Health & Wellbeing
Toronto Hospitals Partner to Reduce ER Wait Times
Several leading Toronto hospitals have launched a joint initiative to streamline emergency care and reduce patient wait times across the city.
By Canopy Current Editorial Team
2025-06-02
Toronto’s leading hospitals have formed a groundbreaking partnership aimed at addressing one of the city’s most pressing healthcare challenges: lengthy emergency room wait times. The collaborative initiative involves data sharing, resource pooling, and process optimization to deliver faster, more efficient care.
Participating hospitals include Toronto General, St. Michael’s, Sunnybrook, and Mount Sinai, each bringing unique expertise to the partnership. Together, they are developing unified triage protocols and streamlined patient intake procedures to improve patient flow across emergency departments.
One key element of the partnership is the implementation of a shared digital dashboard that tracks real-time capacity at each hospital. This system allows emergency medical services to direct incoming patients to facilities with the shortest wait times and most available resources.
The initiative also expands access to virtual care options for non-critical cases. Patients with minor ailments can consult with healthcare professionals online, reducing unnecessary ER visits while ensuring they receive timely medical advice and appropriate treatment plans.
Staff training programs have been launched to standardize triage assessments and promote consistent decision-making across institutions. By harmonizing these practices, hospitals aim to reduce bottlenecks and ensure patients are prioritized based on medical urgency rather than arrival time alone.
The collaboration extends beyond emergency rooms, incorporating post-discharge care coordination. Hospitals are partnering with community health organizations to ensure patients receive follow-up support, minimizing repeat ER visits and improving long-term health outcomes.
Preliminary results from pilot programs have shown promising reductions in average wait times, with some hospitals reporting decreases of up to 20%. Patient satisfaction scores have also improved as individuals experience faster assessments and shorter overall stays in emergency departments.
Toronto health officials view the partnership as a model for broader healthcare system reform. By breaking down institutional silos and fostering collaboration, the city’s hospitals hope to set a precedent for innovative, patient-centered solutions to complex healthcare challenges.