Doctors Luis Chapa, Edward Wright, and Erasmo Adrian Reyes trained and completed their Emergency Medicine residency together at the Texas A&M Health Science Center Christus Spohn Emergency Medicine Residency program. After completing their training, these three physicians moved to the San Antonio area in 2010-2011 and began working side-by-side as staff physicians in several of the health systems throughout the city.

While practicing in multiple ER’s throughout the San Antonio area, doctors Chapa, Wright, and Reyes came to realize that the limitations and constraints that are placed on ER physicians by larger health systems and staffing companies has not only limited emergency room efficiency, but more importantly has impaired the doctor-patient interaction that ER physicians need to have with their patients. It was apparent that in order to meet the needs of their patients and to fulfill their desire to practice Emergency Medicine in an environment that allows for a personalized touch, a change needed to be made.

With the best interest of their patients always a top priority, these three gentlemen set out to form an entity that would offer immediate, efficient, and compassionate emergency treatment in a warm setting that brings peace of mind to patients in their times of need. That entity came to fruition as Prestige Emergency Room. Prestige Emergency Room opened its doors to the public in the Northwest part of San Antonio in December of 2015, and is staffed by these three Board Certified Emergency Medicine physicians.

The autonomy to practice Emergency Medicine the way they were trained to, in a setting that is pleasant and comfortable to both patients and providers, has been one of the most rewarding aspects that these three physicians have experienced throughout their journey into entrepreneurship in the formation of Prestige Emergency Room. The rewards that come with owning and maintaining a freestanding emergency center (FEC), as with any owned business, also brings its own challenges ranging from build-out issues, billing decisions, marketing strategies, and time management. These physicians are completely devoted to their practice as they state, “We have enjoyed the road to our ER. With all of its challenges and rewards, we wouldn’t trade this experience.”

These physicians are very much appreciative of being members of TAFEC and value having an association of its stature to help advocate for the success and FEC’s such as theirs. Dr. Chapa states “TAFEC does an outstanding job of raising awareness of FEC’s throughout the state and is the cornerstone voice for this industry.” Prestige Emergency Room has enjoyed its’ growth and looks forward to continuing to serve the public in its unique ER setting.