N.H. ED Lets Patients Check Wait Times by Text Message
A local hospital is harnessing technology to help patients avoid lengthy waits during trips to the emergency room.
PORTSMOUTH, N.H. --
A local hospital is harnessing technology to help patients avoid lengthy waits during trips to the emergency room.
Portsmouth Regional Hospital has launched a service that lets people know via text message how long a wait they can expect at the emergency room.
Anyone planning a trip to the emergency room can text "ER" to 23000. A response comes back asking for the person's ZIP code. After that's entered, the wait time comes back.
Officials said anyone with a medical emergency who needs help right away shouldn't bother texting and just call 911 instead. But those planning to use the emergency room for conditions that aren't as much of an emergency can use the information to better make plans.
The hospital noted that the service doesn't act as a reservation or reserve a space.
"We really, really want to gain patients coming into our emergency rooms and being treated as fast as we can," said Chief Nursing Officer Brenda Simpson.
Portsmouth Regional Hospital and its sister hospital Parkland Medical Center in Derry are the first hospitals to try the service in the state.
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