As part of a direct-to-triage policy, the province's paramedics can now leave low-risk patients with staff in ERs and get back on the road more quickly. Instead of waiting, they'll take low-risk patients to ER waiting rooms to be assessed by staff in a direct-to-triage system. Low-risk patients are defined as anyone who has normal vital signs and can sit, stand or move independently without risk of falling. Paramedics will continue to wait with high-risk patients, such as those with suspected stroke, chest pain, life-threatening injuries and children under 16. The union representing N.S. paramedics estimates a quarter or more of patients taken by ambulance to hospital fall into the low-risk category. The average hospital off-load time in N.S. is 82 minutes.
Related:
Nova Scotia Health, EHS partnership helps keep rural emergency departments open - Nova Scotia Health
N.S. implements direct to triage policy to get ambulances back on the road faster
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June 02, 2022