Alexian Brothers Opens Up ERs

The Alexian Brothers hospital system in Illinois has modified its website to allow patients to reserve spots in its emergency rooms.

The system, which is affiliated with St. Louis-based Ascension Health, operates four hospitals in the Chicago area. It is using a system called InQuickER that allows patients to reserve appointments at Alexian's hospitals and urgent care centers without leaving their homes. In QuickER is based in Nashville and provides Web-based ER services in about 30 states.

Patients who reserve an ER spot have to describe their condition in the online form they submit. Red flags such as chest pains will prompt hospital personnel to contact the patient immediately to determine if immediate care is needed.

”For the first time ever staff are able to see who is coming and with what symptoms, so they can better prepare staff, space and supplies ahead of time,” said Andrew Snyder, the Alexian Brothers's Health System vice president of marketing.

For those patients who do not have an immediate medical need, the system allows them the option of waiting at home until they are notified they can receive care, according to the hospital system.

Alexian Brothers officials said the system will not only ease ER overcrowding at its hospitals, but reduce the number of patients who leave without receiving any care.