Emergency and ambulatory care

Emergency and ambulatory care is one of the largest-volume patient activities in the country, making it a key component of the continuum of health services in Canada. ��ϱ�maintains several databases to provide stakeholders with insight on visit volumes, patient demographics, clinical and service-specific data related to emergency departments, day surgery and outpatient and community-based clinics. These databases include the National Ambulatory Care Reporting System (NACRS), the Discharge Abstract Database (DAD) and the Hospital Morbidity Database (HMDB).

Explore information on emergency and ambulatory care. Browse indicators, data tables, reports and other key resources.

Featured materials

Primary and virtual care access: Emergency department visits for primary care conditions

Report
December 5, 2024

Read CIHI’s report on visits to the emergency department for conditions that could be managed in primary care and virtual primary care. Learn about these indicators of primary care access.

Better access to primary care key to improving health of Canadians

Report
October 24, 2024

A look at how having a regular primary care provider allows for access to care in the community, reducing unnecessary hospitalizations.

NACRS emergency department visits and lengths of stay

Release summary
August 26, 2024

Learn more about emergency department visits and lengths of stay by province and territory, based on data submitted to the National Ambulatory Care Reporting System.

COVID-19 hospitalization and emergency department statistics

Release summary
August 26, 2024

Explore the most recent information on hospitalizations and emergency department visits for patients with a diagnosis of COVID-19, including volumes, patient demographics and other key factors.

Emergency Departments in Crisis — Dr. Fraser Mackay and David Leary

Podcast episode
April 25, 2024

In this episode of the CHIP, we are joined by Dr. Fraser Mackay, an emergency physician, and David Leary, a veteran paramedic, to discuss the ongoing crisis gripping emergency departments across the country, the impact on workers and patients, and what’s being done to ease the burden.

Emergency Departments in Crisis — Dr. Elyse Berger Pelletier and David Gagnon

Podcast episode
April 25, 2024

In this episode of the CHIP, we are joined by Dr. Elyse Pelletier, an emergency physician, and David Gagnon, a paramedic, to discuss the ongoing crisis gripping emergency departments across the country, the impact on workers and patients, and what’s being done to ease the burden.