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Visiting the Emergency Department

When to visit the emergency department

If you feel your situation requires urgent care or is life threatening, go to your local emergency department. You can also call 9-1-1.
If you have a health concern that you feel requires same-day care, but do not believe your situation requires urgent care or is life threatening, take the following steps:
1. Call your family doctor or nurse practitioner. Same-day appointments may be available.
2. If your family doctor or nurse practitioner is not available, visit a local walk-in clinic if available
3. If you do not have a family doctor or nurse practitioner, can not access a walk-in clinic, or are unable to get an appointment with your regular primary care provider that day, visit an Urgent and Primary Care Centre if one is available in your community
4. Curious about other options? View our Use your emergency department wisely poster.

For trusted health advice, call 8-1-1. Healthlink BC is available 24/7
If you need an urgent medication refills, contact your pharmacist
To access help lines, visit the appropriate section on our Contact Information page:

Process after you arrive at the emergency department

No two emergency department visits are the same. We care for the sickest the quickest, so you may wait longer than someone else, and you may have to wait at any point during your visit. Many children and adults may not need a test. Whatever your needs, we’re here to help.

Check out the steps listed below for an idea of what your visit to the emergency department will look like.

View our emergency visit infographic

Your needs will be assessed by a nurse

A nurse will see you to assess:

Your needs
How urgently you need care

You will begin the admitting/registration process

A clerk will start your chart. They will ask for your:

Personal Health card
Date of birth, address, phone number, etc.

You will be assessed again

A nurse or doctor will talk to you about your concern
You and your care team will make decisions about care together

You will see a doctor

You may need tests and to begin treatment
You may be taken to a different area for tests

You will receive treatment

Treatment may include:

Lab work
X-rays
Other tests

You will be reassessed

Your care continues:

A nurse will continue to monitor you and treat you
Your doctor will review your test results and begin a treatment plan or order other tests

A decision will be made on the next steps

We will discuss how to manage your condition including follow up with your family doctor
You may be admitted to hospital, transferred to another site for treatment or sent home

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