Markham Stouffville Hospital

Best Times to Visit

Quieter times: No historical wait time data is available for this location. Generally, emergency departments in Ontario tend to be less busy on weekday mornings (8am–11am) and early afternoons. If your situation is not life-threatening, consider whether a walk-in clinic or virtual care option may be appropriate before visiting the ED.

Busier times: Without specific wait time data, general patterns suggest evenings (5pm–10pm), weekends, and holidays typically see higher ED volumes at community hospitals. As a popular ambulance redirect destination from east-end Toronto hospitals, MSH may experience higher-than-average volumes during regional surge periods.

About Markham Stouffville Hospital

Markham Stouffville Hospital's Emergency Department at 381 Church St in Markham, Ontario is a 24/7 acute care facility serving approximately 400,000 residents across Markham, Stouffville, and Uxbridge, recording over 106,000 ED visits annually. As the only hospital in Markham and the community hub for south York Region, it offers comprehensive emergency services including mental health crisis care, Geriatric Emergency Management (GEM) nurses, and paediatric emergency services supported through the Kids Health Alliance with SickKids. Patients are triaged into colour-coded severity zones and assessed by emergency medicine specialists with access to state-of-the-art diagnostics and laboratory services on-site.

Services & Specialties

24/7 Emergency Department, Paediatric emergency care (Kids Health Alliance / SickKids partnership), Mental health crisis services, Geriatric Emergency Management (GEM) nurses, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Critical care, Diagnostic imaging, Laboratory services, Maternal and newborn care, Surgery including general surgery and orthopaedics, Cancer care, Rehabilitative care, Medical airlift heliport access.

Amenities

• Druxy's Deli full-service cafeteria in the main lobby
• Gift shop (Mon–Fri 9am–8pm, Sat–Sun 10am–4pm)
• Free Wi-Fi (network: MSH-Patient-and-Visitor-WIFI)
• Bedside TV and entertainment rental via HealthHub / ConnectMyBed.ca
• Surgical family waiting room with TV, phone, Wi-Fi, and quiet room
• Outdoor family garden and walking path with seating areas

Other Care Options

Not every health issue needs an ER visit. Find out where to go for care → · 2 walk-in clinics in Markham →

Pharmacists in Ontario can assess and prescribe for dozens of common conditions. See what they can treat →

Compare hospital wait times across Canada. View all wait times →

Tips Before You Go

• Use the self-registration kiosks at the ED entrance to pre-triage yourself upon arrival — this can speed up your initial check-in.
• Emergency patients should park in Lot 7 (east of Ninth Line, north of Hwy 7) for the most direct 24-hour access to the Emergency Department.
• If visiting with a child, know that MSH has a dedicated paediatric program backed by the Kids Health Alliance with SickKids — staff are trained and equipped for pediatric emergencies.
• Mental health crisis support is available directly through the Emergency Department, so individuals experiencing a psychiatric emergency do not need to go elsewhere first.
• If arriving by transit, look for the Vivastation shelter on Church Street east of Country Glen Road, and check YRT for current routes as some have shifted to Cornell Terminal.
• Connect to MSH-Patient-and-Visitor-WIFI for free internet during your wait — useful for staying in touch with family or accessing health information.

What to Bring

• Ontario Health Card (OHIP card)
• Government-issued photo ID
• List of current medications including dosages
• List of known allergies
• Any relevant medical records or referral letters
• Credit card or cash for parking pay stations
• Phone charger or portable battery pack
• Snacks, water, and warm layers for potentially long waits

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.