I recently spent a long day waiting for and visiting with someone who had surgery at the Exeter Hospital in Exeter, NH. It’s a wonderful facility that’s got all sorts of things right: pleasant decor, free valet parking, an excellent and inexpensive cafeteria. But for me, it was the public WiFi that made my day. Everywhere I flipped open my laptop — in a physician’s office, in a surgical waiting room, in a patient’s room — there was always a strong signal, and it always Just Worked.

If any of the IT staff at Exeter Hospital are within earshot of this blog: Thanks! That made a huge difference for me. Twelve hours of disconnectedness would have compounded the stress of being there. Instead I had twelve hours of connectedness, I got a lot done while waiting, and was spared the tyranny of Fox News.

Of course I realize, as you folks do, that providing that experience for me is more than a courtesy. It’s a smart business decision. If I had to choose between hospitals, and if yours were only an hour away instead of two, your robust WiFi setup — as opposed to the always-spotty and now apparently nonexistent setup at my local hospital — would weigh heavily in the decision. I notice that you don’t advertise your WiFi capability. You probably should!