STAFF REPORTS
Long emergency room waits could be a thing of the past for patients who use a new reservation service at Seton Hays Medical Center in Kyle.
For a $5 fee, people with minor emergencies may go online to designate an arrival time at the hospital and to reserve a place in an emergency room.
Seton guarantees that patients who use the service will be seen by a health-care professional within 15 minutes of the designated arrival time, or the fee will be refunded. The service, available at SetonER.com, takes effect Thursday.
“SetonER.com is designed for people experiencing non-life-threatening medical conditions such as a sprained ankle or twisted knee. This way, they can better manage their own time and deal with related needs, like getting a baby sitter or finishing dinner, Herb Dyer, Seton Hays vice president and chief operating officer, said in a news release.
Because emergency rooms treat patients in order of severity, patients whose conditions are not life-threatening can wait for an hour or more while people with more severe injuries or illnesses get higher priority.
“You can be as comfortable as possible for as long as possible and still see a doctor as soon as possible,” Dyer said.
