With waiting rooms overflowing, an important question arises: are all these emergency visits necessary? Too often, the answer is no. In fact, nearly one in five patients who are 75 and over could have received care outside the emergency room.

To address this issue, the My Health Problem project was launched at CIUSSS de l’Est-de-l’Île-de-Montréal. It aims to help patients consider alternative solutions before heading to ER and provides them with a handy guide to better understand their health.

Our approach was based on consultations with older folks and practitioners from our community. These discussions allowed us to identify the number one challenge: assessing the urgency of a health condition. They also highlighted the significant digital divide affecting this demographic, which led to the creation of a printed tool to meet their needs.

This booklet, also available in electronic format, is a handy guide that gives practical advice on 16 common health issues. Each sheet is like a compass, pointing readers to warning signs, recommended self-care and available resources. The goal is to empower everyone to better assess their health and make informed decisions.

The results were immediate. In just a few months, 87,500 copies were distributed to households, while the online campaign reached nearly 2 million people. With the backing of 500 partners, the solution became a key prevention tool, drawing interest from both media and institutions.

Lead:
Thaïs Dubé, Communications Manager