The Emergency Departments are experiencing high volumes of patients who need care. Please be prepared to wait. The most serious cases are treated first.
Not all health concerns need emergency care. You can also book a virtual visit or go to an urgent care clinic for these concerns. For life-threatening symptoms, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital.
Thank you for your patience.
When you visit Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN), you are looked after by teams committed to safe, high-quality, and compassionate care. Our work is guided by continuous improvement and evidence-based practices.
At WRHN, our priority is to provide every patient safe, high-quality care. We are always looking to improve and make sure our services meet the highest standards. These goals are guided by our strategic plan. It helps us focus on what matters most: keeping patients safe, improving care, and supporting the communities we serve.
WRHN is committed to delivering excellent care, focused on safety, quality, and patient experience. We follow the requirements of the Excellent Care for All Act, which guides hospitals in providing high-quality, patient-centred care. We also have independent experts review our services to make sure we meet national healthcare standards as a part of a process called accreditation through Accreditation Canada.
WRHN is proud to have received accreditation with exemplary standing in October 2021, the highest recognition a hospital can get. In 2025, we also earned the Stroke Distinction Award. These achievements show our ongoing commitment to giving patients, families, and communities the best care possible.
At WRHN, we bring research together with new ideas to make healthcare better. By testing new tools, working with partners, and using the latest knowledge, we are finding better ways to care for patients and support local communities, together.
We want everyone to feel welcome and supported at WRHN. That is why we work to make our programs and services accessible to all.
We measure the quality of our services to make sure patients get safe, effective, and respectful care. We use data and feedback to track where we are doing well and where we can improve. This includes looking at things like wait times, patient safety, and how patients feel about their care.
Different teams across WRHN help with this work, including clinical team members, quality improvement experts, and leadership. They review the results and use them to make changes that help patients and families have better experiences.
WRHN helps patients understand their health information while keeping their personal details private and secure. We follow all provincial and federal privacy laws to protect your information.
At WRHN, we are always working to make care better. We use feedback from patients, families, and team members to find ways to improve services and your experience. Our Quality Improvement Plan helps guide this work.
This plan is based on real data and patient experiences. It highlights what we are doing to make care safer, more effective, and more respectful. It helps us focus on what matters most to the people we serve.
Highlights from the Quality Improvement Plan include:
