Ontario is lowering emergency room wait times by expanding the Pay for Results program that has already helped hospitals across the province make significant wait time improvements.

Since 2008, the province’s Pay for Results program has helped participating hospitals lower overall wait times by 4.7 hours (28%) for patients who require complex medical care or admission to hospital, and by 1.4 hours (22%) for patients with minor conditions.  

The program helps hospitals implement initiatives like patient flow tracking systems, which improve discharge and admission processes, or hiring nurse practitioners to treat patients with less complex conditions.

This year, through a $100 million investment, the government is expanding the Pay for Results program to an additional 25 hospitals across the province, bringing the total number of participating hospitals to 71. 

Reducing ER wait times builds on the government’s Open Ontario plan to provide more access to health care services while improving accountability for patients.