Hospitals in KW

[KentHD]

London has their massive hospital complex in the south-east corner of the City.  As the crow flies, it's about 3km from their downtown core (I used Budweiser Gardens as a reference).

The new site in Waterloo will be about 6km from Downtown Kitchener, or 4km from from the existing GRH site.


After the hospital opens, the GRH Kitchener site will be repurposed into an ambulatory and urgent care centre.  As for the the St Mary's site, the press release stated: "The future of the St. Mary’s site will be determined by the St. Joseph’s Health System through consultation with patients, community members, municipal planning bodies, and health care partners, including the KW4 Ontario Health Team. The Hospital location will remain operational until the new hospital opens."  Given that it is nearly 10 years from now and governments/politicans are likely to change at all levels in that time, who knows what proposal might come forward.

Since I couldn't tell the difference in care levels, I had to look them up:

Ambulatory care: "Ambulatory care, also known as outpatient care, is medical care or surgical treatment that does not require an overnight stay in hospital. Ambulatory care is typically offered in response to a medical event — with the goal of preventing or reducing the need for hospital admission." (Niagara Health)

Urgent Care Centre: "Treatment for most injuries and illnesses such as infections, earaches, eye injuries, sprains, broken bones, cuts, fevers, minor burns and nose and throat complaints through emergency-trained doctors and other health care professionals at an Urgent Care Centre." (Ontario Health)

Emergency Room: "Emergency rooms provide treatment of severe illnesses and life-threatening injuries 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you need urgent medical attention for serious illness or injury, visit an ER. A doctor or nurse will assess your condition and decide on a course of treatment." (Ontario Health)

The short version would be that if an ambulance is called, you are more likely to be taken to the Emergency Room.  I'm not sure what happens if you walk into the Urgent Care Centre and you really should go to the Emergency Room.

If you go to an Urgent Care clinic and they determine you need to be sent to Emergency Room they will call an ambulance to transfer you. And since you are already under care you should not be billed for the ambulance.