The 30-Minute ER Pledge at Parkway Regional Hospital

What exactly is the 30-Minute Pledge?
When patients enter the Emergency Department at Parkway Regional Hospital, the time of their arrival will be noted. Our pledge is that a clinical professional (Physician, Physician Assistant or Advanced Practice Nurse) will initially see them within 30 minutes of their arrival.

Does this mean patients will be on their way home in 30 minutes or less?
No. We will work hard to have a clinical professional initially see our patients and begin their evaluation and treatment within 30 minutes. Depending on the nature of their illness or injury, the duration of each visit will vary.

How is the timeframe of patients’ visits documented for this pledge?
When a patient arrives and checks in, the time of arrival will be noted. When the clinical professional initially sees the patient, the time will be documented by the Emergency Department staff.

Is a 30-Minute Pledge really necessary for an emergency room?
In many emergency rooms across the country, wait times have been increasing. We want to assure our patients that we are dedicated to not only offering quality care but also providing that care as efficiently as possible.

Are any other hospitals in the area offering the 30-Minute ER Pledge?
The 30-Minute ER Pledge is offered ONLY at Parkway Regional Hospital.

When do the 30 minutes officially start?
The 30 minutes start when the patient checks in with our staff at the Emergency Room desk.

Does the 30-Minute ER Pledge affect how patients are prioritized?
While the goal is to initially see every patient within 30 minutes, the most severe cases will always receive immediate attention.

How can the Emergency Department maintain quality care if speed is the priority?
It is not our objective now, nor will it ever be, to "rush" patients through the Emergency Department. Our process improvements have been focused on getting patients into a room as quickly as possible and enabling our clinical professional to initially see a patient and begin their diagnosis and treatment in a timely manner.

Is the 30-Minute Pledge in effect at all times and does it apply to all ages - infants to senior citizens?
Yes.

Do I have to wait up to 30 minutes for someone to say, "May I help you?"
Absolutely not. Emergency Department staff will greet you as soon as you come in, and a nurse will assess your condition through a triage process. We know your time is valuable and we promise to do our best to have a clinical professional initially see you within 30 minutes.

Does this cost more?
No.

Is this covered by my insurance?
Yes. In fact, in emergency situations we welcome all insurance plans.

Disclaimer
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 9-1-1.

The Emergency Department (ED) wait time is provided as an informational service to the public. It is approximate, and based on a rolling two hour average that is updated four times an hour.

The ED wait time represents the time it takes from arrival until a patient is initially seen by a Physician). Patients are triaged upon their arrival in the ED. They are then seen by a Physician in an order based on their complaint, condition, and the reason for their visit.