Need A Medical Center Phone Number? Local Search Might Give The Wrong Number

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 […]

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.


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About the Author

Barry Schwartz

Barry Schwartz is a technologist and a Contributing Editor to Search Engine Land and a member of the programming team for SMX events. He owns RustyBrick, a NY based web consulting firm. He also runs Search Engine Roundtable, a popular search blog on very advanced SEM topics.

In 2019, Barry was awarded the Outstanding Community Services Award from Search Engine Land, in 2018 he was awarded the US Search Awards the "US Search Personality Of The Year," you can learn more over here and in 2023 he was listed as a top 50 most influential PPCer by Marketing O'Clock.

Barry can be followed on X here and you can learn more about Barry Schwartz over here or on his personal site.