How Effective is it to Text for Local ER Wait Times?

March 2, 2010 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: ER Reviews, Other, Wait Times Health Services 

The buzz on using SMS text messages to receive local ER wait times has hit many states around the US. Billboards all over south Florida show just how big the market has grown for hospitals in advertising their ER wait times. Hospital ER wait times are being displayed on billboard adds all over US-1. The billboards are being updated every 30 seconds to show an accurate prediction of how long someone will have to wait when they pay a visit to their hospital ER rooms.

Cell-Emergency-Service-Text-ER-Wait-Times

One hospital reportedly saw a 25% increase in hospital visits after putting up the billboard. Hospitals are competing with each other for more ER visitors. People have more options in today’s growing market than ever before. The reasons why patients choose which hospitals to visit in an emergency varies – depending on physicians, distance, or wait times. By advertising your wait time on a billboard, hospitals are putting themselves in the forefront of patient options. This new texting platform for hospitals definitely shows the times are changing due to the rapid growth of technology. Hospitals all over the US are already feeling the benefits of adapting to this new change.

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