Patients

The emergency department can be a scary place to visit.
ER Consulting Inc understands this and would like to reassure you that all our staff are all here to help you at your time of crisis. We are an extensive doctors’ practice that operates in South Africa to provide emergency care to patients. All doctors employed by ER Consulting Inc are fully trained and have undergone additional training in emergency care provision. First Care Solutions (Pty) Ltd is our partner company who provides our administrative structures and training platforms.

Understanding an emergency department is critical in reducing your stress in an emergency situation. In South Africa, emergency departments are outsourced by hospitals to a private practice who is required to provide an emergency service according to specific governance rules and levels. ER Consulting Inc is the largest such group in South Africa and operates services in 25 emergency departments currently.

First Care Solutions (Pty) Ltd and ER Consulting Inc have experience dating back to 1998. We have developed systems and processes to deliver a world-class service. Emergency Medicine is a complicated area of medicine in that it operates 24/7/365, and therefore requires specially trained medical professionals. As a result, emergency departments can be expensive places to visit. In addition, all other specialists (including X-rays/laboratories) are called in to back up the emergency department doctors. All of these specialists come at an additional cost.

The following are essential to know when going to the emergency room:

  • Patients are attended to in order of how sick they are, not in the order they necessarily arrive. This process is called triage and ensures that the most ill patients are seen first.
  • Doctors work in shifts in emergency medicine, meaning the same doctor will not always be on duty if you return later that day or the next day. Please bring your clinical record with you for ease of reference should you return.
  • Please bring identification (or a friend who knows you) to the emergency department.
  • Present your medical aid card, if you have one.
  • Emergency department visits are paid for by your medical aid out of your medical savings account unless your condition is defined as a “prescribed minimum benefit” (PMB).
  • In conclusion, you will receive a copy of your clinical record after your visit, that should be retained to show your doctor to refer back to later. Our processes are currently moving to an electronic service, called EffortlessER which will improve this process. You will receive an invitation to join the EffortlessER app as soon as it is fully deployed.

If you are ever unsure or need advice, please call the emergency department and speak to one of the nurses or doctors. When you feel concerned that you are not getting better, return to the emergency unit immediately and get help.

Do you need more information about emergency preparedness or training? Please contact our training partner company, the Africa Institute of Emergency Medicine (Pty)Ltd who will assist you.

  • Emergency Unit Locations

    Find the closest Emergency Unit to you.

  • EffortlessER App

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  • Emergency Guide

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  • Training

    Africa Institute of Emergency Medicine Training Courses Attending specific training is critical if you would like to know what to do and who to call in an emergency.Contact our emergency training and preparedness partner company, the Africa Institute of Emergency Medicine ...

  • Understanding the ER

    Emergencies are often overwhelming. This means that all your focus is on getting the care you need as quickly as possible. Often it is difficult in a crisis to pay attention to all the detail and information many people are ...

  • Pay My Account

    Patients wishing to query an account may direct their communication in writing to info@firstcare.solutions or contact us directly on +27 (11) 706 4049. You will be directed to the appropriate administrator based on your service site. Please have your account ...

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