Lake of the Woods District Hospital

Best Times to Visit

Quieter times: No historical wait time data is currently available for this location. In general, Canadian emergency departments tend to be less busy in the early morning hours (6–8 a.m.) on weekdays. If your condition is not life-threatening, these times may offer shorter waits.

Busier times: No historical wait data is available for LWDH specifically. Typically, ERs across Canada experience higher volumes on Monday mornings, Friday evenings, and throughout weekends. Evening hours (5–10 p.m.) tend to be busier as physician offices close. If your situation is urgent or an emergency, always go immediately regardless of time.

About Lake of the Woods District Hospital

Lake of the Woods District Hospital (LWDH) in Kenora, Ontario is an 81-bed acute care facility and Northwestern Ontario's largest hospital outside of Thunder Bay, serving approximately 30,000 patients annually from Kenora and surrounding communities, including several First Nations communities. The Emergency Department operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, offering a full spectrum of urgent and emergency care including psychiatric emergency services, a Sexual Assault and Partner Abuse Care Program, and a Recovery Support Program for those with mental health or addictions concerns. Those with less acute needs (CTAS 4 or 5) may be seen by Nurse Practitioners to help reduce wait times, while more complex cases can be transferred to tertiary care facilities when needed.

Services & Specialties

24/7 Emergency Department, Psychiatric Emergency Services, Sexual Assault and Partner Abuse Care Program, Nurse Practitioner Service for less acute patients (CTAS 4–5), Cardiac care, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Maternity and pediatrics, Medical and surgical care, Chemotherapy treatments, Dialysis unit, Diagnostic Imaging (9 modalities including MRI, mammography, breast ultrasound and biopsy), Laboratory services, Rehabilitation (inpatient and outpatient), Respiratory therapy, Palliative and geriatric care, Psychiatry (Schedule 1 facility), Pharmacy, Stroke investigation services (stroke and TIA), Visiting Specialist Clinic (ophthalmology, dermatology, rheumatology, orthopedics, neurology, nephrology, gynecology, pediatrics), Native Healer Program for Indigenous patients, Indigenous Patient Relations Department, Recovery Support Program, 24-hour air ambulance and medical transport (Ornge), Pastoral care.

Amenities

• On-site pharmacy
• Pastoral care / chapel services
• TTY line for hearing-impaired patients: (807) 407-6714
• Wheelchair accessible facility
• Indigenous Patient Relations Department

Other Care Options

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Tips Before You Go

• Less urgent cases (minor injuries, mild illness) may be directed to the Nurse Practitioner Service rather than waiting for a physician — this can help reduce your overall wait time.
• If you or a family member identifies as Anishinaabe or Indigenous, let registration staff know — all registered patients are invited to connect with the hospital's Indigenous Patient Relations Department and Native Healer Program.
• For non-emergency specialist care, ask your primary care provider about a referral to the Visiting Specialist Clinic, which brings specialists like neurologists, orthopedic surgeons, and ophthalmologists to Kenora so you can avoid travelling to larger centres.
• LWDH is served by Ornge 24-hour air ambulance for patients who need transfer to tertiary care — if you require highly specialized care not available locally, the ED team can coordinate this transfer.
• If you are accessing the ED for mental health or addictions support, the Recovery Support Program offers holistic, practical services aimed at connecting patients with longer-term care and reducing repeat ED visits.

What to Bring

• Provincial health card (Ontario OHIP card)
• Government-issued photo ID
• List of current medications, including dosages
• List of known allergies
• Any relevant medical records or recent test results
• Emergency contact information
• Personal comfort items if you anticipate a long wait (water bottle, snack, phone charger)
• Any assistive devices you use (glasses, hearing aids, mobility aids)

Frequently Asked Questions

About ER Wait Times

Emergency departments use triage. Patients with more serious conditions are seen first, regardless of arrival time.

Wait times are estimates based on Ontario health data. Actual wait times may vary.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.