ER Group

Volumes of patients

The Mediclinic Vereeniging Emergency Unit consults a wide variety of emergency cases with a high acuity of patient injuries often presenting. Approximately 1100 patients are consulted per month with a large proportion being severe trauma cases.

Clinical profile

This unit manages all adult and paediatric emergencies incorporating trauma and medical cases. The unit is well supported by general specialist cover and is known by EMS providers as the premier Emergency Unit in the area.

Fees and Administration fee

An administration levy of R70-00 is charged to all medical aid patients This amount is collected at the time of consultation. The patient’s account is then submitted to medical aid directly by ER Consulting Inc. provided the correct information is given.

Triage

South African Triage Group (SATG) protocols are employed in the unit. Over the past year a dedicated triage area has been established ensuring patient confidentiality and rapid clinical assessment upon arrival. All patients are triaged on arrival and are allocated a colour code. This colour represents the acuity of the patient and the order in which the patient will be seen.

Doctor Model

Although there is currently no full time employed doctor based at the unit, the unit is covered by senior clinicians in the ER Group and the dedicated area Manager not only performs shifts at the unit, but also oversees the quality and consistency of service delivery in the unit.

Locums

All locums are ER Consulting Inc. accredited. The unit is blessed with a large locum pool with vast experience, backed up by the specialists based in the area.

Shifts

Doctors work in shifts with 2 doctors on duty during busy times. Additional doctor coverage is available through the ER Group scheduling department ensuring adequate clinical cover at all times.

Administration

A full time unit administrator is employed by ER Consulting Inc. to perform all administrative tasks on site. The administrative data is exported to head office where the full process is completed.

Continued Professional Development

ER Consulting Inc. hosts accredited monthly Morbidity & Mortality and CPD meetings attended by specialists, nursing staff and paramedics. These meetings offer the opportunity to discuss pertinent issues in the unit and to remedy any problems that may arise. A monthly meeting with EMS service providers and a seat on the quality assurance committee enhances academic development in the unit.

WCA/COID

Numerous businesses in the area make use of the efficient WCA service that accepts all patients injured on duty, provided a copy of their ID book and the Employer’s Report are present. This documentation is then collated by our unit administrator together with the First & Progress Medical Reports before being submitted to our head office for processing. The number of WCA cases in the unit has consistently grown, showing the commitment of our service delivery to local industries.

Clinical Protocols

One of the major investments of the ER Group in 2012 has been into the development of a 24 hour online clinical guidance programme available to all our clinicians in all our units. ER Consulting Inc. operates according to international best practice and is guided by the ER Consulting Inc. clinical guidelines which are available in electronic format and accessible 24 hours per day. Additionally there are hard copies of the SAMF and MIMS guidelines in the unit. The ER Consulting Inc National Clinical Director ensures that all doctors are up to date through the innovative clinical proficiency scorecard, providing training for our doctors through our dedicated training facility in Bryanston.

Events

ER Consulting Inc. has traditionally provided medical support to events in the area. Additionally ER Consulting can provide doctors to corporate conferences, family days and international celebrities performing or filming in the area.

Research

2012 sees a renewed focus on quality clinical research with the Clinical Director recently launching research guidelines at the ER Group annual conference in Sun City that will ensure ER Consulting Inc remains on the front line of private Emergency Medicine research in South Africa.