Epic ‘On My Way’ Reduces ED Wait Times

Using Epic’s On My Way feature, patients seeking care at Hartford Healthcare’s emergency departments throughout Connecticut can plan ahead with ED wait-time estimates in MyChart. At one Hartford Healthcare location piloting the feature, the ED median wait time was reduced by 13 minutes.

When patients go to the hospital with an urgent medical need they’re focused on getting seen quickly, but they might encounter a packed waiting room. By finding the nearest ED with a short wait time using On My Way, patients can make an informed decision on their destination. Nearly all patients who took part in Hartford Healthcare’s On My Way pilot were seen as soon or sooner than the overall average wait time.

In addition to lowering wait times by helping incoming patients avoid crowded ED waiting rooms, booking with On My Way expedites the check-in process for hospital staff by letting them know how many patients are planning to come in. Managers can then use that knowledge to ensure that beds and staffing account for the incoming patients.

“Having access to a resource that helps patients identify an emergency department based on shorter wait times creates a better experience for the patient, and the load balancing helps speed care,” said Dr. Jeff Finkelstein, vice president of medical affairs for Hartford Healthcare entities MidState Medical Center and The Hospital of Central Connecticut.

Read more about Hartford Healthcare’s On My Way implementation in the New Britain Herald.