9
2010
ER Wait? There’s an App for That
There’s no shortage of super cool applications for the iPhone. You can pinpoint the location of your favorite Disney character in real time at Disney World. You can determine whether you’re sober enough to operate a motor vehicle. You can tune your guitar, calculate your daily calorie intake, or turn your iPhone into a flashlight.
And now, you can find out how long your wait will be at The Hospital of Central Connecticut’s emergency room. The free iPhone app posts emergency room wait times at HCC’s two campuses. It also provides maps, directions, phone numbers and general information about the facilities. The patient has the choice of selecting the location with the lower wait time, not to mention the peace of mind of knowing that they won’t get lost on the way there.
Not only is this more convenient for patients, it helps the hospital manage demand. Patients know what to expect, and hospital staff can better service their patients. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.
With so much focus on patient experience and patient satisfaction scores, hospitals are arming themselves with tools that give them a leg up. Standardized surveys such as HCAHPS measure patient perceptions of their healthcare experience, and are easily accessible to consumers and the media. Hospitals are keenly aware that they need to find new ways to attract customers and win business.
And this gives healthcare marketers something to smile about. Because we’re always looking for a competitive advantage. A way to be different. A way to show the consumer, “we’re thinking about you”. We want to make things quicker, easier and more pleasant for them. Because we want them to share their experience with their friends and family. And we want them to become loyal advocates for life.
Looking for ways to delight your customers? Check out our brand planning capabilities. Or contact us today. We’d love to hear from you.
Flickr photo courtesy of josephpetepickle
