Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital is asking residents to think twice before heading to the Emergency Department this cold and flu season.
With respiratory illness circulating and demand for healthcare services climbing, the hospital and the Couchiching Ontario Health Team (COHT) have issued a reminder about every care option available to people in Orillia and the surrounding communities — in person, over the phone and virtually.
The goal, according to a news release from Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital, is twofold: helping patients get the right treatment at the right time, and keeping Emergency Department resources free for people facing serious or life-threatening medical needs.
What options are available
The release points to the Central Ontario Regional Urgent Care portal as one example of care that doesn't require leaving home. The virtual service is meant for urgent but non-life-threatening concerns, connecting patients with care without a trip to a hospital or clinic waiting room.
Beyond the virtual portal, the COHT and the hospital have compiled a comprehensive listing of primary care services currently available to area residents. That information has been posted to their websites and social media channels.
Alongside the reminder, the organizations have published a one-page summary of available care services, dated October 2026, which they are encouraging residents to keep handy over the coming months when deciding where to seek treatment.
Why it matters locally
Emergency departments across Ontario routinely face heavy demand during the fall and winter months, when colds, influenza and other respiratory illnesses send more people seeking care. The pressure can lengthen waits for everyone, including those with the most serious conditions.
"By choosing the right care at the right time, patients can often improve their healthcare experience and help ensure emergency resources remain available for those who need them most," the release states.
For residents of Orillia, Severn, Ramara, Oro-Medonte and other surrounding communities served by the Couchiching Ontario Health Team, the message is to consider all the options — a family doctor or nurse practitioner where available, walk-in and primary care services, phone and virtual visits, and the regional virtual urgent care portal — before turning to the Emergency Department for non-urgent concerns.
Anyone experiencing a serious or life-threatening medical emergency should still call 911 or go directly to the nearest Emergency Department, the guidance makes clear.
