JERSEY CITY AND HOBOKEN — Well, that’s something different.
Patients have long complained about emergency room waits. But Jersey City Medical Center is says that beginning later this month, they’ll institute an online appointment system that enables individuals with non-threatening medical conditions to select a projected treatment time and then arrive at the Jersey City hospital’s emergency room to see a health care professional. Patients will also have the option to visit the Hoboken Health Stop, the hospital’s after hours walk-in care facility at 2 Hudson Street in Hoboken, located next to the transportation terminals, according to a press relase.
This is the first time such a system is being instituted in the New York metropolitan area. Developed in 2006 by InQuicker.com, a Nashville, Tennessee-based company, the system has been used by 165 healthcare facilities in 22 states, they said.
“There is a shortage of primary care physicians in this area, and as such, the hard working providers in ERs and physician offices aren’t able to keep up with the demand for services, which can lead to delays in treatment, lengthy wait times for appointments and, ultimately, unhappy patients,” said Kirat Kharode, the hospital’s vice president of operations. “With this system, which is similar to using OpenTable to make a restaurant reservation, we will be holding a place for patients in line without them having to actually be there. We’re putting our patients first.”
To make an appointment, patients can go to the hospital website, www.libertyhcs.org or www.Ichoosejcmc.com.