The Current Would you wait in a virtual queue at an ER?
Feb 25, 2026
Dr. Stephen Smith, an emergency physician and VP of medical affairs who built a virtual ED waiting-room, explains a system letting low-acuity patients wait at home and get texted when to come in. He discusses inspiration from theme-park fast passes, how the online signup and safety checks work, pilot results showing big time savings, and plans to scale and integrate with community care.
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Patient Used Virtual Queue And Avoided Long Wait
- Patricia St. Jules used the virtual queue for an ear infection and waited under three hours total, far shorter than prior 10–14 hour waits.
- As a senior she preferred waiting at home to avoid exposure to other illnesses in the hospital waiting room.
Disney FastPass Inspired Virtual ED Queue
- Stephen Smith got the idea for a virtual ED queue after using Disney's FastPass system to avoid long ride lines.
- He noticed guests were notified when wait times were reasonable and thought the same notification model could reduce hospital waiting-room congestion.
How The Virtual Waiting Room Actually Works
- Patients sign up on the hospital website, confirm symptoms match an eligibility list, and receive text updates on their position before being told to come in.
- The system uses text notifications and a clear symptom list so lower-acuity patients can wait at home and arrive only when their turn nears.