ER Consulting

What ER Consulting does

ER Consulting Incorporated is a South African emergency medicine management company that operates emergency units within private hospitals on behalf of the country's largest hospital groups. Established in 2001 as a doctors' partnership at Mediclinic Sandton and incorporated in 2005 (CIPC 2005/000269/21), the company staffs, administers, and clinically governs emergency departments across 26+ active facilities under multi-year arrangements with Mediclinic, Netcare, Life Healthcare, and Lenmed, plus additional independent hospitals. Clinical staffing comprises 120 employed doctors, 200+ HPCSA-registered part-time locum practitioners, 10+ clinical associates, and six Chief Clinical Officers supported by an Operations Director and Chief Commercial Officer. The company reports treating approximately 35,000 patients per month, totaling 9.6 million patients since 2001, which it states equates to 15% of the South African population.

The company has built an integrated software stack around its clinical operations: Patient Journey Tool for unit administration and triage; AI Copilot, a voice-to-text consultation transcription system claimed to reduce doctor administrative burden by 80%; an AI-enhanced Electronic Medical Records platform; CareFirst Virtual Healthcare, which provides free post-visit online follow-up consultations; and an AI Dermatology Tool detecting over 1,600 skin conditions via smartphone camera (powered by skinscan.io). All doctors and locum practitioners are registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa under the Health Professions Act, 1974. A Clinical Excellence Centre (Case Management Centre) provides standardized care governance, case review, and on-call senior clinical support across the network.

ER Consulting generates revenue primarily through professional fees billed for emergency doctor consultations. For patients with network medical aid agreements, fees follow South African Medical Association (SAMA) rate guidelines with no co-payment; for non-network medical aid and private patients, fees may exceed scheme rates and the patient is liable for the difference. Secondary revenue streams include software and managed services supplied to hospital partners and orthotic device sales (splints, braces). Go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales to hospital groups with embedded channel partnerships across the four major hospital groups, supplemented by direct-to-consumer patient engagement through emergency unit service, billing portals, and CareFirst virtual follow-up. The company is privately held and founder-led by Dr. Steven Holt, who also serves as CEO of the broader First Care group of companies, which includes the subsidiary First Care Solutions (Pty) Ltd.

Name

ER Consulting

Legal name

ER Consulting Incorporated

Website

https://erconsulting.co.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

ER Consulting is a South African emergency medicine management firm that staffs and operates 26+ private hospital emergency units for Mediclinic, Netcare, Life Healthcare, and Lenmed, combining AI-powered clinical software with 320+ doctors to treat approximately 35,000 patients monthly.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Emergency Medicine Services

NAICS

Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists) (621111), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Emergency Response Team (ERT) Staffing & Incident Management Support (BPABANAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Professional Services Automation (PSA) & Services ERP (HDAEAEAF), ERP Managed Services & AMS (Application Management) (BPAEAGAB)

Keywords

• Emergency unit management
• Emergency medicine staffing
• Hospital emergency services
• AI medical documentation
• Telemedicine follow-up

Headquarters

HQ city

Johannesburg

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices17 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Emergency Doctor Consultation Services: ER Consulting operates as an independent emergency medicine practice that bills patients directly for doctor services rendered. Billing is based on clinical acuity of the patient and procedures performed, not a single standard fee. For networked medical aids, rates follow SAMA guidelines with no co-payment. For non-network medical aids or private patients, fees may exceed scheme rates.
2. Software Solutions and Technology Services: ER Consulting provides proprietary software solutions including Patient Journey Tool, AI Copilot, EMR, and Virtual Healthcare to hospital partners. These technology solutions are offered as part of emergency unit management services.
3. Orthotic Devices: Supply of orthotic devices such as splints or braces at applicable ER Consulting practices, billed to patients as part of practice fees

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ER Consulting is an emergency medicine management corporation that staffs and operates emergency units within 26+ private hospitals across South Africa. It provides accredited emergency doctors, clinical associates, hospitalists, and a Clinical Excellence Centre for case management and governance, alongside a proprietary AI-powered software suite (Patient Journey Tool, AI Copilot Doctor's Notes, Electronic Medical Records, Virtual Follow-up via CareFirst, and AI Dermatology Tool).

Product overview

ER Consulting operates as an emergency medicine management corporation providing a dual offering: (1) Trained Practitioner Services — staffing and managing accredited emergency doctors, clinical associates, hospitalists, and a Clinical Excellence Centre across hospital partner emergency units in South Africa; and (2) Software Solutions — a suite of AI-powered digital tools including the Patient Journey Tool (digital unit administrator), AI Copilot Doctor's Notes (voice-to-text transcription reducing admin by 80%), Electronic Medical Records, Virtual Follow-up (CareFirst Virtual Healthcare platform for free post-visit online consultations), and an AI Dermatology Tool (skin scanner via skinscan.io). The software suite is designed as an integrated ecosystem — Patient Journey Tool captures and triages patient data, AI Copilot generates clinical documentation that flows into EMR, and Virtual Follow-up extends the patient journey beyond the unit. The company also offers a Hospitalist Service for in-hospital patient management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CareFirst Virtual Healthcare: Virtual healthcare platform offering online doctor consultations, digital prescriptions, and sick notes for patients after their emergency visit.
• AI Copilot
• Patient Journey Tool
• AI Dermatology Tool

Products and services

• Trained Practitioners (Emergency Doctor Staffing) Staffing and management of accredited emergency doctors, clinical associates, and hospitalists deployed across hospital partner emergency units in South Africa. Includes 120 full-time doctors and 200+ part-time locum practitioners.
• Clinical Excellence Centre (Case Management Centre)

Quantifiable outcome

• 9.6 million patients treated since 2001
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MedicliniccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2001Mediclinic is a major hospital group partner where ER Consulting manages emergency units. Partnership began in 2001 at Mediclinic Sandton. ER Consulting provides staffing, software solutions, and emergency unit management services across multiple Mediclinic facilities including Emfuleni, Vereeniging, Newcastle, Nelspruit, and Highveld hospitals.
• NetcarecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2001Netcare is a major hospital group partner where ER Consulting manages emergency units. ER Consulting provides staffing, software solutions, and emergency unit management at Netcare facilities including Cuyler, Greenacres, Linmed, Olivedale, Sunward Park, and uMhlanga hospitals.
• Life HealthcarecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2001Life Healthcare is a major hospital group partner where ER Consulting manages emergency units. ER Consulting provides staffing, software solutions, and emergency unit management at Life Healthcare facilities including Beacon Bay, Mercantile, St. Dominic's, St George's, Carstenhof, Roseacres, Entabeni, and Anncron hospitals.
• LenmedcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2001Lenmed is a hospital group partner where ER Consulting manages emergency units. ER Consulting provides staffing, software solutions, and emergency unit management at Lenmed facilities including Zamokuhle, Ahmed Kathrada, Ethekwini, and Wilmed Park hospitals.
• International SOSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational SOS is listed as part of ER Consulting's network of premium partners, suggesting collaboration in the international medical assistance and emergency services space.
• Medical Aid Schemes (Network Agreements)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorER Consulting has established network agreements with premium medical aid schemes providing preferential rates and benefits for patients. These agreements enable no co-payments for networked medical aid patients and streamlined billing processes. Patients can access preferential rates designed to enhance efficiency and improve patient care.
• First Care Solutions (Pty) LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Care Solutions (Pty) Ltd, led by Dr. Steven Holt as CEO, is a related entity within the First Care group of companies. The company co-manages emergency centres with ER Consulting, including the Mediclinic Emfuleni Emergency Centre transition in April 2025. First Care provides the CareFirst Virtual Healthcare platform.
• AIEM (Advanced International Emergency Medicine)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAIEM is ER Consulting's dedicated training centre partner that ensures doctors receive high-quality, accurate training aligned with industry standards. The training partner supports CPD accreditation and professional development for emergency medicine practitioners.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• International SOS: Global provider of medical assistance and emergency services with a significant footprint in Africa. Already a listed partner of ER Consulting, International SOS is the closest international comparable in emergency medical staffing, assistance operations, and clinical case management.
• Sound Physicians: Physician practice focused on emergency medicine and hospitalist services across the US. Closely comparable to ER Consulting's emergency medicine + hospitalist service offering and its model of embedding clinical teams with hospital partners.
• SCP Health: US-based emergency department and hospital medicine management company staffing physicians and operating EDs across hundreds of facilities. Highly comparable to ER Consulting in combining outsourced physician staffing with proprietary clinical workflow technology and clinical performance governance.
• Vituity: US physician partnership focused on emergency medicine, hospital medicine, and acute care delivery with proprietary workflow technology. Comparable to ER Consulting in its partnership model of staffing EDs combined with technology-enabled clinical documentation and care coordination.
• US Acute Care Solutions: Physician-owned US emergency medicine, hospitalist, and critical care management group that owns and operates emergency departments. Mirrors ER Consulting's physician-ownership model, ED-management focus, and integration of governance/case management with on-the-ground staffing.

Broad incumbents

• Mediclinic: Major private hospital group in South Africa (and broader group) and one of ER Consulting's largest channel partners since 2001. While primarily a hospital operator rather than an ED management peer, Mediclinic's potential to internalise ER services represents both a key customer and a structural competitive threat.
• TeamHealth: One of the largest US outsourced physician staffing groups covering emergency medicine, hospitalist, anesthesiology, and post-acute care. Comparable to ER Consulting on emergency medicine staffing but operates at materially greater scale and across many specialties.
• Envision Healthcare: Large US physician services organisation covering emergency, hospitalist, anesthesiology, and specialty services. Overlaps with ER Consulting on emergency department staffing and clinical operations, though at broader portfolio scale and following a high-profile 2023 restructuring.

Regional players

• A24 Group: South African medical staffing provider placing doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals across the country. Closest direct regional comparable to ER Consulting for healthcare workforce/locum staffing in the South African market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ERConsultingIncSouthAfrica
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/er-consulting-inc
• Xx.com/erconsultinginc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ER Consulting