ER Capacity Eases Slightly Across Capitale-Nationale Emergency Departments

Weekly Data for March 1–7 Shows Lower Overall Capacity Levels Compared With Prior Week

Emergency departments across the Capitale-Nationale health region reported moderately lower overall capacity levels during the week of March 1 to March 7, 2026, according to operational data submitted by hospitals in the region. While average capacity declined compared with the previous week, the number of patients remaining in emergency departments for extended periods increased slightly.

Time Window

This analysis covers March 1, 2026 through March 7, 2026, with a comparison to the previous seven-day period (February 22–February 28, 2026).

Data Coverage

• Installations analyzed: 12 emergency departments
• Total records analyzed: 1,792
• Dataset status: Complete for the selected regional scope

All figures are derived from operational reports submitted by emergency departments across the Capitale-Nationale health region of Québec during the reporting period.

Key Metrics

• Regional average capacity: 73.9
• Highest reported capacity: 167
• Average patients over 24 hours: 2.9
• Average patients over 48 hours: 1.2

These values represent aggregated operational measurements across reporting facilities.

Observations

Emergency departments in the Capitale-Nationale region reported varying operational conditions throughout the week.

Several larger facilities recorded daily average capacity levels above 100 on multiple days. Smaller installations generally reported lower averages but still showed noticeable day-to-day variation.

Short-term fluctuations appeared throughout the week. Mid-week reporting showed increases in average capacity at several installations before easing slightly toward the end of the reporting window.

Reports also indicated a small number of patients remaining in emergency departments for more than 24 hours, with a smaller subset exceeding 48 hours. These longer-duration stays were not evenly distributed across facilities and appeared concentrated at a limited number of sites during the period.

Comparison With the Previous Week

(February 22–February 28, 2026)

When compared with the prior seven-day period:

• Average capacity declined from 79.2 to 73.9.
• Peak reported capacity decreased, from 233 in the previous week to 167 in the current period.
• Average patients remaining over 24 hours increased slightly, rising from 2.7 to 2.9.
• Average patients over 48 hours increased modestly, from 0.9 to 1.2.

Overall, the data show some moderation in overall capacity levels across the region, while longer-duration stays rose slightly compared with the previous week.

Methodology

This analysis examines reported emergency department operational metrics over the specified seven-day period. Regional averages were calculated using record-weighted means across all reporting installations.

The comparison section contrasts the current seven-day window with the immediately preceding seven-day period using the same aggregation method.

Informational Use Statement

This summary is based on publicly reported emergency department operational data and is provided for informational purposes only. Capacity and wait metrics reflect reported operational load and should not be interpreted as indicators of clinical safety or quality of care.