Finding an open Emergency Room while away from home should be fast and painless, and without any concerns that it recently moved to another hospital campus or that the hospital may no longer be in business. The folks at Massachusetts General Hospital realized that a consistently accurate database of ERs simply does not exist, and took on the challenge. Over the last few years they’ve developed that database and created a methodology to ensure the accuracy of the data, while providing an easy way to access it. Initially, they released an iPhone app that can quickly direct you to the nearest ER, and now they have brought the same functionality to the Blackberry and Android platforms.
The app is free, uses a phone’s GPS to provide guidance, and is made to be easy and intuitive to use in an emergency.
Beginning with ER listings from multiple sources, EMNet researchers have confirmed these ER listings. With continual refinement over the past 8 years, the result is that EMNet has created a truly unique national resource: the most complete, up-to-date, accurate inventory of every ER in the nation.
Now, EMNet has taken this one step further with the smartphone app, findER, which is based on this one-of-a-kind database.
findER uses the smartphone’s GPS to quickly locate the user’s current location and the distance to the closest ER anywhere within the United States. Users can select the closest ER or another nearby ER in a map or list format. Once selected, users are provided with 1-click access to directions to the ER as well as additional information, including the ability to search online for more information about the ER.
