Indeed, I think the whole "ER overuse" thing is a smoke screen. Yes an ER has certain facilities that are needed for truly critical situations. Been there. But if someone walks in with a stubbed toe, that person is questioned at the front desk, and is directed to a waiting room and an experience that is pretty much just like regular urgent care.

Simple non-technical solution: Build a regular urgent care facility next to the ER and shunt the non-emergency people to it.