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how the flu season affects emergency rooms in canada
the emergency room crisis that exists in canada is only compounded during flu season, making it even harder to get adequate care.
6 minute read
long wait times that currently exist in emergency rooms are exacerbated by higher patient volume during flu season.
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each year, flu season rolls around, and the inevitable happens: thousands of people contract the virus and become ill. for many, it’s a few days out of commission, and then they’re back to their regular activities. however, for up to 15,000 people, the flu requires hospitalization.
while there aren’t specific stats on how many people go to the hospital with flu-like symptoms that don’t require emergency care, roughly one in seven hospital visits in canada are for conditions that could be treated in primary care, walk-in clinics, or at home. other research also suggests that more people are seeking care in emergency rooms for less severe conditions, worsening the problem.
medical professionals working in emergency departments do their best to provide adequate care to everyone who walks through those doors. still, during flu season, their efforts are severely hindered by overcrowding, both from people who do require hospitalization and from those who may not.
flu season also poses several other issues in the emergency department, all of which affect patient care and a medical professional’s ability to provide adequate intervention.
hospital overcrowding and patient volume surges during flu season
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there’s only so much care to go around, and canadian hospitals are already at capacity when it comes to providing people with what they need in a timely manner. these health departments often lack enough resources, even outside of flu season.
according to data published by the fraser institute, the country ranks 26th out of 27 countries when it comes to the number of acute-care beds, with only two available per thousand people. it’s also noted that there are fewer physicians and diagnostic imaging scanners available when compared to other countries with universal healthcare.
but how does this translate into flu season? well, when more people need hospital care but the same number of doctors and beds are available, it increases patient volume in an already-strapped healthcare system. the result? more people end up waiting in an already long line, making it even more challenging for everybody to get the care they need.
this overcrowding issue has even affected ambulatory care, with studies showing that during the height of flu season, ambulances are sometimes diverted away from the hospital they’re meant to go to because it is too full to provide the needed care.
patients waiting for care in the hospital have even died during flu season, showing that even though rare, tragedy can occur when hospitals are overcrowded and patient volume is at an all-time high when the flu rolls around.
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wait times at emergency departments during flu season
the wait times in canada to see an emergency physician will vary greatly, depending on the severity of the person’s health complaint, how many people are waiting and how many beds are available. as mentioned above, the low number of beds is an issue in itself that leads to longer wait times, but it’s even more complex during flu season.
according to the canadian medical association (cma), wait times in the emergency department on a good day can reach 22 hours, and only 23 per cent of patients are admitted within eight hours of arrival. the association also notes in the article that doctors were taking to social media to highlight how dire the situation is, with one saying that his emergency department was “operating at 360 per cent capacity.”
add the extra thousands of patients that require care during flu season, and those numbers can surge. an article published on ctv news notes that one emergency room saw 100 more patients per day during flu season than on a regular day—and this is just from one hospital.
emergency physician burnout and diagnostic difficulties
the flu presents similarly to other respiratory illnesses, so when someone goes to the emergency room with a cough, fever and malaise, it’s hard to tell if they’re dealing with influenza, a cold, respiratory syncytial virus or covid-19.
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with a lack of diagnostic capabilities that would make it easier to help people with the flu in emergency rooms in a timely manner, patient management during this busy season is a real challenge.
while research shows that rapid testing for influenza could improve triage of people with the flu, public health ontario notes that it’s not typically done because it can delay treatment in more severe cases, which can lead to poorer outcomes.
burnout is a very real and detrimental experience for canada’s physicians, especially in emergency departments. research has found that 59 per cent of medical professionals experienced emotional exhaustion due to their job, with 64 per cent facing a high level of depersonalization, which is a feeling of being disconnected from oneself.
these results are not exclusive to flu season, either, showcasing that things only get worse when they’re tasked with providing care for even more people.
because of burnout among emergency physicians, the cma reports that doctors are no longer putting in as many hours as possible to pick up the slack, with some even choosing to leave the profession entirely for something less stressful.
how to stay safe and avoid emergency rooms this flu season
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to lower your risk of having to be the one waiting in an overcrowded hospital to be seen by a burnt-out physician doing their very best to provide the same level of care to everyone, there are things you can do to avoid the flu. for example, the flu shot is a great way to avoid severe illness during flu season. it’s generally recommended for people over the age of six months, and can be easily accessed through your primary care provider, a pharmacist or a local public health unit.
other than that, protecting yourself from catching the virus by washing your hands for at least 20 seconds after touching objects such as door handles, or using hand sanitizer that is 60 per cent alcohol if washing your hands isn’t an option.
keep your hands off your face to eliminate any chance of viral particles from getting into your body after you’ve touched something, and make sure any objects that are frequently touched by others are cleaned and disinfected as much as possible.
if you do become sick, it can also be helpful to know when it’s safe to stay home and ride it out and when it may be time to seek out care. the signs that you may need medical attention for a flu infection include:
- a fever of 38.5℃ for longer than two days
- your sputum or mucus is coloured, or you have long-lasting coughing spells
- your symptoms do not improve with rest and fluids
- you fall into a high-risk group, such as older adults, those with chronic diseases or weakened immune systems, and very young children
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these signs do not necessarily indicate that you need to seek out emergency care, though. a walk-in clinic, an in-person or virtual appointment with your family physician if you have one, or a call to your pharmacist may be best in these instances.
signs that emergency care is needed include:
- difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- blue lips or face
- seizures
- ongoing dizziness, confusion or disorientation
- severe chest or muscle pain
- severe weakness
emergency rooms in canada are currently facing a crisis and flu season will only make it worse, so it’s important to remember best practices to avoid the flu, and if you do happen to contract the virus, take care of yourself in the best way possible.
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