Emergency rooms in Côte-Nord hospitals under pressure

The overcrowding of emergency rooms on the North Shore is on the rise again after experiencing a slight drop during the holiday season. In Baie-Comeau and Sept-Îles, the occupancy rates of stretchers rose to 170% and 190% respectively during the day on Monday.

Part of the crowds in the region’s emergency rooms can be explained by the circulation of respiratory viruses.

It’s a similar situation that comes up every year, particularly after holiday gatherings.indicates by email the communications advisor of the CISSS from the North Shore, Pascal Paradis.

The consultation rate is, however, lower than on the same date last year.

The proportion of positive tests for influenza increased from 0 to 32% in the last week. It’s very highcomments the director of public health of CISSS from the North Shore, Dr. Richard Fachehoun.

The syncytial virus is also very widespread. Data regarding COVID-19 is not yet available.

Dr. Richard Fachehoun advises people who have symptoms to take measures to limit the spread of viruses, and vulnerable people to get vaccinated.

However, emergency rooms on the North Shore are not the only ones to be overflowing: the provincial average stood at 135% at 3 p.m. Monday, according to data from the Health Index directory.

A long-term crisis

For the president and CEO of the Council for the Protection of the Sick, Paul Brunet, the year 2025 will perhaps represent the beginning of a solution for this emergency crisis which has existed every year for more than 20 years.

Will Santé Québec allow for greater efficiency?he asks himself. There is work to be done in the health network, but I still have confidence […]. I don’t feel like it will be quick, but I would like to see some light at the end of the tunnel.

Paul Brunet shares some ideas that could help reduce the number of visitors to the province’s emergency rooms, since many patients go there for lack of a more appropriate place to receive care.

Telemedicine will benefit from being developed so that we have less and less to travel when we are not afflicted with an illness or ailment which must be seen by nursing staff at the hospital.he suggests.

Home care is another area he would like to see developed.

Regional doctors have proven that when we send professionals to visit elderly people in their homes, we save 25 to 50% of hospitalizations. This means that many beds will not be occupied by these people, because they will have been taken care of in advance, before they become too ill.

Very busy beds

Pascal Paradis, from CISSS of the North Shore, recalls that the occupancy rate refers to the number of people on the stretchers, and that there are 10 stretchers in Baie-Comeau as in Sept-Îles.

In these two cities, users waiting for a place in hospitalization who do not require acute care nevertheless occupy emergency beds.

The Baie-Comeau Seniors and Alternative Home has been gradually welcoming residents since November, which has a positive impact on the occupancy of Baie-Comeau emergency stretchersindicates Mr. Paradis.

In addition, the Sept-Îles Hospital modernization project will add four stretchers, but the file is awaiting approval by the Council of Ministers. At this time, it is therefore not possible to specify when the stretchers will be added.he adds.