In response to the increasing demand for health care services, New Zealand health minister Tony Ryall has launched a pilot program at the NorthCare medical clinics to spread the use of Internet-based health care, self-service terminals, and telephone calls with physicians. NorthCare will give 16,500 patients access to their health records online and allow them to correspond with physicians and make appointments by both e-mail and the phone.
The demand for health care in New Zealand is expected to double over the next 10 years, a rate that the supply of providers cannot match, necessitating the implementation of innovative methods for providing greater access to care. The program, which allows patients access to health care information 24 hours a day, seven days a week, will be monitored by clinics in the Midland Health Network. The goal of the program is to reduce wait times for patients, improve the efficiency of clinic visits, and provide consistent, easy contact to physicians.
Sources:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/4867267/Clinics-trial-rings-in-and-emails-the-changes