An area hospital is piloting a new program aimed at reducing  the time it takes emergency room patients to see a doctor or nurse.

 

Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center says patients who meet certain criteria are rapidly assessed by  nursing staff, a physicians assistant or a physician. The hospital says that allows testing to begin while patients are still in the waiting room.

 

According to ER-staff, the process is reducing the average times it takes for patients to see a medical provider on high volume days.