HealthEngine Maximises Patient Access To Available Health Care Appointments With Their iPhone App

Over the last few weeks we have been reviewing a number of online health care appointment booking services. If you recall I wrote this handy guide as to what to look for before signing up for any service if you are a health care practitioner.

One online appointment booking service that I have been watching is HealthEngine. Originally a directory listing and online since 2006 HealthEngine has evolved into a comprehensive health appointment marketplace.

With a really solid list of validated credentials such as over 375, 000 visitors every month and ranked by Nielsen as Australia's #1 Health Directory, HealthEngine expanded nationally their online appointment booking service in 2012. The site ranks well with google. They charge practices an affordable fee only for bookings received with no contracts, no set up or hidden fees. Health care practitioners can allow their patients to book with them via the HealthEngine platform as a stand alone service or it can be integrated with any practice management software. Their app for iPhone is discussed below.

What I liked about this service was HealthEngine's strategic approach to growth. Originally a WA service for GP doctor appointment bookings only, this highly targeted localised approach has allowed solid beta testing of the HealthEngine platform before a national roll-out. That's good news for the practitioner, it has been trialed and tested before expansion. Now a national service covering all health care modalities including dentistry and allied health plus of course a really solid GP appointment booking service you will not be wasting your money if you decide to try this service mostly because the site has worked hard to build community or, if you like a thriving marketplace before entering the appointment booking market.

HealthEngine claims they are already unearthing 10,000 appointments a week that might otherwise go unfulfilled — at a time when patients are desperate to get primary care, with recent news reports confirming desperate Doctor shortages in some locations. To date, the site has added the equivalent capacity of 81 full-time doctors across the country since February by posting available appointments, without any additional cost to the health system. 

HealthEngine Medical Director Marcus Tan says state health departments should do more to encourage GPs to list their appointments online and to promote services to patients.

My only constructive criticism is perhaps HealthEngine's social media engagement and story could be harnessed to tell this story given the leadership the site shows. 

Even though it is early days still, my view is HealthEngine is probably leading the pack at this point in the race to be the preferred online health care booking  service.  It will be interesting days ahead as practitioners begin to grasp the power of how online appointment booking services can assist their practice management and most importantly help their patients gain easier access to an appointment with them when it suits.

HealthEngine is free to use for the consumer.

HealthEngine for iPhone
By Dr. Marcus Tan

HealthEngine (http://healthengine.com.au/) is Australia’s most popular online health directory and health appointment marketplace, with 60,000 practitioners and practices listed, and over 225,000 published health appointments to date.

Released just this year, HealthEngine’s free iPhone app leverages the same search technology used on the HealthEngine website, enabling Australians to search for health practitioners and practices by specialties, medical interests, medical procedures, and names. It also allows you to search in your area by tapping into the powerful geolocation functionality on the iPhone and iPod touch.

The app displays everything from names and phone numbers to opening hours and maps for health practitioners and practices listed on HealthEngine’s directory. It’s also a cinch to place a call from the app.

And taking it one step further, with Open Appointments support in the app, you can see which GP practices in your area have available appointments, and book straight in, whenever and wherever in Australia you just happen to be. It’s simple, convenient, and free to use.

With hundreds of bookings being made each day, users are enjoying the convenience that the HealthEngine website and iPhone app have to offer. Macworld has said, “it’s an extremely easy to use app, with a neat user interface that displays all necessary information with clarity.” Apple has also recognised HealthEngine’s iPhone app as one of the top ten free medical apps and “What’s Hot” medical apps on the App Store.

HealthEngine’s iPhone app is free on the App Store. Click here to download the app today.

Disclosure: I have no commercial arrangements with HealthEngine.