Industry offer aims to boost Vaccine Clinic Finder

Healthdirect Australia has launched an Industry Offer that will improve the ability of Australians to quickly find and book their vaccination appointments.

The Australian Government’s official vaccine clinic search and booking portal, the Vaccine Clinic Finder, shows the availability of vaccine appointments in one place for anyone wanting to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

A number of vaccine clinics are currently listed as ‘phone only’ bookings, adding extra steps for consumers and clinics. Healthdirect Australia will work with medical software providers to maximise clinics opting for online appointments.

The Vaccine Eligibility Checker — the front door to the Vaccine Clinic Finder — is offered in 16 languages and has had over 30 million visits since the COVID-19 Vaccination program opened online access in mid-March. The Vaccine Clinic Finder lists thousands of clinics where Australians can book a vaccination appointment.

The Industry Offer aims to ensure that clinics can provide the information that displays their booking availability in the Vaccine Clinic Finder in real time. Increased integration will help consumers to more easily find their preferred vaccination clinic and seamlessly book an appointment. Currently less than half of clinics have an online booking system integrated with the Vaccine Clinic Finder.

Better integration between systems will reduce the need for consumers to telephone clinics directly, search multiple booking platforms, or present at clinics with no prior booking. Digital bookings reduce the administrative burden on health care providers and allow them to focus on the important task of caring for patients and getting jabs in arms.

Royal Australian College of General Practitioner’s President, Dr Karen Price, said that getting the technology right will help busy practices and improve vaccination rates.

“Providing patients with integrated, easy access to book vaccine appointments with their GP online is a positive step forward,” she said.

Healthdirect Australia is accelerating the number of clinics with real time integration by providing financial support to medical software companies until December 2021. This funding will enable these companies to assist their general practice and pharmacy customers to set up online bookings and integrate with the Vaccine Clinic Finder.

“This will help our hardworking GPs to get more vaccines in arms as soon as possible. It could not come at a more important time; increased vaccination rates will protect individuals and the broader community and ultimately ease the pressure on GPs and hospital teams,” says Dr Price.

CEO of Healthdirect Australia, Bettina McMahon emphasised the need to make it easy for consumers to get a vaccine.

“We are working closely with the Medical Software Industry Association to invite medical software providers, via a commercial industry offer, to assist GP and pharmacy vaccination clinics show real time visibility of their bookings alongside their clinic listing. Not only will this help our effort to vaccinate the nation, it will lay the foundation for online vaccine and other bookings beyond 2021 for many practices and pharmacies which have not yet set up these systems,” she says.

Medical Software Industry Association CEO, Emma Hossack, recognises this health ecosystem architecture as one which enables the innovation of industry to utilise government infrastructure. “It is an example of how industry and government work together to ensure a nuanced response to the needs of consumers. The work will strengthen foundations for more effective and efficient healthcare past the immediate pandemic.”

Healthdirect Australia is also working closely with clinical peak bodies to provide education support to GPs and pharmacists, noting their very important role in the acceleration of the vaccine roll out.

Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, National President, Associate Professor Chris Freeman, says, “This patient-centric technology will make the lives of those seeking COVID-19 vaccination far easier. The technology has minimal impact on the workflows of existing platforms, ensuring seamless integration — one that we strongly encourage industry to get behind.”

Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President, Adjunct Professor Trent Twomey said there is no wrong door to book an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine. “Real-time integration of online booking systems with the Vaccine Clinic Finder, as well as other sites, such as built by the Pharmacy Guild, give consumers the opportunity to get their vaccination at the time and place they choose. This is an important step toward reaching our vaccination targets,” he said.

For more information about the Industry Offer, visit Healthdirect Australia — Industry Offer.