Christus aims to reduce emergency room wait times

Christus Santa Rosa has transformed its downtown hospital into Children's Hospital of San Antonio and is doing $135 million of renovations. Christus Santa Rosa has transformed its downtown hospital into Children's Hospital of San Antonio and is doing $135 million of renovations. Photo: Express-News File Photo Photo: Express-News File Photo Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Christus aims to reduce emergency room wait times 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO — Christus Santa Rosa Health System has launched a new program to cut down patients' wait times at its hospitals' emergency rooms.

Under the new campaign, patients will be evaluated within five minutes of arriving at a Christus Santa Rosa emergency room. An emergency room nursing associate will see the patient first and begin ordering necessary procedures, such as X-rays or lab tests. Patients also will see a physician within 30 minutes of that initial evaluation, the hospital system said.

Patients can also schedule visits online before going to Christus Santa Rosa Hospital-Alamo Heights or one of Christus Santa Rosa's two freestanding emergency centers in San Antonio or New Braunfels. Emergency room appointments can be made online at christussantarosa.org from a desktop computer or mobile device.