Table of Contents
Storyboard
Introduction & Rational
After immigrating to Canada and going through several doctor visits, I have realized that the waiting time tends to be quite long. I would find myself waiting for hours before being seen or called. Therefore, for this assignment I chose to discuss the theme of waiting time in emergency/healthcare in Ontario. Looking at the data, from 2014-2025, various reports and publications indicate that waiting time in emergency departments prior to getting an initial assessment is considerably high, negatively impacting patients’ physical, emotional and mental well being. On average, patients seem to be waiting for approximately 2 to 3 hours before receiving particular treatment or guidance.
Behind the numbers, statistics, charts as well as graphs presented, are patients whose lives are affected, shaped by distressing experiences. Thus, my goal in this assignment is to demonstrate multiple data storytelling techniques, illustrate this issue, and ensure to highlight the human aspect.
Data, Methods & Techniques
To complete this assignment, I explored several reports and publications that analyzed and discussed the issue of emergency waiting times in Ontario. “Value-For-Money Audit: Emergency Department”, “The Common Quality Agenda 2017: Measuring Up 2017”, “Emergency Department Return Visit Quality Program: Annual Report 2024” reports as well as “Canadians Are Waiting Too Long In The Emergency Room” publication illustrated the waiting time between 2014 and 2025, which I then compiled into a table, shown in Table 1.
The visual methods used include a sticky-based ideation, to lay out my ideas and the different aspects involved, as well as a line graph to illustrate the trend in the waiting times over the years. A storyboard was then developed to further highlight the human aspect.
Visualization Storytelling Methods
Iteration 1: Sticky-Based Ideation
For my first iteration, I chose to use Miro to visually present and map the story of waiting time in Ontario’s emergency/healthcare system, demonstrating the different aspects, including; theme, character (human element), data, and visual design ideas.
In the second iteration, the process began with data collection. This includes researching theaverage time patients spend waiting to be seen/called as well as creating a line chart to illustratethe ER waiting time across the years (2014-2025), which I have created using the data providedin reports and publications I explored. Moreover, I was able to research additional informationregarding the reasoning behind the long waiting time, this includes; increased demand for patientcare, shortage of healthcare staff, limited resources and seasonal and outbreak pressure. As wellas how it impacts patients including; longer waits result in capacity issues, and reduce patientsatisfaction and condition worsening & higher calculations.
While developing this iteration, I realized that although it demonstrates the data, it did not
convey my goal of highlighting the human aspect that I wanted to communicate.
Iteration 2: Data Collection
For my third iteration, keeping the human element in mind, I have decided to use a storyboardtechnique to better illustrate the human experience behind the waiting time. I drew variouspanels, presenting the timeline of the story, indicating the setting at which a patient may be at. Ihave decided to proceed with this idea, using myself as an example, hence, the wavy hair andglasses. The human centred design is evident in this iteration, addressing not only thepreliminary concern but also how it affects the lives involved.
Iteration 3: Storyboard
Panel 1
I started to experience severe knee pain and thus decided to visit the emergencydepartment for a check up
Panel 2
It has been 2 hours since I arrived (time shown on the clock), and I have not been called.I am feeling distressed and my pain has worsened
Panel 3
I started observing the room, when I realized there were still several people waiting, that is where I wondered if they had been waiting longer than I have.
Panel 4
After 3 hours of waiting, I was finally called to see a specialist for an initial assessment.
Panel 5
A meeting is taking place to review the trend over the years, as well as discuss thereasons behind the long wait times and their affect on patients’ well being.
Audience
This assignment targets healthcare professionals, executives and other decision makers, thosewho are able to make changes/improvements to the system. It also includes patients, who aredirectly affected by the long waiting times and go through unpleasant experiences.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is evident that longer wait times not only affect the efficiency of the healthcaresystem but also the well being of patients. What I hope for the audience to take away is to viewthis issue from a human perspective and not just as statistics.
References
- Health Quality Ontario. (2017). Measuring Up 2017: A yearly report on how Ontario’s healthsystem is performing: A yearly report on how Ontario’s health system is performing [Report].Queen’s Printer for Ontario https://www.hqontario.ca/portals/0/Documents/pr/measuring-up-2017-en.pdf
- Office of the Auditor General of Ontario. (2023). Value-for-Money audit: Emergencydepartments. In Ministry of Health (p. 1) [Report].https://www.auditor.on.ca/en/content/annualreports/arreports/en23/AR_emergencydepts_en23.pdf
- Ontario Health. (2024). Emergency Department Return Visit Quality Program: Report on the
2023 results [Report]. Queen’s Printer for Ontario. https://www.hqontario.ca/Portals/0/documents/qi/ed/edrvqp-annual-report-2024-en.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com - Canadians are waiting too long in the emergency room | Montreal Economic Institute. (2025,June 3).https://www.iedm.org/canadians-are-waiting-too-long-in-the-emergency-room/
