A change to how the emergency department at Fishermen’s Memorial Hospital is underway.
The ER Department are implementing a new patient overcapacity protocol next week to better manage patient overcrowding or patients coming in near closing time.
Health Services Director Robert Zwicker says their goal is to safely manage patient volumes and treat those in need the most first while giving others options for health care.
The new protocol will see all patients arriving after capacity has been reached be triaged, and those with less urgent health issues will be given other options such making arrangements for a primary care visit and visiting another open ER among others.
The NSHA says this will allow overworked doctors and nurses to work more efficiently within their shifts, and not leave them working well past the 10:30 closing time.
The new protocol will come into effect Dec. 7th. A full version of the press release can be found here.
