Hospital Allows E.R. Appointments

Is your medical emergency more like an urgency? If so, East Cooper Medical Center now allows you to make an emergency room reservation and wait for your appointment time in the comfort of your own home.

InQuickER, the new service announced this week by the hospital, isn’t meant for serious emergencies, but for patients who can wait, it makes a lot of sense, hospital officials said.

“While estimates and averages about emergency room wait times may vary, many emergency room patients can end up waiting several hours in waiting rooms,” said Theresa Lynn, RN, BSN, CNE, emergency services director at East Cooper Medical Center.

“With this service, users enjoy the convenience of choosing where they wait.”

Patients may hold their place online at the East Cooper Medical Center Emergency Department by paying a $9.99 fee, completing an online form and arriving at the projected treatment time.

The hospital promises to see the patient within 15 minutes, or refund the online fee in full.

East Cooper has built-in safeguards to prevent seriously ill patients from waiting at home, and the hospital encourages anyone with immediate medical needs to call 911 or to immediately proceed to the ER.

“We want to be as convenient as possible for our patients. Patients with life-threatening conditions must be treated first, of course,” said Amy DiGiacomo, the hospital’s director of marketing.

“But when you’re not feeling well and need to be seen in the ER, it’s nice to know you can choose a time that’s convenient to you and wait in the comfort of your own home until it’s time to head to the hospital.”