Know Your ER Wait Times
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Director of Marketing/Public Relations:
Tammy Robiconti
email
September 21, 2009
You Can Receive Local ER Wait Times Via Text, our Websites and now on a BILLBOARD
Largo, FL (September 21, 2009) – Largo Medical Center, St. Petersburg General Hospital and Northside Hospital and Tampa Bay Heart Institute’s Emergency Room (ER) Wait Times are now LIVE and up on a billboard. This new billboard is located near the intersection of Starkey and Ulmerton Roads in Largo featuring the wait times of all three hospitals (see attachment). This is Pinellas County’s first electronic LIVE ER wait time billboard.
This ER wait time billboard will be updated electronically approximately every 30 minutes, using an average from the previous four hours. Largo Medical Center, St. Petersburg General Hospital and Northside Hospital and Tampa Bay Heart Institute’s ERs consistently rank below the national wait time average of one hour. In March 2009, the three hospitals kicked off a very successful ER wait time initiative by posting the information on their websites at www.largomedical.com, www.stpetegeneral.com and at www.northsidehospital.com. At the same time a text messaging campaign was launched. A person can also receive these wait times via text. Just text ER to 23000 and you will be prompted to enter your zip code. You will immediately receive the wait times of the three closest HCA hospital ERs. Message and data rates may apply. For more info visit texterhelp.com.
In addition to superior ER wait times, these hospitals house accredited Chest Pain and Stroke Centers. Largo Medical Center, St. Petersburg General Hospital and Northside Hospital and Tampa Bay Heart Institute are affiliates of HCA West Florida.