Don't want to wait at the ER? Edward Hospital offers wait times online

Edward Hospital became one of the first hospitals in the United States Monday to disclose waiting times for its emergency rooms online by text message or phone.

To find out how long the wait is at the ER and children's ER in Naperville, or the ER at Edward's Plainfield location, go to edward.org, call (630) 527-5969, or text "ERwait" to 41411.

This way, patients can choose between Edwards' two ERs, or between other nearby ERs and urgent care facilities if they're willing to share their wait times, said Dr. Tom Scaletta, medical director of Edward's emergency department.

"We're probably just the first of a whole wave, hopefully," Scaletta said. "A little competition is healthy for the community."

If the condition is not immediately time-sensitive, such as a sprained ankle, the patient may choose to wait at home rather than at the ER, Scaletta said.

The wait time measures the time from entering the ER to being put into a treatment room, because that's tracked immediately. The time to see a doctor may be longer but usually not much, Scaletta said.

Edward's ER saw 75,000 patients last year, the most of any hospital in the area outside of Cook County.

The busiest day is often Mondays at all emergency rooms, Scaletta said, and wait times generally increase throughout each day, until peaking around 6 p.m.

Obviously, Scaletta said, people with an urgent condition such as a heart attack or stroke should call 911 immediately.