The Alberta government has announced plans to reintroduce “triage liaison physicians” in select emergency rooms, a move that some doctors believe will help in better prioritizing care for sick patients. Dr. Brian Wirzba, the president of the Alberta Medical Association, expressed approval of the decision, noting that while the role is essential, it does not address the underlying issues.
During a news conference, Hospital and Surgical Health Services Minister Matt Jones unveiled the initiative following the recent death of a man in an Edmonton hospital’s emergency department. The man had reportedly waited nearly eight hours for medical attention. In response to this incident, Jones requested a fatality inquiry into the man’s death.
Starting February 1, Acute Care Alberta will pilot the triage liaison physician (TLP) positions in five urban emergency rooms across the province. These positions will initially be filled by existing Alberta Health Services (AHS) physicians, with recruitment for new physicians set to commence shortly.
While a similar pilot program was attempted by Capital Health in 2007, it was not sustained due to a lack of permanent funding. The new TLP trial will be the first provincewide implementation. Studies in North America over the past two decades have shown mixed results regarding the impact of TLPs on patient wait times and ER overcrowding.
Dr. Aaron Low, the chief medical officer of Acute Care Alberta, described the TLP role as involving physicians working alongside triage nurses to provide immediate care in waiting rooms, including ordering necessary tests. The aim is to prioritize patients based on their medical needs to ensure timely treatment.
Despite the positive reception of the TLP initiative, some physicians, like Dr. Scott MacLean, believe that additional resources and staff are needed to effectively implement the program. Long-term solutions, such as diverting non-urgent cases from emergency rooms and improving disease prevention efforts, are also seen as crucial steps to alleviating the strain on the healthcare system.
Critics, including NDP health services critic Sarah Hoffman, have called for increased hospital capacity to address the growing population’s healthcare needs. They argue that more hospital space, including new facilities and patient towers, is essential to meet the demands of the community.