Methodist Healthcare First in Memphis to Post Emergency Room Wait Times On-line

Gives patients ability to make informed decisions

Memphis, Tenn. – Methodist Healthcare kicks off a city-wide campaign today announcing the posting of its hospital emergency room wait times online. The campaign will include billboards, social media, direct mail, and television spots to educate Memphis area residents and residents in surrounding communities how to access emergency room wait times at Methodist Healthcare’s adult hospitals. Patients will be able to access approximately how long it will take to see a medical profession such as a doctor or nurse practitioner. 

Patients can view ER wait times, updated every two minutes, on the Web site or by using their mobile device to access methodisthealth.org/er or by texting ERwait to 46786* to learn the wait time for Methodist Le Bonheur Germantown Hospital, Methodist North Hospital, Methodist South Hospital, or Methodist University Hospital.

“Patient flow in emergency rooms constantly changes,” explains Marty Carr, M.D., medical director for Methodist Healthcare’s adult emergency rooms. “By posting our wait times on-line, we’re giving our patients a tool they can use to make an informed decision.”

A growing number of hospitals across the country are posting ER wait times on-line. Methodist joins hospitals such as Atlantic General Hospital in Maryland and Sacred and Scottsdale Healthcare in Arizona, that are posting wait times to let people know what to expect. The national average wait time to see a doctor or nurse practitioner in the emergency room is 60 minutes. Methodist typically beats that time with an average of 40 minutes.

“Posting emergency room wait times on-line shows our commitment to providing our patients high-quality care and reflects how serious we are about increasing transparency,” said Dr. Carr.

The ability to post hospital wait times online and other integrated information systems are made possible by six years of groundwork to create the electronic medical record. This EMR system gives Methodist the ability to collect the necessary data. Dr. Carr says posting emergency room wait times on-line lets patients choose which hospital emergency room best meets their needs.

As always, in case of a life-threatening emergency, patients should go to the closest emergency room where they will be seen immediately, or call 911. *Standard texting rates may apply.

For Media Inquiries Contact:   
Mary Alice Taylor     
Communications Specialist
901-516-0617
taylmar@methodisthealth.org

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