This article ranks hospitals by emergency department wait times in Metro Vancouver. You can also read rankings for all of British Columbia.
Good Caring Canada has compared emergency department wait times in Metro Vancouver. This article also provides advice for how you can protect yourself in the waiting room, prepare for long wait times, and find alternative care.
Planning for peak times and seasonality
Planning your visit to the emergency department can significantly impact wait times, particularly if the medical issue is not urgent.
Mondays tend to be the busiest day of the week in hospital emergency departments. The accumulation of non-emergency cases over the weekend often result in a surge of patient volume on the first work day of the week.
If your condition allows for flexibility in seeking care, consider the day of the week for your visit. Avoid Mondays and weekends.
The time of day is unlikely to significantly reduce wait times, as hospitals align staff availability with patient volumes.
During standard business hours, from morning to early evening, full staffing is in place. However, higher patient volumes during these times can create bottlenecks. Even with more medical personnel, increased demand can still lead to longer waits as emergency departments handle the influx of patients.
Late-night and early-morning hours may seem ideal due to fewer patients. However, reduced staffing during these hours often negates the benefit of a smaller patient load. Patients may still face long waits due to limited healthcare providers.
Demand seasonality can affect wait times in emergency departments across Canada, particularly among younger patients. Young children, aged 0 to 5, see a rise in emergency visits during autumn, with a notable decline in the summer months. Children, aged 5 to 19, experience a peak in spring and a similar decrease in the summer.
Adults, aged 20 to 64, generally show consistent demand for emergency care throughout the year. Seniors over 65 also follow a steady pattern, with minimal seasonal fluctuations.
Protecting yourself and family
When visiting the emergency department, it is important to be aware that crowded waiting areas can increase the risk of exposure to illness. Hospitals are often filled with patients with various contagious conditions. While waiting for emergency care, many patients may unknowingly contract illnesses.
Protecting yourself requires proactive measures:
- 😷 Wear a mask. One of the simplest and most effective ways to protect yourself from airborne illnesses is to wear a mask. Masks are particularly important during flu season.
- 🧴 Practice hand hygiene. Contact with shared surfaces, such as chairs, doorknobs, and check-in kiosks, can expose you to pathogens. Regularly wash your hands with soap and water. Use a hand sanitizer.
- 📱 Protect belongings. Germs can transfer to your belongings. Keep personal items, such as phones and bags, away from shared surfaces. If you must place personal items on a public surface, be sure to clean them.
- 💪🏼 Boost your immune system. Appropriate vitamin and mineral supplements can provide an extra layer of protection. Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and zinc can boost immune function to help your body fight infections.
Preparing for extended wait times
Long wait times are often unavoidable, especially during busy periods or when non-urgent conditions are being treated. Preparing for an extended stay can make the experience more comfortable and help reduce stress.
- 🧣 Bring comfort aids. Prolonged sitting can bring uncomfortable or painful, especially for the older adults. Bring a neck pillow, lumbar cushion and a blanket.
- 🎧 Wear noise-cancelling headphones. Hospitals can be noisy environments, which can increase stress. Use noise-cancelling headphones to block out the surrounding commotion.
- 🍪 Pack healthy snacks. Hospitals may have limited food options. Bring snacks to sustain energy levels. Consider nuts, fruit, whole-grain crackers, or granola bars. Check with the medical staff if fasting is required before treatment.
- 🧦 Dress comfortably. Hospitals can have variable temperatures. Dress in layers. Wear loose, comfortable clothing.
- 🎮 Bring personal entertainment. Entertainment can reduce stress and make the wait feel shorter. Consider a book, tablet for web browsing, videos, music, and podcasts.
Hospitals with shortest emergency wait times
Below are five top hospitals in Metro Vancouver which have the shortest emergency department wait times:
- 🥇 Providence Health Care has the shortest maximum emergency wait time at 2.1 hours in Metro Vancouver. Providence Health Care has two hospitals with emergency departments (St. Paul’s Hospital and Mount Saint Joseph Hospital)
- 🥈 Lions Gate Hospital, with a maximum wait time of 2.8 hours, ranks second for the shortest emergency wait time in Metro Vancouver
- 🥉 Delta Hospital, with a maximum wait time of 3.1 hours, ranks third for the shortest emergency wait time in Metro Vancouver
- Royal Columbian Hospital, with a maximum wait time of 3.3 hours, ranks fourth for the shortest emergency wait time in Metro Vancouver
- Ridge Meadows Hospital, with a maximum wait time of 3.6 hours, ranks fifth for the shortest emergency wait time in Metro Vancouver
Hospitals with longest emergency wait times
Below are five top hospitals in Metro Vancouver which have the longest emergency department wait times:
- 🐌 BC Children’s and Women’s Hospital has the longest maximum emergency wait time at 7 hours in Metro Vancouver
- 🐢 Langley Memorial Hospital, with a maximum wait time of 6.9 hours, ranks second for the longest emergency wait time in Metro Vancouver
- 🦥 Surrey Memorial Hospital, with a maximum wait time of 6 hours, ranks third for the longest emergency wait time in Metro Vancouver
- Peace Arch Hospital, with a maximum wait time of 4.3 hours, ranks fourth for the longest emergency wait time in Metro Vancouver
- Vancouver General Hospital and UBC Hospital, with a maximum wait time of 4.2 hours, ranks fifth for the longest emergency wait time in Metro Vancouver
Options for non-urgent conditions
If medical conditions are not urgent, patients can consider alternative options to hospital emergency departments:
- Family doctors serve as the primary point of contact for managing ongoing or non-urgent medical concerns. They provide comprehensive and personalized care, often maintaining detailed records of a patient’s medical history, which facilitates continuity of care and long-term management of health conditions.
- Walk-in clinics offer convenient medical services for minor injuries or illnesses without the requirement of an appointment.
- Urgent care centres provide medical attention for non-life-threatening conditions, such as minor fractures or severe flu symptoms. These centres typically offer faster service compared to emergency departments.
- Nurse practitioner-led clinics can provide primary care services for non-emergency health needs. These clinics are particularly valuable if family doctors are not available in the area.
Paying for emergency care
In British Columbia, the cost of hospital emergency services varies based upon an individual’s residency status:
- 🍁 Canadian citizens and permanent residents, living in British Columbia, are generally covered under the Medical Services Plan (MSP). The MSP ensures that there are no direct fees for essential emergency services, although there may be charges for specific auxiliary services or non-standard items.
- 🌏 Non-Canadian tourists do not qualify for MSP coverage and are responsible for the full cost of emergency services. These costs can be substantial. Tourists are strongly advised to have adequate travel insurance that covers medical expenses to avoid facing steep out-of-pocket costs for emergency care.
- 🎓 Non-Canadian international students may have different coverage depending on their situation. Students are typically required to enroll in the MSP, or they might have coverage through private insurance.
- 🛠️ Non-Canadian temporary workers are eligible to apply for MSP coverage, which includes hospital emergency services. However, like international students, there may be a waiting period before MSP coverage becomes effective. During this period, temporary workers should either use private insurance or pay out-of-pocket.
- 🕊️ Refugees are entitled to healthcare coverage, including emergency hospital services, under certain programs. Refugees may be eligible for the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP), which provides coverage for essential and emergency health services similar to MSP benefits.
Learn wait times for common medical procedures in British Columbia: