LHSC continues to push boundaries in health-care excellence through initiatives that improve patient outcomes and experiences. These efforts have led to remarkable achievements such as a reduction in ambulance offload times, shortened wait times for cancer surgery, the implementation of cutting-edge laboratory technology, and new advanced ultrasound units for women's care.
Our team reduced what was previously a two-hour wait for paramedics to less than 40 minutes
This past year, we reduced the time paramedics have to wait to transfer the care of a patient to Emergency Department (ED) staff by almost 70 per cent. With support from Ontario's Ministry of Health, what was previously a two-hour wait for paramedics is now taking less than 40 minutes, allowing paramedic partners to return to service in our community and respond to new 911 calls for health emergencies.
In November 2023, two key strategies were implemented to improve ambulance offload times, which have also proven successful at other Ontario hospitals.
Today, regardless of how patients arrive to our ED, all patients are triaged and then transitioned to one of three care spaces:
Part of improving ambulance offload times has also changed how we admit patients from the ED into the hospital when necessary. Our staff throughout the hospital are now flagging when beds become available on patient floors more quickly, allowing a patient waiting in the ED to be admitted sooner.
Once an available bed has been assigned to a patient waiting within the ED, units expedite the patient's movement within 45 minutes. Expediting admission to inpatient units allows us to free up a space within the ED for the next patient and helps to better ensure that all members of the community receive the care they need, when they need it.
"Our frontline teams are truly remarkable. We are still seeing high volumes of patients in our EDs, and by redesigning care and taking a hospital-wide approach to a solution for something that could easily be viewed as an ED-specific challenge, we are achieving success that wouldn't be possible otherwise," said Dr. Christie MacDonald, Department Head, Emergency Medicine at LHSC. "Our team is pleased by what has been accomplished so far and we are focused on ensuring sustainability. We are excited to now consider other processes that streamline ED care for our patients and our families."
Over the past year, we have also significantly reduced cancer surgery wait times at the Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre at LHSC by 50 per cent for non-urgent and non-emergent patients.
"We know how challenging it is for patients with cancer and their families to wait for surgery and we wanted to do everything we could to improve our times," said Dr. Michael Ott, Department Head, Oncology, LHSC. "This involved finding new ways to maximize our current resources and improve efficiencies — like improving our referral systems, optimizing our data used in making decisions, and dedicating more operating room time for cancer surgeries."
As a result, 90 per cent of oncology patients now receive surgery within the targeted wait times according to the urgency of their diagnosis.
Dr. Ott notes that, "We won't settle until every patient gets care within the appropriate target, and we continue the work to improve."
While high-priority patients have generally received surgery within the recommended wait times, the reduction in overall wait times is especially significant. These improvements benefit patients who are more likely to face extended delays throughout the health-care system.
In November 2023, LHSC and St. Joseph's Health Care London installed the world's first BD Kiestra™ 3rd Generation Total Laboratory Automation (TLA) system in our clinical microbiology lab. This advanced technology enhances lab capacity, speeds up infectious disease detection, and optimizes staff productivity.
"The automated system will allow us to accommodate increased volumes in diagnostic testing and innovations within the system will help optimize productivity of staff, test accuracy, and the time required to report a test result," said Dr. Jeff Fuller, Division Head, Clinical Microbiology. "The TLA system's innovative technology will facilitate the transformation of laboratory operations, allowing for future growth and sustainability."
Located at Victoria Hospital, the microbiology lab and TLA system will serve hundreds of thousands of patients across London and southwestern Ontario every year.
Further demonstrating our commitment to advancing excellence through technology, LHSC has taken a major step forward in obstetrical care with the acquisition of 12 ultrasound units. These state-of-the-art Voluson™ Expert 22 machines provide clear, accurate 3D and 4D images, enabling early and precise diagnostics for high-risk pregnancies. This new technology allows for faster assessments and diagnoses, enhancing patient care.
"This is a significant advancement for Women's Care at LHSC, which as a program delivers over six thousand births a year and sees a large number of patients across our region with complex pregnancies," said Dr. Tracey Crumley, Department Head of Obstetrics and Gynecology at LHSC. "This investment in infrastructure places LHSC as one of only four hospitals in the province with this type of advanced ultrasound capability, bringing remarkable obstetrical imaging closer to home."
The new ultrasound units, now part of LHSC's Maternal Fetal Medicine Centre of Excellence, offer significant benefits for both patients and health-care providers.
Dr. Rob Gratton, Co-Lead of Obstetrical Ultrasound, noted that the machines' sensitivity and design reduce the need for sonographers to apply pressure, resulting in a more comfortable patient experience. Additionally, the units will support clinical use, research advancements, and staff training — enhancing care delivery and ultrasound exam efficiency.
This $1.3 million investment, made possible through donations to London Health Sciences Foundation, underscores LHSC's commitment to innovative maternal and fetal care.
Team LHSC is committed to delivering the highest quality of care for our community. Our staff, physicians, researchers and learners are continuing to leverage improvement opportunities to advance health-care excellence within our walls and beyond.