HealthEngine appointment booking app out-strides competitors with announcement of My Health Record integration
My Health Record has partnered with Australian appointment booking start-up HealthEngine, allowing patients to book consultations and access their medical history on a one-stop portal as part of its partner development program.
HealthEngine CEO and medical director Dr Marcus Tan said integrating with My Health Record was a long-held ambition for the company, which has been working with the Australian Digital Health Agency to meet tough regulatory standards, particularly around cybersecurity.
“All personal health data will be stored outside HealthEngine. Users will need a verified MyGov account and PIN to access their data through the app. This ensures information stays secure and in the right hands,” Tan said.
Describing My Health Record as an important piece of national health infrastructure, Tan said providing patients and practitioners with a holistic view of a patient’s health history promotes health outcomes for all.
The national electronic medical record’s integration with HealthEngine also provides the start-up with a boost towards realising business goals.
“While we help Australians find and book practitioners, we don’t view HealthEngine as just an ‘appointment booking app’,” Tan said.
“Rather, we hope to be a health technology platform that empowers patients throughout their healthcare journey. The integration of My Health Record is just one of many features we’ll be delivering as part of this goal.”
HealthEngine began the year with a stunning investment-raising round of $26.7 million led by Sequoia India that added to the early support of investors such as Seven West Media and Telstra Ventures.
With aspirations to improve healthcare globally, HealthEngine’s plans have received a boost from the connection to Australia’s national My Health roll-out.
Launched in 2006, HealthEngine has grown to become one of Australia’s leading online healthcare portals, with 70,000 practitioners signed up, and over a million patients accessed the platform by the website or smartphone app.
Patients can book appointments with doctors, dentists, physiotherapists and specialists, and share their medical records with clinicians, hospitals and other healthcare providers.