Nyack Hospital says it will cut ER wait times

I have been to the Emergency Room at Nyack Hospital three times. Once I waited six hours, although I had a fever of 103 degrees and could barely walk. I also waited five hours with a torn cornea and three hours with an inner ear infection.

I'm not ranting against Nyack Hospital. I have gotten good care there and so have my children. I'm even scheduled to go under the knife there in the near future. The wait times for the ER, however, are just atrocious, as any nearby resident can tell you.

You'll just have to count me as one of the skeptics that things will improve, even after I read this today.

Nyack Hospital, Nyack, N.Y., has launched its Emergency Room 30-minute service standard to cut down on wait times in the ER.

The hospital redesigned the ER using innovative methodologies to improve patient flow.

A wireless medical record system was installed, enabling medical personnel to quickly access a patient's medical history and initiate treatment. Wait times are also posted on the hospital's website.

Patients can expect to have their medical care initiated within 30 minutes of arrival, provided by nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and physicians.

If the wait goes beyond this time frame, patients will receive a letter of apology and a gift certificate to a local shop.

I'm hoping that one of those shops is Sign of the Times on Main Street as they've got some cool buttons and bumper stickers there. However, I hope not to be using the Emergency Room there for any reason if I can help it, despite the wait times. My big question is: If you die while waiting past 30 minutes, does the price of your gift certificate increase and can your family get those benefits?