KentuckyOne Health Announces 30-Minute ER Pledge

KentuckyOne Health is making emergency room visits faster for patients with a new “30-minute ER pledge,” which is expected to cut the time it takes to see a physician by 50%. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are more than 136 million emergency department visits each year in the United States, and the south has one of the highest population-based visit rates. With such high volume, patients can easily feel lost or forgotten in the crowd. That’s why KentuckyOne Health is making it a priority to reduce wait times in the emergency room.

The 30-minute pledge is taking place at KentuckyOne Health facilities statewide, helping to improve the emergency room experience for patients.

As patients enter a KentuckyOne Health emergency room, they are assessed by a pivot nurse, who is a seasoned health care veteran with years of experience handling the range of cases in the ER. The nurse directs a patient down the appropriate care path based on the severity of their sickness or injury.

As part of this faster emergency room process, patients are given a number from 1-5, corresponding to the severity of their condition, based on a standardized severity index. Patients with less severe conditions will receive care through a FastER path, while those with more severe injuries or conditions will receive care through a traditional emergency care path.

“KentuckyOne Health’s goal has always been to provide the highest quality emergency care in the fastest time possible,” said Joe Gilene, president, Jewish Hospital and downtown market leader for KentuckyOne Health. “This new process ensures that treatment is received in the fastest way possible, giving patients the compassionate care they need and deserve, in a more efficient manner.”