Have ER Questions? ERAdvisor Has Answers

New tool lets patients and families use cell phone to follow ER progress

LAS VEGAS – August 17, 2022 − Even health professionals acknowledge a visit to the Emergency Room can be a confusing, frustrating, and lengthy experience. If you or a loved one is injured or dealing with a health concern, long wait times spent wondering about your progress and next steps only compounds your aggravation.  

Enter ERAdvisor - ERAdvisor is a new service being offered in Dignity Health Emergency Departments in southern Nevada. It is designed to keep patients and families informed during an ER visit, updating patients and families through their cell phones with information on wait times, test results, and their progress through the emergency department. 

By providing a simple cell phone number at registration, patients are able to:

• See estimated wait times
• Share their ER progress and timeline with family
• Find answers to common questions
• Schedule recommended follow-up visits

Jon Van Boening, Siena Hospital CEO and President of Dignity Health Nevada, said, “This impressive technology was implemented in our busy Emergency Departments just weeks ago and we’re already seeing impressive results. Since its June launch, nearly 60 percent of Siena ER patients able to connect to the system are connecting and using it to view customized wait times, updates, and explanations throughout the entirety of their visit. And the best part is it is all powered by a simple text message on your cell phone.” 

ERAdvisor is easy - ERAdvisor is not an app. There’s nothing to download. All that’s required is a cell phone number. Patient cell numbers are used solely for a “one-time” experience using ERAdvisor in the Emergency Room. ERAdvisor does not distribute, sell, or market to cell phone numbers provided by patients.

How does ERAdvisor work?
A patient’s cell phone number is collected during registration. Within five minutes, a welcome message is delivered to the patient’s cell phone (standard message rates apply), inviting them to join the ERAdvisor experience. ERAdvisor automatically updates patients and families throughout their ED visit with up to the minute wait times, secure sharing with family, and lab & imaging information.

Update family and loved ones - ERAdvisor allows patients to add cell numbers of family and friends who will automatically receive updates. 

No cell phone? - ERAdvisor will send a text to any cell phone number listed in the patient’s registration. If a loved one’s cell number is in the registration system, they can receive the update messages for the patient. 

Constantly updating - Estimates are subject to change. An Emergency department is a dynamic place where circumstances are constantly changing. Estimated wait times are based on several factors such as the number of patients being treated, room availability, pending lab results, staffing levels, and many others. ERAdvisor takes these factors into account, monitoring them and recalculating estimated wait times multiple times every minute.

ERAdvisor is available in southern Nevada at:

• Siena Hospital Emergency Department - 3001 St. Rose Parkway, Henderson, NV
• San Martin Hospital Emergency Department - 8280 W Warm Springs Rd, Las Vegas, NV

Kimberly Shaw, President and CEO of San Martin Hospital, said, “I started my career as a nurse and nurse manager, so I understand that information is invaluable to an anxious ER patient and their family. ERAdvisor guides people through an ER visit from arrival to admission, discharge or transfer, providing updates, explanations of what to expect, and anticipated wait times for test results and diagnostic orders. This is an incredibly powerful tool we are deploying and our participation rates are showing how well it is being received.”

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About Dignity Health-St. Rose Dominican:

Dignity Health-St. Rose Dominican this year celebrates 75 years in southern Nevada, marking the anniversary of the arrival of the seven Adrian Dominican Sisters who founded Rose de Lima Hospital on June 27, 1947. As the community’s only not-for-profit, faith-based health system, St. Rose Dominican has been guided by the vision and core values of the Adrian Dominican Sisters in all its endeavors. As the Henderson and Las Vegas communities grow, the St. Rose Dominican health system and its nearly 4,000 employees continues the Sisters’ mission of serving people in need. Dignity Health currently operates three acute care hospitals in southern Nevada and is a member of the multi-state Dignity Health network of nearly 10,000 physicians, 60,000 employees, 41 acute care hospitals, and 400-plus care centers, including hospitals, urgent and occupational care, imaging centers, and primary care clinics. For more information, visit our website at www.strosehospitals.org.