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Implications of the SARS outbreak for Canadian emergency departments

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 May 2015

Howard Ovens ,
Jim Thompson ,
Marion Lyver ,
Michael J. Murray ,
Grant Innes  and
on behalf of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians (CAEP)
Howard Ovens*
Affiliation:
Schwartz–Reisman Emergency Centre, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ont.; and Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.
Jim Thompson
Affiliation:
Emergency Department, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Charlottetown, PEI; and Department of Emergency Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS.
Marion Lyver
Affiliation:
Division of Emergency Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.
Michael J. Murray
Affiliation:
Ontario SARS Scientific Advisory Committee
Grant Innes
Affiliation:
Emergency Medicine, Providence Health Care and St. Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC; and departments of Emergency Medicine and Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC
*
Director, Division of Emergency Services, Mount Sinai Hospital, Rm. 206, 600 University Ave., Toronto ON M5G 1X5; howard.ovens@utoronto.ca

Summary of recommendations in order of priority

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1. Develop national standards for emergency department design and operations.

2. Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation should develop ED specific accreditation standards to insure compliance with Recommendation 1.

3. Regional resources to be developed to implement infection control aspects of ED design and operations.

4. Implementation of a national strategy for ED information systems to ensure access to real-time data.

5. Eliminate ED overcrowding by ensuring adequate long-term and acute-care resources and enforcing strict adherence to occupancy limits.

6. Develop relationships and enhance communication between public health and the emergency community.

7. Call a National Forum on the shortage of human resources in emergency medicine and nursing and related issues.

8. Develop national and regional strategies for communication of important notices and information, and departmental tools for dissemination and education such as nurse clinicians.

9. Rapid triage assessment of arriving patients by appropriately trained nurses at all times should be a national standard.

Keywords

severe acute respiratory syndromeSARShealth policyemergency departmentemergency servicesinfectious diseases
Type
CAEP Position Statement • Déclaration de Position de l’ACMU
Information
Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine , Volume 5 , Issue 5 , September 2003 , pp. 343 - 347
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians 2003

References

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