CHEO suspends virtual visits to its Emergency Department

Dec. 1, 2021 — OTTAWA — Today, CHEO has had to suspend offering virtual visits to its Emergency Department for at least 90 days, to keep up with an increased demand for in-person services and reduce the department’s wait times.

This suspension allows CHEO to reassign much-needed staff from virtual care to providing in-person support to kids and families who are coming to our Emergency Department.

Our Emergency team always prioritizes the sickest patients first. Providing safe, timely and effective care for children and youth in the region is our top priority.

CHEO, the region’s only pediatric hospital and research centre, has seen an extraordinary demand for in-person urgent care services, starting with record months in the summer. This has continued and, in October, CHEO’s Emergency Department cared for more than 7,100 children and youth in person, a 68% increase compared to October 2020 and higher than a typical month in peak viral season, which usually runs from December to April.

Accessing care in the community

Responding to this surge in demand is a community effort.

“We are grateful for the important work being done by family doctors, health providers and pediatricians in the community to support the region’s kids and families throughout this pandemic,” said Lindy Samson, CHEO’s Chief of Staff and Chief Medical Officer. “CHEO will continue to work with and support our community partners, so they are able to provide timely, safe and accessible care to the children, youth and families they see in their practices.”

Visit our Where to go: alternatives to the Emergency Department page to learn more about community care in our region, including COVID-19 care clinics for children and youth with new respiratory illness symptoms.

CHEO is committed to virtual care

We know how valuable virtual care is for kids and families. CHEO remains committed to offering virtual care options, including for many outpatient clinic visits, follow-up appointments and group therapy.

CHEO is proud to have been the first Canadian pediatric health-care centre to have offered virtual emergency care, and looks forward to being able to resume our pioneering virtual Emergency Department visits.

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Media contact

media@cheo.on.ca

About CHEO

Based in Canada’s capital, CHEO is a globally renowned health institution with a mission to provide exceptional care and support to children, youth and their families. Opening our doors in 1974, we offer a full range of specialized pediatric care and services to children from eastern and northern Ontario, western Quebec and Nunavut. Our site is home to a hospital, a children’s treatment centre, a school, a research institute, and is affiliated with the University of Ottawa as an academic health science centre. Named Canada’s best health-care employer by Forbes in 2024 and 2025, we are home to more than 6,500 staff, clinicians, scientists and researchers, as well as volunteers – all of whom work together to help children and youth achieve their best lives.