Emergency Care

Adults

Adults should go to the ED if they are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• Chest pain
• Sudden onset of weakness or dizziness, or loss of consciousness
• Sudden changes in speech or vision
• Head injury
• Broken bones
• Major sprains
• Severe abdominal pain
• Large cuts or wounds
• Unexpected heavy bleeding of any sort
• Breathing difficulties

Children

Children should be brought to the ED if they are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• Head injury
• Significant bone or soft tissue injuries
• High, persistent fever (38.5°C or 100.4°F)
• Persistent vomiting and/or diarrhea
• Significant lack of fluid intake (especially in a younger child)
• Significant changes in activity level

These are not exhaustive lists. If you have any doubts about whether or not to visit the ED, it’s better to be safe and go ahead — especially for children.

Sometimes you are not in a medical emergency. If you go to the ED, you will likely wait longer because your condition is not as severe as other patients who are there. In these cases, it may be better to access another health-care provider or service.

Family doctors’ offices

Do you have a General Practitioner (GP) or family doctor? If you need an annual check-up, or care for a minor cold or flu, sore throat, minor sprain or strain, stomach upset or minor muscle ache and pain, you should make an appointment to see your family doctor. A family doctor is the doctor who should be following your health on an ongoing basis.

There are a number of resources available to help in the search for a family doctor:

• Health Care Connect: A program run by the Government of Ontario that helps Ontarians find a family health care practitioner (family doctor or nurse practitioner).
• The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario: Search the directory of all physicians and surgeons practicing in Ontario.

Walk-in clinics

These clinics, usually staffed by family doctors, are located in various retail malls and commercial settings, and are open during the daytime and after hours.

Centenary Family Physician Clinic

There is a walk-in clinic located in the main lobby area of our Centenary hospital, just inside the entrance to The Court. Here, a local family doctor can see you. No appointment is necessary. For information and hours, please call 416-281-8618.

Other community clinics

Here are some of the clinics in Scarborough. This list is not complete. Please consult your Yellow Pages directory, under the heading “Clinics,” for hours of operation and a location near you.

Walk-in Family Pratice Clinic
3585 Lawrence Avenue East
(416) 431-0736

Doctor’s Clinic
255 Morningside Avenue
(416) 287-3100

Malvern Medical Centre
1333 Neilson Road
(416) 291-7719

Milner Health Centre
857 Milner Avenue
(416) 287-3611

Telehealth: 1-866-797-0000

Telehealth Ontario is a free, confidential telephone service you can call to get health advice or general health information from a registered nurse. These qualified health professionals can assess your symptoms and help you decide your best first step. They can help you decide whether to care for yourself, make an appointment with your doctor, go to a clinic, contact a community service or go to a hospital emergency room.

The Telehealth Ontario service is provided in English and French, with translation support for other languages and a direct TTY number for those with hearing and speech difficulties. Callers can also be connected to medication information and health information audio tapes.

Call Telehealth at 1-866-797-0000. Visit the Telehealth website to learn more about this service.