Online Signup Allows Waiting At Home for ER Treatment

Five SSM Health Care hospitals in the St. Louis area use online sign-in for emergency room treatment—for patients with minor needs. 

“While this service is not meant to eliminate waiting times, it will give people a more convenient option when needing treatment,” said Sean Hogan, President of SSM Ambulatory Services.

The service is called InQuicker, and apparently is used at other hospitals across the nation.

The five hospital ERs with this service: 

• St. Mary’s Health Center (Richmond Heights)
• St. Clare Health Center (Fenton)
• DePaul Health Center (St. Louis)
• St. Joseph Health Center (St. Charles)
• St. Joseph Hospital West (Lake St. Louis)

A SSM Health Care spokesperson said patients with minor emergencies go online to hold a place in line, by selecting a projected treatment time, then waiting at home or elsewhere until it is time to leave for the hospital.

Specifics:

• Go to hospital website.
• Select a projected treatment time
• Fill out a simple form
• Wait at home until it’s time to go.

Based on previous experiences and data, the new service typically increases patient satisfaction, especially for those with minor emergencies.

Also, InQuicker typically streamlines service in the ER, and likely increases the number of patients treated overall, SSM officials said.

SSM St. Joseph Health Center-Wentzville and SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center do not have the service. 

To learn more or use InQuicker 

SSM Health Care-St. Louis includes seven hospitals: Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center, DePaul Health Center, St. Clare Health Center, St. Joseph Health Center, St. Joseph Health Center–Wentzville, St. Joseph Hospital West and St. Mary’s Health Center, and a free-standing ambulatory care center (St. Joseph Medical Park), plus a Managed Care Organization (MCO), and a Physicians' Organization (PO).