The initiative will focus on improving hospital operations, addressing delays in emergency care and helping patients move more efficiently through assessment, diagnosis, treatment and discharge.
The investment forms part of Ontario’s broader efforts to improve health-care delivery as hospitals continue to manage patient demand and operational pressures.
Ontario Targets Emergency Department Delays at 26 Hospitals
The Emergency Department Action Team will work directly with hospitals to identify inefficiencies and implement practical improvements to patient care.
Using Lean management methodologies, the team will examine hospital processes, identify bottlenecks and develop strategies to improve patient flow and reduce unnecessary delays.
“Ontario is investing historic amounts in our health-care system, including $101 billion this year, so we can connect more patients to convenient care close to home,” said Premier Doug Ford. “Our Emergency Department Action Team will leave no stone unturned in its mission to reduce emergency room wait times at Ontario hospitals, so patients and families get the care they need, when and where they need it.”
The initiative will prioritize emergency departments where operational improvements could deliver significant reductions in waiting times.
Pilot Program Identified Opportunities for Improvement
The new program builds on preliminary work conducted in fall 2025 at five emergency department sites across three hospital organizations: The Ottawa Hospital, Windsor Regional Hospital and Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre.
The assessments identified operational, workforce and broader health-system factors contributing to delays in emergency treatment.
Recommendations focused on improving the movement of patients through diagnostic services, hospital admissions and discharge procedures.
The five participating sites are expected to begin implementing these recommendations over the coming months.
Province Commits $47 Million Over Four Years
The provincial government has committed more than $47 million over four years to support the action team’s work across the targeted emergency departments.
Health Minister Sylvia Jones said the initiative will complement existing programs designed to improve access to hospital services.
“Our government is taking action to shorten wait times and ensure people have the best possible experience every time they enter an emergency department,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “The Emergency Department Action Team will build on the work already underway across the province by delivering practical solutions that improve emergency services, reduce wait times and help patients get the care they need when they need it.”
Emergency Department Performance Shows Improvement
According to provincial figures, Ontario recorded improvements in several emergency department performance indicators between 2024 and 2025.
Average ambulance offload times improved by more than 20 per cent, while average waiting times for an initial physician assessment improved by seven per cent.
The average emergency department length of stay for patients requiring hospital admission also improved by nearly 10 per cent.
The province continues to support hospitals through initiatives including the ED Peer-to-Peer Program, ED Pay-for-Results Program and ED Nursing Education, Retention and Workforce Program.
More than 4,200 nurses have participated in emergency department virtual education, while hospitals have utilized more than 15,000 Specialty Training Fund Grants.
Medical Leadership and Broader Hospital Investments
Dr. Abdel-Rahman Lawendy will chair the Emergency Department Action Team.
An orthopedic surgeon, researcher and academic based in London, Ontario, Lawendy holds the J.C. Kennedy Chair in Orthopedic Surgery at Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry.
He also serves in leadership roles at London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph’s Health Care London.
Matthew Anderson, president and CEO of Ontario Health, welcomed the initiative.
“Ontario’s hospital emergency department teams have demonstrated resilience and improved performance. Today’s announcement of the Emergency Department Action Team will further bolster Ontario’s response to health system pressures and increasingly high acuity. Ontario Health will continue to work alongside system partners to spread leading practices, support performance improvement and advance solutions to help patients access emergency care more quickly.”
Infrastructure Spending Supports Long-Term Health-Care Capacity
The initiative accompanies approximately $64 billion in planned major health infrastructure investment, covering more than 50 hospital projects and nearly 3,000 additional hospital beds.
Ontario is also allocating more than $281 million in 2026–27 for infrastructure upgrades and repairs at 126 hospitals and 67 community health-care facilities, representing a 9.4 per cent increase from the previous year.
Through its Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the province is also promoting services such as Health811 and Health Care Connect to help residents access appropriate care outside emergency departments.
The action team’s effectiveness will ultimately depend on how successfully participating hospitals implement operational changes and translate those improvements into shorter waits and more timely patient care.
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