Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital is introducing a dedicated off-load nurse to help improve patient care and get ambulance crews back into the community sooner.
The hospital has received one-time funding for a two-year initiative that will put a registered practical nurse in the dedicated off-load role.
April Mullen, Chief Nursing Executive and Vice President of Clinical Services, says a previous trial showed the potential impact of the approach.
The new program will have two dedicated ambulance off-load spaces, where patients can receive care from the off-load nurse while they wait for a regular emergency department space.
TDMH says patients may spend less time on an ambulance stretcher, have a nurse specifically assigned to their care and receive earlier nursing assessments and ongoing monitoring.
The new role is expected to be in place by early October.
During the two-year funding period, the hospital will track ambulance off-load times, the number of ambulances waiting in the emergency department and patient experience.
The information gathered will help TDMH assess the impact of the initiative and inform future planning once the two-year funding period ends.
