EMERGENCY
Our 24/7 emergency department treats an average of 11,000 patients per year whether it be a severe emergency or a less urgent case. Four fulltime, five part time RN’s, and on site physicians are fully trained to deal with any situation. The triage system screens clients to ensure that the sickest patients are taken care of first by assessing conditions as quickly as possible. Patients that require continued critical care will be transferred to larger centers such as Sudbury or Sault St. Marie to receive the treatment they need.
We work regularly with other departments including the laboratory, pharmacy, medical imaging, and admitting as patient information regarding test results or treatment can flow freely between units without miscommunication.
At the Blind River site, the Geriatric Emergency Management Nurse might ask for your consent to do an assessment. If you agree, the GEM nurse may also speak with your family/caregivers to help with the assessment. During the assessment, the GEM nurse will ask about your physical and mental health, and your ability to manage at home. We may also ask other team members to assist, including social workers, physiotherapists, or mental health nurses.
Front doors at the NSHN Blind River site are locked after 10:00 pm although Emergency services are still available through the Emergency night entrance which is open from 10:00 pm until 7:00 am. This entrance can only be gained by communicating with the charge nurse through the intercom system.
When visiting emergency we ask that you present the following items to admitting upon your arrival:
Ontario Health Card
Details of any additional health coverage or insurance policies
Power of Attorney for Personal Care Information
Emergency contact numbers
Medication you are currently taking
The North East Virtual Care Clinic is a Nurse Practitioner-led virtual care clinic that works with local health care providers to ensure patients can access more timely care. Serving patients within Ontario Health North East region who are experiencing an urgent medical condition.
To book an appointment with a Nurse Practitioner through the North East Virtual Care Clinic, call 1-888-684-1999 or visit www.nevirtualcare.ca. The Clinic is open daily, 1:00 pm – 9:00 pm, to support patients who require timely medical care for urgent medical concerns that are not life or limb-threatening. There is no cost for accessing this service.
If you have an emergency, please call 9-1-1 or proceed to the closest Emergency Department. Do not delay care. If you are unsure whether you have an emergency, seek health-related advice from a Registered Nurse by calling Health811 (formerly Telehealth Ontario) 24/7. Call 811 or visit https://bit.ly/3NvM2Dg.”
Essential Caregivers
An Essential Care Giver is not a casual visitor, but rather someone who is chosen by the patient or their Substitute Decision Maker. The Essential Caregiver comes to the hospital to assist with the daily changing care of the resident. The Essential Caregiver may be allowed access to the hospital in periods of heightened restriction, when casual visitors may be prohibited.