ED wait-time dashboard goes live

The ED wait-time dashboard shows the anticipated time non-emergency and less urgent patients may expect to wait between being assessed by the triage nurse and being treated by a doctor. The information is updated regularly and may change based on presentations.

“Our ED is one of the busiest in the country, and on average we are seeing from 260 to 300-plus patients every day,” said Dr Nicola Walsham, Interim Director of the RMH ED.

“This dashboard will be available 24/7 and will give those patients who need our care an indication of the level of demand we are experiencing in our ED so they have an idea of what to expect before they arrive and while they wait.”

When patients arrive at the RMH ED, they are assessed by a triage nurse who categorises their condition on a scale from life-threatening to non-urgent. The sickest and most seriously injured patients are always treated first, regardless of how they arrive at the hospital and the order of their arrival.

Dr Walsham said no matter how busy the ED is, patients should never avoid or delay seeking care when they need it. “We are always here when you need us. If you or another person needs urgent, life-saving medical care, call Triple Zero and ask for an ambulance or head to your local ED immediately,” she said.

“For some people, the ED may not be the best or fastest option. If you need urgent care, but your illness or injury is not life-threatening, there are other health services that can support you to get the care you need, including the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department and local urgent care clinics. There are also online and telephone services such as Nurse-On-Call.”

The project team also used feedback and discussions with our patients and consumers about what information they felt was most useful to be included for the dashboard.

The dashboard will also soon be available for patients in the waiting room.