System for improved distancing at the VA

[Peabody]

It's time for my annual lab work blood draw at the VA clinic.  I'll arrive, and take a number, then sit near 100 or so of my fellow veterans waiting for my number to be called.  It may take 90 minutes before they get to me.

I'm sure they are spreading people out better now, but I wonder if there might be a way for me to go sit in my car and follow which number is being called, so I can go back in only when I'm next.  Currently, a technician opens the door to the lab area and shouts the next number to the waiting crowd.

I had thought that a very low power FM broadcast of the audio at the lab door would work, but while my phone and car have FM radios, I don't know how common they are anymore.  Then I thought maybe the audio could be streamed to some internet site that the patients could listen in on.  But I don't know if that's practical.  Then perhaps some kind of messaging service that the vet would sign up for temporarily, and the technicians would just enter the next number and it would be transmitted immediately to all subscribers.  Or maybe just some kind of wifi thing to carry the audio.

I would appreciate any suggestions for how this might be done.  It would be better if it's something I could build or buy and set up for them so it wouldn't be bureaucratically impossible to implement.  And of course it can't really take up any technicians' time since they are pretty overwhelmed as it is, and it has to be legal FCC-wise.

[SuzyC]

Easy.  Everyone has a smartphone and SMS capability. Every vet just gives the clinic their mobile number. The clinic simply sends the next in line a call or SMS when ready!