2024-02-25 17:16:07
Quebec’s emergency rooms are still overflowing as spring break approaches. Several regions have been in the red for more than ten days, while the average occupancy rate of stretchers still exceeds the 100% mark in the province.
It is clear that the emergency rooms of several hospitals in Quebec are still under pressure, although the figures vary from one region to another. For example, the occupancy rate is close to 155% in the Laurentians and it even reaches 165% in Laval.
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Note, however, that certain regions remain in the green, such as: Abitibi-Témiscamingue (78%), Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec (76%), Bas-Saint-Laurent (63%), Gaspésie –Îles-de-la-Madeleine (55%) and Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean (54%).
The crisis unit, really effective?
This situation is reminiscent of last holiday season, so critical that the Legault government decided to set up a crisis unit, as it did in 2022.
This measure was intended to be temporary, pending the improvement of the First Line Access Center (GAP) in the hope that patients without a doctor would no longer have the reflex to go directly to the emergency room for common health problems. .
The crisis unit was initially scheduled until March 1, 2024, but Francis Martel, spokesperson for the public affairs and strategies department of the Ministry of Health and Social Services, assured this morning that there would be no had no end date.
In a response received by email, the ministry indicates that the crisis unit continues to meet every week. It allows you to take stock of the situation in emergencies, identify problematic situations and blockers and work on concrete solutions to be put in place. The team continues and will continue to follow up to ensure that the identified solutions are implemented.
When the crisis unit was set up in 2022, Minister Dubé faced criticism from the opposition. Québec solidaire deputies accused Minister Dubé of being disconnected from the network.
Josiane Arsenault, president of the Association of Emergency Nurses of Quebec, in an interview at First the info, Sunday morning, nevertheless claims to have noticed a downward trend in the time it takes to treat patients in the emergency room. We see that the waiting time in hospitals remains lower than it already was, maintains the president. However, we still seek to offer alternatives to visiting the emergency room when possible.
Resumption of the operating program
Josiane Arsenault explains that the resumption of the operating program since the holiday period is particularly to be pointed out.
Establishments try to keep a balance so as not to delay surgeries, so there is by default congestion on stretchers in the emergency room.
The resurgence of respiratory viruses remains significant. For example, in 2023, twice as many patients presented with respiratory viruses to the emergency room as in 2022. However, the situation did not improve in 2024, quite the contrary.
During the holiday season, there was a certain lull, but respiratory viruses are still present and should be considered when visiting the emergency room, says Ms. Arsenault.
Professional burnout, the big culprit?
According to a Canadian study first published in the journal Annals of Emergency Medecineburnout continues to increase among emergency physicians, and problems related to the health system are believed to be the cause.
The researchers found that 59% of respondents felt high emotional exhaustion, which represents an increase of 18 points compared to the 2020 results.
The aging of the population, the greater complexity of emergency room problems and the lack of resources are all factors that contribute to physician burnout, according to study co-author Patrick Archambault, who was interviewed by the Canadian Press.
It does not surprise me to see that distress increases when we see on the ground to what extent resources are less available than before, points out Mr. Archambault, who is also an emergency doctor-intensivist at the Hôtel-Dieu in Lévis. .
The pandemic has made it possible to concentrate services at different critical points in the health system, which has temporarily reduced emergency room traffic.
The return to normal has meant that pre-pandemic problems have returned.
Worse, several health professionals have deserted the profession, by retiring or changing careers, underlines Mr. Archambault. Some teams are also still weakened following the pandemic.
Burnout among emergency physicians may be even more serious than the survey shows, since many doctors did not respond to the survey. Patrick Archambault is aware that governments are working with hospitals and professional associations to find solutions, but given the shortage of staff, this must accelerate, he says.
With information from Raphaëlle Drouin and The Canadian Press
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