The Emergency Room (ER) or Emergency Department (ED) is the hospital area providing immediate care for acute illnesses, injuries, and medical crises. Emergency departments are staffed around the clock by physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers equipped to handle everything from heart attacks and strokes to serious injuries and acute illnesses. Patients are triaged upon arrival—assessed and prioritized by urgency rather than arrival time, so life-threatening conditions receive immediate attention while less urgent cases may wait. ER services are covered by provincial health insurance for Canadian residents. Emergency department overcrowding is a significant healthcare system challenge, caused by factors including insufficient primary care access, hospital bed shortages, and complex patient needs. Many provinces have implemented strategies to reduce non-urgent ER visits, including nurse telephone lines, urgent care clinics, and expanded primary care hours.