CHICAGO — Mercy Central Hospital opened a new 200-seat waiting room on Monday, equipped with high-speed Wi-Fi, charging stations, a coffee bar and no doctors.
“We heard from patients that waiting was the hardest part of their visit,” said chief operating officer Diane Whitlock. “So we have invested heavily in waiting.”
The room features natural light, a quiet zone and a large screen displaying estimated wait times, which the hospital said are “updated continuously and are not a guarantee.”
A second waiting room, for patients who have already been seen, is scheduled to open in the spring.
