The COVID-19 assessment centre at the Hanover & District Hospital is launching an online booking system in hopes of improving wait times as volumes increase.
In a release, the Hanover & District Hospital says patient volumes at the assessment centre has more than quadrupled compared to numbers seen at the end of August.
“To support the needs of the community of the Town of Hanover and surrounding areas, effective Thursday, September 24, 2020, HDH will introduce booked appointments to attend the COVID-19 Assessment Centre. By implementing booked appointments, it is hoped that wait times will be better managed and the patient experience will be improved,” a release from the hospital organization explains.
Officials say appointments may be booked up to 48 hours in advance.
The Hanover assessment centre is also expanding its hours of operation, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday.
It will still be accepting walk-in patients.
All of Grey Bruce’s assessment centres have reported higher volumes in recent weeks, mainly because of school screening policies that have sent students with minor symptoms for testing.
The Grey Bruce Health Services’ assessment centre outside the Owen Sound Hospital also introduced a new booking system recently. It is no longer accepting walk-ins.