If you've ever had to take a sick child to the emergency department in the middle of the night, you know how stressful it can be. Will you wait long? Will your child be comfortable until you see the doctor? Very often, the ER wait can add to the anxiety for both your child and yourself. But McLaren Lapeer Region has changed all that. With online emergency check-in, patients can register in advance for care in the emergency department at McLaren Lapeer Region. With just a few clicks, patients, or parents of patients, can select an ER arrival time that fits their schedule. This allows patients in need of emergency care to wait in the comfort of home as long as possible, as opposed to sitting in the ER waiting room. "When you need emergency care, you don't want to sit in a waiting room," said Chris Candela, president and CEO of McLaren Lapeer Region. "Online ER check-in reduces the time spent in the waiting room by enabling patients to begin their wait at home." McLaren Lapeer Region's online ER check-in is a quick and easy process, which starts by visiting mclaren.org/LapeerER. Patients can view available check-in times, provide basic contact information and describe their symptoms, all in about 5 minutes. Once completed, patients immediately receive a confirmation email. Additionally, if there is any reason for delay"“for example, an influx of patients in the ER from a major accident"“online check-in patients will receive an updated notification. Online ER check-in offers advantages to the emergency department team as well. "The online check-in process allows our team to receive advance notifications of patients coming to the ER, along with the reasons for their visit," said Betsy Felton, director of Emergency Services. "We're always prepared to care for any patients upon arrival, but this provides additional information we use to reduce the wait and improve the patient experience." McLaren Lapeer Region added online ER check-in as part of an ongoing effort to enhance patient access. McLaren Lapeer Region also offers online scheduling for primary care physician appointments, at mclaren.org/lapeerappointments. "We want to do everything we can to improve the patient experience and reduce barriers to care," Candela added. "McLaren Lapeer Region continues to explore opportunities to enhance our services and meet the needs of our community." To check in online, visit mclaren.org/LapeerER