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Alberta Launches Urgent Review After Edmonton Man Dies Waiting for ER Care

  Prashanth Sreekumar, 44, shown in this undated handout photo with his wife and three children. The Alberta government has ordered an urgent review after a 44‑year‑old Edmonton man died while waiting nearly eight hours for care in a hospital emergency department. Prashanth Sreekumar, a father of three, arrived at Grey Nuns Community Hospital earlier in the week experiencing severe chest pain. Initial tests reportedly showed no abnormalities, but his condition worsened as he waited to see a physician. Sreekumar suffered an apparent cardiac arrest in the waiting area and could not be revived. His death has sparked widespread concern about emergency room wait times and the strain on Alberta’s health‑care system. Health Minister Matt Jones directed Acute Care Alberta and Covenant Health to conduct a joint review of the circumstances leading to the incident, while the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has also launched an independent investigation. Family members and friends say ...
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Family Doctors Could Reduce ER Visits by 15% in Canada, Report Finds


A recent report by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) reveals that 15% of emergency room visits in Canada could be managed by family doctors. The report, covering data from April 2023 to March 2024, highlights the significant role primary care could play in alleviating the pressure on emergency departments.

The findings indicate that many Canadians, especially those without regular access to a family doctor, turn to emergency departments for conditions that could be managed in primary care. This includes common ailments such as colds, sore throats, and ear infections. The report also suggests that over half of these visits could be managed virtually, pointing to the potential benefits of telemedicine.

Dr. Sunita Karmakar-Hore, CIHI’s manager of health system performance reporting, emphasized the need for improved access to primary and virtual care. "When access to a regular care provider is challenging, people often turn to emergency departments to receive the care they need," she said.

The report underscores the importance of addressing the shortage of family doctors and enhancing the availability of virtual care options to reduce unnecessary ER visits and improve overall healthcare efficiency in Canada.



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