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There's a technological revolution under way
for healthcare practices across Australia. It's
been slow to start but, ever so gradually, the
winds of change are blowing through waiting
rooms nationwide.
The change is patient-centric technology.
The way patients now interact with
healthcare services is causing practices
to adopt technology faster than ever.
Healthcare information is now at the
fingertips of every patient and clinicians are
competing to keep up.
In a world where mobile applications are
being created every day, health information
can be obtained in real time and the personal
health records of children can be accessed
and updated by parents, how should
healthcare practices be responding?
ONLINE ACCESS
The healthcare industry has traditionally
been slow to adopt new technologies into its
services, especially non-medical technologies
­ even though there is significant evidence
these shifts have simplified and completely
reshaped other industries, such as travel,
banking and retail.
It's no surprise that a credible and
longstanding favourite such as WebMD
would sit firmly in the number-one spot
as most popular health app, but the real
eyeopener came with ZocDoc ­ a US-based
online appointment booking portal, which
came in at number two.
Onlineappointmentsarearelatively
modern concept when it comes to healthcare
STAYING
CONNECTED
By understanding and embracing new healthcare technologies,
Tania Taylor
says you can drive efficiency, lessen the burden on staff and provide your
patients with the level of service and connectivity they now expect.
Tania Taylor is Director
of Partner Business at
1stAvailable.com.au
TOP 10
HEALTH APPS
In November 2012,
American technology
news website
onlineitallmatters.
blogspot.com ranked
the following as the
world's 10 most
popular health apps:
1. WebMD
2. ZocDoc
3. LoseIT
4. Medscape
5. Epocrates
6. Fooducate
7. Glucosebuddy
8. iTriage
9. Sleepcycle
10. Lifecraze