Emergency rooms in the Eastern Townships are very busy at the moment, which can lead to long waiting times for users whose situation is considered less urgent or non-urgent (P4 and P5).
The CIUSSS de l’Estrie-CHUS website lists the five levels used to determine which patients are considered highest priority in the emergency room:
Level 1 (P1) Resuscitation
A person with a life-threatening condition requiring immediate resuscitation.
Examples could be major trauma, a person in shock or coma, etc.
Level 2 (P2) Very Urgent
A person with a serious health problem requiring prompt attention.
Examples could be severe trauma, severe abdominal or chest pain, difficulty breathing (heart attack), etc.
Level 3 (P3) Urgent
A person with a significant health problem that may be unstable but is not life threatening.
Examples: person with a broken bone, person with signs of infection, etc.
Level 4 (P4) Less urgent
A person with a health problem that does not require immediate attention.
Examples: person with acute abdominal pain, chest pain, minor allergic reaction, etc.
Level 5 (P5) Non-urgent
A person with a minor health problem who should go to a medical clinic or CLSC instead.
Examples: person with signs of urinary tract infection, gastroenteritis, or a good cold, etc.
