Mike Blumenthal has a detailed look at some of the inaccuracies Google Maps and other local search engines have when it comes to phone listings of medical centers. He writes: “The medical center phone data is in critical condition and in need of intensive care.”

Mike has been following these inaccuracies for a while and has come up with a grid showing the “extraneous” phone numbers listed for some “advanced medical services” facilities listed in Google Maps.

Google does now provide a way to report inaccurate data as well as give business the ability to update their listings. Mike feels that “medical center phone data is in critical condition and in need of intensive care.” He explains:

Only 2 of the 13 markets did not have listings showing 4 or 5 phone numbers. 18% of all listings showed 3 or more phone numbers despite low verification rates through the Local Business Center. And if you live in Fargo, ND it appears by Google’s account that there are more medical phone numbers than there are doctors.

Related Topics: Google: Maps & Local | Search Engines: Maps & Local Search Engines

About The Author: Barry Schwartz is Search Engine Land's News Editor and owns RustyBrick, a NY based web consulting firm. He also runs Search Engine Roundtable, a popular search blog on very advanced SEM topics. Barry's personal blog is named Cartoon Barry and he can be followed on Twitter here. For more background information on Barry, see his full bio over here. See more articles by Barry Schwartz