With the Affordable Care Act (ACA) expected to extend healthcare coverage to 30 million Americans, hospitals are getting creative with strategies to improve emergency department throughput, wait times, and patient satisfaction. One of the most creative strategies allows patients to make online emergency room reservations. 
According to a Bloomberg.com article, patients enter their ailments into the hospital’s online booking system, which queues patients according to the severity of their condition. Patients are then given an appointment to see a physician, nurse practitioner, or other provider as appropriate. If a patient enters a serious symptom, such as chest pain, the system instructs the patient to call 911 or go directly to the hospital. Hospital representatives say the system has improved patient satisfaction scores, but the article does not indicate if overall throughput improved in facilities that offer reservations. Read the full article
According to a Bloomberg.com article, patients enter their ailments into the hospital’s online booking system, which queues patients according to the severity of their condition. Patients are then given an appointment to see a physician, nurse practitioner, or other provider as appropriate. If a patient enters a serious symptom, such as chest pain, the system instructs the patient to call 911 or go directly to the hospital. Hospital representatives say the system has improved patient satisfaction scores, but the article does not indicate if overall throughput improved in facilities that offer reservations. Read the full article
