Australians get instant care
August 7, 2012
AUSTRALIAN patients can now
find and book healthcare
appointments instantly online at
any hour of the day or night, via
1stavailable.com.au, the healthcare
equivalent of the travel booking
website Wotif.com.
1st available allows consumers to
track down available appointments,
including last minute cancellations
with registered dentists, GPs,
physiotherapists, chiropractors and
other allied health services, at
times and locations that best suit
them.
The homespun website is the
brainchild of Sydney-based dentist
Dr Rick Luu, who created 1st
available to “bring equity and
access to healthcare services in a
way that benefits both consumers
and providers”.
“The healthcare industry has
traditionally been slow to integrate
non-medical technology into its
services, which have simplified
other industries such as
accommodation and retail,” said
Luu.
“Booking appointments with
healthcare providers is still
frustrating and time-consuming for
both patients and practitioners.
“Ultimately our goal is to make
healthcare more accessible and
convenient to all Australians and
through 1st available, we are
making giant steps forward in doing
this,” Luu added.
The service is free to use for
patients and is accessible via any
internet connected medium,
including mobile phones.
In terms of practitioners, Luu said
1st available provides them with a
channel to reach and secure
prospective patients.
“The system improves practice
efficiency and profitability by
freeing up front desk staff,
improving customer service and
helping to fill open and frustrating
last minute cancellations,” Luu said.
“Essentially, 1st Available
alleviates and creates capacity in an
overextended healthcare system.
“Despite being only new to
market, 1st available is on-boarding
new practitioners on a daily basis,”
he added.
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