In keeping with its mission, the Emergency Department of the Montreal Heart Institute (MHI) must, at all times, provide everyone who presents with an urgent cardiology problem with high-quality and care and services required by the person's condition and that are consistent with a client-centred approach.
To carry out this mission set out by the MHI's Board of Directors, the Emergency Department must be an entry point and key sector for the institution. The unit is separated into two distinct but directly linked environments: the ambulatory area (triage) and the observation area. Users arrive to the Emergency Department in several ways. For ambulance arrivals, the team works in close collaboration with Urgences-santé paramedics. Users may also come on their own through the ambulatory area. The services provided by the Emergency Department, which are delivered within an appropriate time frame, include prioritization, stabilization, assessment, investigation, treatment and, if necessary, referral of users to the resources they need to ensure continuity of care.
At the Montreal Heart Institute, emergency care is provided by a multidisciplinary team composed mainly of doctors (emergency doctors, cardiologists and a few other specialists), nurses and patient care attendants. Respiratory therapists, physical therapists, social workers and other professionals are regularly called upon to work with the Emergency Department team to respond to users' needs and provide quality care.
Emergency Department staff also take on responsibilities related to teaching, research and development, as these aspects are also part of the mission of an ultraspecialized hospital centre.