A spokesperson for Southern Health says there is a real problem in Steinbach and Ste. Anne with people visiting Emergency Rooms for non-urgent cases.

Eileen Vodden is Director of Acute Care, which includes Emergency Rooms, intensive care units and the surgery program. Vodden says between one-third and one-half of all visits to the Steinbach and Ste. Anne ER could rather be addressed in a clinic.

Emergency Rooms use what is referred to as the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale or CTAS. The system runs from 1 to 5 and sometimes 6. Someone needing life support is a CTAS 1. But once you get to CTAS 4 and 5, Vodden says those are cases that could rather be dealt with at a clinic.

"We are saying people with chest pain, a deep cut that needs to have stitches, shortness of breath or any sensation in your heart that it's not working right, should actually go to the hospital and go to the emergency department," urges Vodden.

However, she says if it is just a bad ache, a sore throat, you need medication changed or a prescription filled, those can be addressed at a clinic or urgent care. According to Vodden, Steinbach and Ste. Anne are fortunate to have three clinics offering extended hours.

Vodden says the unnecessary ER visits are not unique to this region and not unique to this province. In fact, there is a provincial team examining this and deciding how to get this message to the public.

When someone is treated at a clinic, rather than an ER, Vodden says there are multiple advantages. First of all, if there are openings at a clinic, you are likely to be seen faster than at an ER, meaning you can return home or back to work more quickly. But, it also frees up hospital staff to then focus their time on other patients. Vodden says hospital staff look after more patients than just those at the ER.

Vodden says the one exception is children. With young kids, it is better to be safe than sorry. She notes children can certainly be brought to the ER if there are health concerns.

"They get triaged quicker," says Vodden. "We certainly don't want to see them waiting long for care."

Meanwhile, Vodden reminds the public that Emergency Rooms do not deal with patients on a first come, first served basis. She says the sicker you are, the sooner you will get in.