While driving on the Boulevard or Interstate 95, you may have noticed a billboard with a large number — the current tally of minutes it would take to get into one of HCA's local emergency rooms. These numbers are updated every half hour, says Sheldon Maguire, HCA Virginia's emergency-services administrator. They follow an 18-month project at HCA's six local hospitals. "We would like for patients to be greeted and have medical care initiated within 20 to 30 minutes of arrival," Maguire says. In March, HCA completed an adjustment to expedite ER visits — an all-electronic documentation and nursing charting system. HCA also began moving patients into empty beds even before they are registered. The eight billboards with numbers went up in May to show the success at quickening the processes. HCA also added a texting option: Text "ER" to the number 23000 and type in your ZIP code to see the wait times at the three closest HCA hospitals. Just don't try it while driving.
