In cooperation with ApolloMD, an Atlanta-based clinical group which supplies contract physicians, Nash Health Care’s Emergency Care Center is testing ER Express, a new platform that allows patients with non-life -threatening illnesses to reserve appointment times for visits to the emergency room. 

ER Express (www.erexpress.com) gives patients with non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries a simple, user-friendly web-based tool for reserving a time slot in the ER.  Once a reservation is confirmed, the patient waits in the comfort of his or her home, and then arrives at the ER for treatment at the selected appointment time.  ER Express does not charge patients for this service, which will soon be offered in hospitals across the country.  ER Express services will be offered for the Emergency Care Center of Nash Health Care starting Dec. 1.

“The motivation behind this initiative is twofold,” said Cindy Worthy, director of Care Management and Emergency Management at Nash Health Care. “First, we realize that there are situations in which patients with a non-life-threatening illness may need to seek treatment at the Emergency Care Center, particularly if it is on a weekend or during a time when their regular doctor’s office is closed. Second, we also realize that wait times in emergency rooms may be improved if those patients can be streamlined through the process. We believe that ER Express may address both those issues.”

While the emergency room reservation concept is relatively new, use of this technology has increased dramatically in the last year.  With increasing ER wait times a growing issue in the United States, many hospitals are now posting their wait times and offering convenience-oriented services to improve customer service, according to information from ApolloMD.

To utilize ER Express:

·         Go to www.erexpress.com

·         Enter your zipcode in the space provided.

·         Click on Nash Health Care Systems and follow the instructions provided.

Boykin Robinson, M.D., a southeast regional president for ApolloMD comments, ”ER Express improves patient satisfaction by reducing the hassle associated with going to the ER.  Offering appointments also helps to smooth out the daily volume curve which in turn creates in a better experience for the patients and the care providers.”

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, ApolloMD is a physician-owned and operated national group practice specializing in Emergency Medicine, Anesthesia and Radiology Services. Emphasizing quality, efficiency, communication and patient satisfaction, ApolloMD works collaboratively with over 70 partner facilities to implement best practices and process improvement across the board.