As we all know, a hospital emergency room can be an awful combo of the 7th circle of hell and purgatory. It doesn’t help that if you have to go the ER in the first place then you’re already suffering from acute sickness/bleeding onto the floor. Well, UCSF has launched a system that may reduce your wait to just 15 minutes.

In an effort to make things more efficient and pleasant for both patients and health care providers, the Parnassus Heights location of UCSF has launched a service called InQuicER, which allows patients with MINOR medical needs (i.e. you haven’t been shot or aren’t bleeding out of your ears) to check-in to the emergency room remotely and “schedule” their visit thus significantly reducing your hospital wait time. Note: the average wait at UCSF Parnassus ER is 4.5 hours. Yes, over four hours!

According to UCSF, “Patients [with non-threatening minor medical needs] can register online for a $4.99 fee and pick an open slot for an emergency room visit. The fee will be refunded if they’re not seen within 15 minutes.” I don’t know about you but that $5 seems worth it.

“UCSF is one of 55 health care facilities in 13 states partnering with InQuickER, said spokesman Chris Song. The service, based in Nashville, began in 2006 after its founder, Tyler Kiley, had to go to an emergency room and spent hours witnessing stasis and frustration.

So far, more than 10,000 people have used the service; 95 percent have been seen within the 15-minute window. In a triage situation, of course, even people who have registered will have to wait. When there are delays, users are notified through text messages and emails with updated projections on treatment times.”

The service is available, here.

[via San Francisco Citizen]

Photo credit: San Francisco Citizen

• Tag: Emergency Room, ER, health, Hospitals, Inner Sunset, InQuickER, Parnassus, patient care, sick, tech, UCSF