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Computer problems in Montérégie-Ouest’s Hospital emergency rooms

le vendredi 15 avril 2022
Modifié à 15 h 51 min le 15 avril 2022
Par Jules Gauthier

jgauthier@gravitemedia.com

The Anna-Laberge hospital. (Photo:Archives)

Since the weekend, Montérégie-Ouest hospitals’ emergency rooms have been dealing with a computer issue that is causing bottlenecking when it comes to orienting patients to the various resources.

Translation Amanda Bennett

The emergency rooms at Anna-Laberge in Châteauguay, du Suroît in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield and Barrie Memorial in Ormstown are those affected by this computer issue indicated Catherine Brousseau, Communications Officer of the Centre Intégré de Santé et de Services Sociaux de la Montérégie-Ouest (CISSSMO).

“Generally speaking, when someone who does not require emergency room care presents themselves at the emergency department, the computer program allows us to quickly reorient them to a CLSC or another doctor, for example,” she explained.

Services Slowed

Ms. Brousseau indicated that for a few days that platform for reorienting patients to other possible avenues for consultation has been dealing with technical delays. Teams are consequently required to reorient people using methods such as the telephone, which is causing delays.

“Managers came to offer direct support to emergency teams who are making all the phone calls,” she assured. “When a platform that is usually really fast becomes slow, it definitely creates some obstacles for us.”

Emergency Rooms Saturated

Fixing the reorientation system issue will not, however, ease the saturation problem in the hospitals’ emergency rooms. As of April 13, the Anna-Laberge hospital was at 175% of its capacity, the Suroît hospital was at 131% and Barrie Memorial was at 100% of its capacity.