Rogers tv Community News
Sault Area Hospital Launches Virtual Home Waiting Room for Non-Urgent Patients
Sault Area Hospital has launched a new pilot project designed to ease congestion in the Emergency Department by allowing some non-urgent patients to wait at home instead of in the ER.
The Virtual Home Waiting Room gives eligible patients the option to register online and receive live text message updates about their place in line. Conditions like minor cuts, sore throats, earaches, rashes, sprains, and prescription renewals may qualify.
Through the program, up to 10 patients a day can monitor their wait from the comfort of home, arriving at the hospital only when it’s their turn for triage and registration. The goal is to reduce overcrowding, improve infection control, and make the patient experience safer and more convenient.
Hospital leaders also see the VHWR as a step toward broader healthcare integration, potentially expanding into community-based care in the future.
Listen in as we talk to Dr. Stephen Smith-VP of Medical Affairs about the program and how it works.
