Frequently Asked Questions

Following are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about ER Reserve:

Q. When should I use ER Reserve compared to going directly to the emergency department or making an appointment with my primary care physician?

Use ER Reserve when you have a medical condition or injury that is not life threatening but that needs treatment before you can see your primary care physician. Do not use ER Reserve if you have chest pain, signs of a possible stroke or other life threatening conditions. In those cases, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department immediately. If you have reserved a time through ER Reserve and your conditions worsen, do not wait. Call 9-1-1 or go directly to the nearest emergency department.

Q. When I reserve a time through ER Reserve, is that time guaranteed?

We will do our best to see you at the time you have reserved. Please understand that in any emergency department, patients are seen in order of the severity of their illness or injury. That means that if you arrive at your reserved time, you may be asked to wait while we treat patients who have life-threatening injuries or illnesses.

Q. What factors can affect my wait time?

The most common factors that can affect your wait time is the medical condition of other patients in the emergency department. As in any ED, we see patients in the order of the severity of their illnesses or injuries. For example, if you are in the ER with an ankle sprain and another patient arrives with chest pain and other signs of possible heart attack, he or she will be seen first.

Q. How is my ER Reserve visit billed through my insurance?

South Texas Health Systems hospitals will bill your visit to your insurance provider. However, insurance plans vary in how they treat ER Reserve visits. Some plans consider visits through ER Reserve as an emergency visit while others may say they are urgent care visits and apply different co-pays and deductibles. If you anticipate using ER Reserve, you should check with your insurance plan in advance to see how it will cover an ER Reserve visit.

Q. What do I need to bring to my ER Reserve visit?

Be sure to bring a list of any prescription and over-the-counter medications you are currently taking, along with the dosage. Any additional information you can bring about your medical history may also help your emergency physician diagnose and treat your illness or injury.

Q. What happens if I miss my time slot?

If you arrive at the Emergency Department after your reserved time slot, you will be registered, triaged and treated the same as any patient who walks through our doors.

Q. Will I go to the front of the line if I make a reservation?

As stated above, we will make every effort to meet your reserved time, however a time slot reserved through ER Reserve will not place you ahead of patients with more serious or life-threatening illnesses or injuries.

Q. If I'm already in the ER and use my phone to make an appointment, will it speed up the process?

No, it will not. After you are in the Emergency Department and have been registered at the desk, the process will be the same and all patients will be treated in order of the severity of their illness or injury.