Need to go to the ER? There's an app for that

Shakopee Valley News

If you've ever spent hours waiting at an urgent care clinic or emergency room, you're not alone.

St. Francis Regional Medical Center is trying to reduce wait times with an online check-in system for emergency rooms and urgent care clinics. People can check in from any device, including smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers at stfrancis-shakopee.com/checkin. The online check-in option, available since July 5, is the first in the state, according to a news release.

"We're cutting down on inefficient uses of time and accommodating everyone's busy schedules, while creating an experience for outpatients that is different from other hospitals in the area," St. Francis Regional Medical Center President Mike McMahan said.

Online check-in will be offered at St. Francis Emergency Room, St. Francis Campus Urgent Care and St. Francis Southbridge Urgent Care.

Scheduled times might be delayed due to severity of other patients' conditions, but overall, patients should be seen within 15 minutes of their check-in times.

"Should a patient with a life-threatening condition arrive, a patient's scheduled time may be delayed, but we will do everything we can to see patients as close to their online check-in time as possible," Patient Care Supervisor Greg Jones said.