Chatham-Kent residents can now go online to check estimated wait times for accessing emergency care.
The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance has launched an online Emergency Department Wait Time Clock on its website to provide patients and families with a clear expectation of current wait conditions before and during their visit to the Chatham and Wallaceburg sites.
The wait time clock utilizes real-time data from the hospital’s internal system, with the digital display providing the estimated wait time at both CKHA emergency departments, along with the number of patients waiting and the number of patients being treated.
With the launch, CKHA has joined several other Ontario hospitals in adopting digital wait time reporting.
“Empowering our community with clear, accessible information is key to building trust,” said CKHA Chief Nursing Executive Natalie Clark in a news release. “Launching this tool reflects our ongoing commitment to transparency and helping patients and families feel better informed when seeking emergency care.”
Hospital officials said the online system, which is updated every 30 to 60 minutes, serves as a general guide rather than an exact, guaranteed measurement. Both emergency departments will continue to prioritize patients using standardized triage protocols, with high-severity conditions always being seen immediately, regardless of the overall estimated wait time.
To view the Emergency Department Wait Time Clock, click here.