SPARTANBURG, SC - When you’re experiencing a healthcare emergency, the last thing you need to do is wait. Emergency medicine is about three things: compassion, skilled care and speed. Mary Black knows the importance of prompt service – especially in the emergency room (ER). “That’s why we have launched a 30-Minutes-or-Less ER Service Pledge – to assure patients we’re dedicated not only to offering quality care, but also providing that care as efficiently and quickly as possible,” said Sean Dardeau, CEO.
When a patient enters the ER at Mary Black Health System – Spartanburg the arrival time is noted. The 30-Minutes-or-Less ER Service Pledge begins the minute a patient checks in at the ER desk. “Our pledge is that a medical professional will work diligently to initially see each patient within 30 minutes or less of their arrival to begin evaluation and treatment. When the patient is seen by a medical professional -- a physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner -- the time is logged, so we can track our performance in keeping our pledge of short ER wait times,” said Dardeau.
“While the goal of Mary Black Health System – Spartanburg’s ER pledge is to work diligently to initially see every patient within 30 minutes of their arrival, the most critical health emergencies will always receive top priority,” said Dr. Don Abernethy, ER Medical Director. The hospital records and monitors many ER indicators as part of its ongoing quality improvement efforts. “One of the items we track is patient wait times in the ER to determine how efficiently we triage patients and get them to a medical professional for initial evaluation and treatment,” said Dardeau. “I’m pleased to report that the majority of patients at Mary Black – Spartanburg’s ER were already being seen within 30 minutes of their arrival time.”
From July through December 2015, the average wait time in the Mary Black Health System - Spartanburg ER was 24 minutes.
The hospital launched the 30-Minutes-or-Less ER Service Pledge on February 19th. “We believe this service pledge will underscore our commitment to provide quality emergency care,” Dardeau said. “Though we’re committed to prompt and appropriate care for our ER patients, the 30-Minutes-or-Less ER pledge should not be misinterpreted as an effort to rush patients though the ER,” he adds. “Our process improvements focus on getting ER patients into a treatment room as quickly as possible, enabling our medical professionals to see a patient and begin diagnosis and treatment in a timely manner.”
The community can view Mary Black Health System – Spartanburg’s average ER wait time -- based on a one-hour rolling average, updated every 15 minutes – on our home page.
The emergency department (ER) average wait time is provided as an informational service to the public. It is approximate and based on a one-hour rolling average that is updated four times an hour and does not represent the actual current activity in the ED waiting room. The ER wait time represents the time it takes from arrival until a patient is initially seen by a medical professional (physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner). Patients are triaged upon their arrival in the ER. They are then seen by a medical professional in an order based on their complaint, condition, and the reason for their visit.
About Mary Black Health System
Mary Black Health System, LLC is a health care delivery system comprised of Mary Black Health System – Spartanburg, Mary Black Health System - Gaffney, Mary Black Physicians Group, and Mary Black Health Network, Inc. The combined organization has 332 licensed beds, more than 1400 employees and more than 400 physicians on medical staff. Providing health care services to Upstate residents for more than 90 years, Mary Black Health System – Spartanburg’s acute care hospital is accredited by The Joint Commission, The Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (Chest Pain Accreditation), and is a Certified Stroke Center. It features surgical suites, a warm and inviting Family Birthing Center, nationally credentialed (CARF) Inpatient Rehabilitation, a 24 bed Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit, Geriatric Psychiatric Services, and a Sleep Center. Outpatient services include Radiology, Endoscopy Center, Wound Center, Rehabilitation Services and Women’s Breast Health Center featuring same-day digital mammography and bone density testing. We are a patient-centered, professional, highly skilled health care system, which provides a continuum of care through the dedicated work of our nurses, staff, and volunteers.
Mary Black Health System – Spartanburg is directly or indirectly owned by a partnership that proudly includes physician owners, including certain members of the hospital's medical staff.