WebMD shifting from on-line well being info to 'digital entrance door' for sufferers

WebMD is making strikes to shift from an info web site to a well being info platform that helps customers search and schedule appointments with docs.

The corporate is teaming up with symplr, a supplier information administration search platform utilized by among the largest well being programs within the nation, to make the most of SEO and well being content material to drive customers to a well being system’s “digital entrance door” for supplier search and appointment scheduling, the businesses stated in a press launch.

In keeping with the businesses, it marks the primary resolution that permits customers to go from a WebMD seek for well being info to scheduling an appointment with a taking part supplier in a single, EHR-integrated workflow in three clicks.

“This partnership represents a breakthrough affected person acquisition technique. The combination of WebMD’s main content material, which generates new affected person demand, with symplr listing’s supplier search and scheduling, addresses affected person achievement wants in a brand new, compelling providing,” says BJ Schaknowski, CEO of symplr, in an announcement.

“Supplier organizations will notice elevated affected person circulate and better utilization utilizing this new, end-to-end digital workflow,” he stated.

RELATED: WebMD purchases affected person instructional video maker The Wellness Community

Greater than 75 million customers entry WebMD every month for well being info and to search out healthcare professionals to satisfy their wants.

The symplr listing (previously Phynd) is a supplier information administration search platform utilized by among the largest well being programs within the nation. Extending symplr’s supplier sources and companies and curated supplier information to WebMD, together with subspecialty, medical and patient-friendly search phrases, well being plan participation and direct scheduling within the EHR, makes it simpler for customers to search out healthcare suppliers and e book an appointment with an accessible, in-network supplier, the businesses stated.

With the brand new providing, customers will have the ability to search and schedule appointments with a supplier in a single workflow as a substitute of getting to examine suppliers’ availability and well being plan participation by telephone.

Customers can analysis circumstances at WebMD or Google and get a listing of certified docs of their native space from the WebMD Care supplier listing. With the symplr integration, customers can see open appointment slots and are guided by way of symplr to the supplier group’s EHR and into the direct scheduling workflow. They then obtain appointment affirmation and different info together with clinician tackle and affected person directions.

Well being programs haven’t beforehand had the flexibility to supply well being content material with real-time, EHR built-in appointment reserving, which the WebMD-symplr integration will now assist, the businesses stated.

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“Surveys present that over three-quarters of customers use the web for healthcare related-search, and a majority select a supplier based mostly on a powerful on-line presence,” stated Ann Bilyew, WebMD’s senior vp, well being and group basic supervisor, supplier companies, in an announcement.

“We see the WebMD-symplr partnership as a sport changer, extending superior supplier search and scheduling into customers’ WebMD expertise,” Bilyew stated.

Well being tech corporations have been ramping up their deal with creating digital entrance doorways to healthcare, similar to digital affected person consumption from corporations like Dexcare, Phreesia and Physician.com to scheduling entry by way of symplr, ZocDoc and DocASAP and digital analysis and triage from Gyant and Okay Well being.

WebMD Well being Corp runs a group of well being info merchandise for customers and healthcare professions. These embody the eponymous WebMD in addition to Medscape, MedicineNet and eMedicineHealth, amongst others.

The well being info firm has been making strikes to construct its presence amongst supplier purchasers. It just lately acquired The Wellness Community, a maker of affected person training movies to be used in hospitals and well being programs.

This acquisition is one in every of a number of introduced by WebMD Well being Corp. this spring. These included ADDitude, a multichannel content material platform specializing in supporting or treating consideration deficit hyperactivity dysfunction; MGP, a U.Okay.-based writer focusing on healthcare specialists; and PulsePoint, a tech firm that makes use of information to time the supply of well being content material or advertising throughout particular factors throughout care.