PHSA ER Wait Times (Provincial Health Services Authority)
Provincial Health Services Authority publishes wait times for 1 hospital ER, including a children's ER. We are an independent site, not affiliated with PHSA: we show its numbers as published and link to the official page.
1 of 1 reportingSource: official sources
Right now· 9 in 10 patients seen within
1 of 1 ERs reporting
PHSA emergency wait times right now
How PHSA calculates its wait times
“9 in 10 patients seen within”
'Wait Time' is the time it takes for almost all patients – 9 out of every 10 who visit the ED – to be seen by a physician. This is also known as the 90th percentile and is the time in which 90% of all people seeking care will be seen. Some people, about 10%, may have to wait longer than this time. Wait time refers to the length of time between being assessed by a triage nurse and seeing a doctor or nurse practitioner.
People with the most urgent needs are always seen first, so your own wait may be shorter or longer. edwaittimes.ca’s definition
British Columbia ER wait times by city
About Provincial Health Services Authority
The Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) runs specialized, province-wide health services in British Columbia, including BC Children's Hospital in Vancouver, whose emergency department publishes its wait on edwaittimes.ca.
Sources: phsa.ca, bcchildrens.ca, Wikipedia
ER, urgent care or walk-in clinic?
Emergency department
Serious problems that need a hospital, any time: broken bones, deep cuts, severe pain, or a fever in a baby under 3 months.
Urgent care
Problems that are not life-threatening but need care today: sprains, minor cuts and burns, infections. Hours are often limited.
Walk-in clinics
Minor problems such as colds, sore throats, rashes or prescription refills are often quicker here.
Not sure where to go?
Call HealthLink BC at 811 to talk to a nurse. About HealthLink BC
Call 911
Chest pain or pressure, signs of a stroke, severe bleeding, trouble breathing, a serious injury, or someone who will not wake up.
PHSA wait time questions
What are PHSA ER wait times right now?
At 5:25 pm PDT, the shortest published ER wait was BC Children's Hospital at 4 hours 15 minutes. The median across 1 reporting ERs was 4 hours 15 minutes. Numbers change through the day, so check the list above before you go.
How are PHSA emerg wait times calculated?
edwaittimes.ca publishes "9 in 10 patients seen within": 'Wait Time' is the time it takes for almost all patients – 9 out of every 10 who visit the ED – to be seen by a physician. This is also known as the 90th percentile and is the time in which 90% of all people seeking care will be seen. Some people, about 10%, may have to wait longer than this time. Wait time refers to the length of time between being assessed by a triage nurse and seeing a doctor or nurse practitioner.
These measures can differ in their starting point and statistic. Compare estimates within the same measurement group. Patients with the most urgent needs are seen first.
Source: edwaittimes.ca
How often are PHSA ER wait times updated?
Providers publish estimates on different schedules. Our checks are separate from those updates, and the displayed number may stay the same after a check. Each listing shows its available timestamp; check the source-specific frequencies below.
| Source | Provider updates | Our checks |
|---|---|---|
| edwaittimes.ca | About every 5 minutes | Every 5 minutes |
Which PHSA hospitals have a children's ER?
Yes: BC Children's Hospital. Children's emergency departments see children and teens; adults should go to an adult or all-ages ER. In a life-threatening emergency, call 911.
Does PHSA publish a wait for every site?
Yes. Every ER listed on this page has a published wait estimate.
Is this the official PHSA website?
No. ERWaitTimes.ca is an independent site, not affiliated with Provincial Health Services Authority. We regularly check the official estimates and link to the source. The update-frequency table above describes each feed.
Photo credits (1)
- BC Children's Hospital: photo by Jeff Hitchcock from Seattle, WA, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
_(29350871423).jpg){kind=link}
Medical emergency? Call 911 now.
Do not check wait times or drive yourself if you have chest pain, signs of a stroke, severe bleeding or trouble breathing. Paramedics can start treatment on the way to hospital.