ER wait time clocks????

A&OxNone, MSN, RN · Aug 20, 2011

I work at one.

It takes an average wait time in the last 4 hours between when u check in, to when the doc signs up, saying they are on their way to see you.

Yea, people get ticked off if its longer. Badly. But usually there's a reason (trauma, code, something )

The docs have a lot of pressure on them to keep the time down. A LOT

WillowNMe · Aug 20, 2011

One of my local hospitals has one of those... I always wondered until one day I had to use it this past spring for kidney stones. Clock said nine minutes, and I literally walked through the doors, into admitting and a few minutes later I was taken to my room where my doctor was waiting for me. I had an IV going and Dilaudid infused in under 10 minutes. Needless to say, I was very impressed....

As a side note, I had three ER trips for that "little" kidney stone. That was the last of the three (thankfully!! My pinning was that night), and the first two trips were to a different hospital... Took over an hour to get pain relief the first time and 40 minutes the second time. Wonder what their billboard clock would have said!!

Mommy&RN, BSN, RN · Aug 20, 2011

Having heard your kidney story may change my thoughts, but here was my previous thoughts.

"If you need to know how long the wait is, chances are that is not were you need to be seeking care."

Munch · Aug 20, 2011

My hospital doesn't have this but I did go to one that had that. Like the one poster said it goes by the time you check in to the time you see the doctor. But the hospital I went to didn't go by first come, first serve basis. Sometimes your numbers would change. For example if you were in first for like a broken finger and it said you had to wait 45 minutes and someone came in with a fever and symptoms of a kidney infection after you, they would most likely go ahead of you and your number would be changed to say an hour and fifteen minutes as opposed to the original 45 minutes if that makes sense.

mwboswell · Aug 20, 2011

I work at one.
It takes an average wait time in the last 4 hours between when u check in, to when the doc signs up, saying they are on their way to see you.
Yea, people get ticked off if its longer. Badly. But usually there's a reason (trauma, code, something )
The docs have a lot of pressure on them to keep the time down. A LOT

Sometimes it's not the Docs holding things up.

I've seen triage nurses keep people waiting longer than necessary before bringing them back.

Just my opinion here of what I'VE seen.

mwboswell · Aug 20, 2011

Having heard your kidney story may change my thoughts, but here was my previous thoughts.
"If you need to know how long the wait is, chances are that is not were you need to be seeking care."

Exactly....

"IF" you broke your ankle, and you were informed that ER "A" had a wait time of 30-45 min to be seen and ER "B" had a wait time of 15-20 minutes; where would YOU go? Assuming the drive time would not be an issue or not that much of an issue.

Hospitals KNOW that the ER is the GATEWAY to a revenue stream.

They are heavily marketing/competing for business. Even if you don't need an admission or surgery for THIS problem - if they get you in their door and do a good job, then the next time you DO need surgery, a procedure, an admission or to birth a baby; they want your business for sure THEN!

mwboswell · Aug 20, 2011

The OP asked what time was being measured...

It depends.

Some will use their "door to triage" times (IE: time to see a nurse),

Some will use "door to doctor" times (which may NOT always mean in a TREATMENT room -as some places are putting doctors or NP/PAs in the 'triage' area and you'll see them then)

Some will use "door to treatment" times.

You have to look at the fine print and make sure your local ER's are comparing apples to apples.

mwboswell · Aug 20, 2011

Speaking of wait times....

Has anyone had any experience yet with the systems where you "call ahead" to "reserve" an appointment time in the ED?

(REALLY this does exist!)

dthfytr, ADN, LPN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-I · Aug 20, 2011

Seems like marketing taking precedent over good medical care. Someone with chest pain driving himself to the hospital and sees a sign saying he's going to wait 10 or 20 minutes. Uhm, DUH!

On a related topic; For many years I've answered the ever present phone calls asking how long the wait is with "life threatening emergencies are seen immediately and everybody else are seen next." Just once I would like to have answered "if you're worried about the wait to the point of calling on the phone, do you really think you are an emergency?"

Has anybody ever seen a well functioning integration of a doc-in-a-box type clinic with a true ER? Done right it could save costs, time, and tempers. I doubt many people will really be happy until we have drive through windows in the ER.

Mommy&RN, BSN, RN · Aug 20, 2011

Exactly....
"IF" you broke your ankle, and you were informed that ER "A" had a wait time of 30-45 min to be seen and ER "B" had a wait time of 15-20 minutes; where would YOU go? Assuming the drive time would not be an issue or not that much of an issue.
Hospitals KNOW that the ER is the GATEWAY to a revenue stream.
They are heavily marketing/competing for business. Even if you don't need an admission or surgery for THIS problem - if they get you in their door and do a good job, then the next time you DO need surgery, a procedure, an admission or to birth a baby; they want your business for sure THEN!

My thoughts come from the city that I live in. There is only one "system" doing the billboards, so they aren't very close together. You only see the sign to the closest ED, so you have no idea if the next closest facilty is longer or shorter wait time. KWIM?

mwboswell · Aug 20, 2011

My thoughts come from the city that I live in. There is only one "system" doing the billboards, so they aren't very close together. You only see the sign to the closest ED, so you have no idea if the next closest facilty is longer or shorter wait time. KWIM?

I'm sure the other facility knows this and if they have good advertising/marketing - there will be another billboard at some point with their wait times also.