Living in Calgary, I’ve seen my fair share of packed emergency rooms over the years. Just last month, I spent nearly six hours at Foothills Medical Centre with my neighbor who had fallen on an icy sidewalk – an experience that’s unfortunately common for many Calgarians.
New research confirms what many of us already suspected: smaller health centers in southern Alberta have significantly shorter emergency room wait times compared to Calgary’s often overwhelmed facilities.
According to data analyzed by researchers at the University of Calgary, patients at rural hospitals like those in Brooks, Taber, and Cardston typically wait 30-50% less time to see a physician compared to Calgary’s major hospitals. The average wait at these smaller centers ranges from 1.5 to 2.5 hours, while Calgary patients frequently endure 4+ hour waits before receiving care.
“The disparity between urban and rural emergency department efficiency isn’t surprising, but the magnitude of the difference certainly caught our attention,” said Dr. Eddy Lang, department head of emergency medicine for the Calgary zone of Alberta Health Services, when I spoke with him last week.
The study tracked over 120,000 emergency room visits across southern Alberta during an 18-month period ending December 2023. Researchers found that smaller facilities not only processed patients faster but also maintained comparable care quality metrics for most common conditions.
This efficiency gap exists despite Calgary’s hospitals having more resources and specialized staff. The paradox appears linked to several factors: overwhelming patient volumes, higher complexity cases, and staffing challenges plaguing urban centers.
Brooks General Hospital emerged as particularly efficient, with median wait times of just 95 minutes from arrival to physician assessment. Compare that to Peter Lougheed Centre in northeast Calgary, where patients regularly wait over four hours for initial assessment.
Having covered healthcare in this city for over a decade, I’ve watched these wait times gradually worsen despite various improvement initiatives. The problem has become so prevalent that some Calgarians are now willing to drive significant distances to access care.
“We’re seeing more Calgary residents making the drive to Okotoks or High River when they need emergency care but don’t require specialized services,” explained Stephanie Morgan, patient advocate with the Alberta Patient Coalition. “For non-life-threatening situations, the travel time is often offset by dramatically reduced waits.”
Alberta Health Services acknowledges the disparity but points to the complexity of cases at urban facilities. Calgary’s hospitals handle everything from routine medical issues to severe traumas requiring specialized care, while smaller centers typically manage less complex cases.
The provincial government recently announced a $158 million investment to address emergency department congestion, with a significant portion allocated to Calgary zone facilities. However, experts caution that infrastructure alone won’t solve the problem.
“Building more capacity helps, but we need to address the fundamental issues of staffing shortages and improving patient flow throughout the entire healthcare system,” said Dr. Lang.
For Calgarians wondering whether they should make the drive to smaller centers, medical professionals still recommend calling Health Link at 811 for guidance and heading to the nearest facility for truly urgent situations.
As winter approaches and emergency department volumes typically increase with seasonal illnesses, this information might prove valuable for residents weighing their options for non-life-threatening emergencies.
After experiencing both urban and rural emergency departments firsthand while covering healthcare stories across southern Alberta, I can attest to the striking difference in waiting room atmospheres. Calgary’s crowded facilities often feel chaotic, while smaller centers typically provide a more personalized experience.
The study authors plan to expand their research to determine if the quality of care varies between urban and rural settings, though preliminary findings suggest comparable outcomes for common conditions.
Until Calgary’s emergency departments can match the efficiency of their rural counterparts, many residents will continue facing difficult decisions about where to seek care during medical emergencies.
