To make the ER more patient-friendly, Reston (VA) Hospital Center has devised a text-messaging service that tells you how long the wait will probably be. People can text "ER" to the number 23000 and receive a reply with the most up-to-date wait time. Waiting times are also publicized on the hospital's Web site. The texting service, which is also available at a few hospitals in Florida and in the Midwest, is an "exciting development in transparency," hospital spokeswoman Joanna Fazio told the Washington Post.
In a social media landscape shaped by hashtags, algorithms, and viral posts, nurse leaders must decide: Will they let the narrative spiral, or can they adapt and join the conversation?
...
