rapidly changing demands in the Emergency Department and the need to see the sickest patients first, your own wait time may be more or less than the time displayed here.
For serious medical injuries and conditions, DO NOT delay seeking emergency care. For non-urgent needs consider the following options before coming to the emergency department.
Contact:
Emergency Department
50 College Drive
P.O. Box 2500
North Bay, Ontario
P1B 5A4
About Wait Times
When you can expect to wait
- On arrival you will wait to be assessed by the triage nurse.
- The triage nurse then checks you in, assesses your condition and assigns you an urgency level. They will initiate care based on your symptoms.
- You wait to see the doctor for your first assessment. Patients are seen based on their triage score and the sickest patients will be seen in priority (or will be seen first).
- You see the doctor, who either sends you home or admits you to the hospital.
Things that can affect your wait
A number of circumstances can affect how long you may spend in the emergency department:
- When you go – Some days or times of day may be busier than others.
- Unforeseen circumstances – If there is a big accident in the area or an infectious disease outbreak, you may need to wait longer than usual.
- Patients with serious or potentially life-threatening health problems – High-urgency patients usually require immediate care. They receive treatment first. This means that low-urgency patients may have to spend more time in the emergency department.
- If you need immediate tests or diagnostic imaging – Getting the tests (e.g. blood) or images (e.g. x-ray) and results will add to the total length of your visit.
- If you need to be admitted to hospital – You may need to wait until a hospital bed becomes available.
North Bay
50 College Drive,
P.O. Box 2500
North Bay, ON
P1B 5A4
Tel: 705-474-8600
Sudbury
680 Kirkwood Drive,
Sudbury, ON
P3E 1X3
Tel: 705-675-9193
Fax: 705-675-6817
