Mobile Geographic Information Systems to reduce patient waiting times in the ER : " Memorial Hospital Jacksonville is one of 15 Florida-based HCA hospitals that's kicked off a program to re-direct non-emergency patients to nearby clinics instead of treating them in the ER. The new policy will help cut down on ER wait times and also save everyone involved the cost of expensive emergency care. In the first week of the program, 110 were initially thought to be non-emergency patients (Under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act [EMTALA], all hospitals must screen ER patients). After being examined by a doctor, 85 were given pamphlets directing them to local profit and non-profit clinics for treatment. The hospital has a few kinks to iron out though, as some of the clinic contact information was incorrect. "
Using mobile GIS ( geographic information systems) patients ( and their doctors) could use their mobiles to find out which the nearest ERs and clinics were - so they could go to the ones which were not busy. This would help in redistributing workload and also ensure that patients received prompt medical attention !
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