MyHealth1st has worked with St Vincents Health Australia to develop an EasyReferrals platform the company says will “transform the GP to specialist referral and booking experience”.
Powered by 1st Group’s MyHealth1st platform, EasyReferrals enables GPs and patients to identify the most appropriate specialist by sub-speciality, make a booking and, if desired, upload referral documentation, including photographs.
Klaus Bartosch, Managing Director of 1st Group, said this is the first time Australian GPs have been able to search for specialists by sub speciality.
“The GPs who have tried EasyReferrals have commented on how fast and easy it is for them to find a specialist with the required expertise, and make the booking online while the patient is with them. In doing so, patients are more likely to be seen by the correct specialist in a timely fashion and clinics have necessary background information to triage.”
Referring GPs receive notification to confirm appointments booked, and have the option to be notified if a patient does not attend their referral appointment.
The platform has been rolled out to specialists working at three of the ten St Vincent’s private hospitals, with plans to complete the roll out in coming months, reaching a total of 1400 specialists including 13 ophthalmologists. Mr Bartosch said the platform will be made available to other hospital groups in the future. Additionally, MyHealth1st is exploring a platform that will enable optometrists to book online appointments with ophthalmologists on behalf of their patients.
