Please be aware you may need to wait once you are in the Emergency Department. Our staff will evaluate your condition and prioritize your medical needs. Patients are seen on a priority basis, not a first-come first-served basis. This ensures the sickest patients get the care they need first, even though they may arrive at the Emergency Department after other patients.

Patients are assessed and prioritized using the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS), based on the patient’s complaint and the symptoms they may be exhibiting. For example, a patient experiencing chest pain will likely be seen by a physician before someone with a fracture or abdominal pain.

There are several steps of care in the Emergency Department:

Triage: Where your health issue is assessed by a triage nurse.

Registration: Where we collect your health history, contact information and consent for treatment.

Diagnosis: Where an emergency care trained doctor or nurse practitioner will consult with you about your health issue. During this time, they may order tests such as blood tests, x-rays or other diagnostic imaging tests to determine what treatment is needed. The results could be available within one to two hours, while you are in the Emergency Department. However, some test results may require a longer wait.

Your doctor or nurse practitioner may also want to consult with other members of the health care team such as lab assistants, respiratory therapists or specialists to help confirm a diagnosis. The staff will do their best to make sure you are comfortable and informed about what tests are being completed and how long they may take.

Treatment: Where your doctor or nurse practitioner will start your course of treatment, recommend next steps and write any prescriptions.

Discharge or admission to the hospital: Based on your treatment plan, your doctor or nurse practitioner will admit you to an inpatient unit or send you home with written instructions to continue treatment.

• If your condition changes and you begin to feel worse, tell the triage nurse at once. Do not leave without telling the triage nurse. It is important that your illness or condition be assessed before you leave.
• Do not eat or drink anything until you ask the triage nurse. Some tests cannot be done if you have eaten.
• Since it may take some time for you to be treated, you are advised to leave small children at home in someone else’s care.
• While in the Emergency Department, please refrain from using camera, video or audio recording devices to respect patient, staff and visitor privacy.

It’s possible that you may have to stay in the Emergency Department for observation for a short time or be admitted to one of our inpatient units. Once the decision to admit has been made you will wait in our Emergency Department until an appropriate bed is available for your hospital stay. Your care will continue in the Emergency Department until your bed is ready.

You May Receive Care

To ensure you or your loved one is in the right space to receive the care needed, any of the following could take place during your stay:

• You may be transferred to any one of our hospitals.
• You may be transferred to another room, including a shared room.
• You may be admitted or transferred to a non-traditional space/location.
• You may be transferred multiple times throughout your stay.

We understand that transfers can be stressful. Please know that the decision to transfer you to a different location is based the specific type of care you require and bed availability. All our hospitals and non-traditional locations are fully staffed by physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals and are equipped to meet your care needs.

The Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) covers most essential health care services provided to Ontario residents with valid OHIP cards. Canadian residents with health cards from other Canadian provinces are also covered. If you are insured in another province, we will process an inter-provincial claim on your behalf.

Some health insurance plans will cover what OHIP does not. Read your insurance plan carefully to make sure you understand your coverage before you come to the hospital as we are not able to verify your private insurance coverage. Additional fees are charged for items such as:

• Semi-private or private inpatient room
• Ambulance
• Medical devices (including crutches and splints)
• Non-residents of Canada as well as Canadian residents without a provincial health card will be billed for all services and items received, typically through two bills – one from the hospital and one from the physician who provided care.

Questions? Please contact our Finance department at accountsreceivable@haltonhealthcare.com or call 905-338-464.

Fee schedule for insured patients

• Ambulance: $45-$240
• Appliances (crutches, casts, braces): Varies
• Patient transport: $220
• Semi-private room/day: Acute $250, Chronic $45
• Private room/day: Acute $290, Chronic $65

Fee schedule for uninsured patients

Inpatient fees/day

• Standard ward: $2800
• Newborn: $1600
• Intensive care: $4200
• Close observation (GH only): $3500
• Special care nursery: $2400

Outpatient fees/day

• Ambulance: $240
• Emergency Visit: $700 + $200 physician fee
• Outpatient clinic: $700 (additional $200 physician fee may apply)
• Dialysis clinic: $1100

Quotes for costs for surgery or use of specialized clinics (such as oncology or dialysis) can be obtained by contacting the Finance Department.

Additional charges for crutches, casts and other appliances as well as diagnostic imaging will apply.

Please note that uninsured patients may be required to place a refundable deposit with the hospital prior to service delivery.

All uninsured patients will also receive a separate bill for physician’s care.

If you are thinking about leaving before you are discharged by the doctor, please first speak with the nurse. Make sure you understand any follow up instructions that may be important for you to know.

Patients are responsible for arranging and paying for their own transportation when they are discharged from the hospital, which can be at any time of day. Staff will give you as much notice as possible regarding your discharge date and time so that you make appropriate arrangement for transportation. Any concerns regarding your transportation home should be discussed with your nurse or the Discharge Planner as early in your hospital stay as possible.

Arranging transportation:

• Identify a family member/friend ahead of time who can help transport you home or make arrangements for you.
• If personal transportation is not available, some options you can choose from are a taxi, wheelchair taxi, or private transportation services for patients requiring a stretcher. (Please note that these are private transportation agencies and Halton Healthcare accepts no liability with regards to their service.)
• Notify the unit clerk of your specific arrangements at least 24 hours (if possible) before discharge.

Taxis

Most taxi companies have wheelchair taxi service. However, it often has to be booked ahead and does not include assistance getting in and out of the vehicle. Patients may have to provide their own wheelchair.

Oakville:

• Halton Taxi: 905-844-4300
• Oakville United: 905-338-0044
• Mobility Transportation*: 905-617-3737

Milton:

• Milton Taxi: 905-636-0337
• Black Cab: 905-636-0555
• A1-R: 905-875-1900
• A-Milton: 905-875-2994
• Mobility Transportation*: 905-617-3737

Georgetown:

• E-Z Taxi: 905-873-9900

Stretcher or Wheelchair

The following all offer hospital to home, bed to bed service 24/7.

• Voyageur Medical Transport: 1-855-263-7163
• Total Care Transport: 905-878-1170
• Spectrum Patient Services*†: 1-866-527-9191

^*Prefers 24 hours notice
^†Prefers credit card payment

Surcharges

• Surcharges may be applied to stretcher transport services based on conditions such as patient weight greater than 250 lbs, oxygen use, or infectious disease precautions. You should confirm any surcharges with the transportation service prior to booking.
• Be sure to confirm the preferred payment method (i.e. credit card, cash, etc.) when you make the booking.
• Please be aware that if the hospital books stretcher transportation, you will be charged a flat rate of $220.