New entrant to virtual GP market

eHealthNews.nz: Digital Patient

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Wednesday, 4 November 2020

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Picture: CareHQ screen

eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth

ProCare and Southern Cross Health Insurance have entered the virtual GP service market, adding to a raft of launches this year including Tend, Well Revolution and Bettr.

Royal New Zealand College of GPs president Samantha Murton says these kinds of telehealth apps have been on the horizon for some time and the arrival of Covid-19 this year provided the impetus for them to develop faster and sooner.

“This is a model that’s going to be there whether GPs or someone else does it, so GPs need to start doing it, but it’s absolutely an adjunct to usual comprehensive care,” she tells eHealthNews.nz.

“There is some nervousness amongst GPs, especially at ProCare as its their PHO providing services during daytime hours in competition with their practices.”

In a statement, ProCare and Southern Cross say the launch of CareHQ is in response to demand for more alternatives to in-person general practice consultations.

The online service offers video GP consultations seven days a week 7am – 7pm and patients can access an appointment via the CareHQ app or via the My Southern Cross app if they are Southern Cross members.

The new app is entering what is fast becoming a crowded market place.

Tend was launched by My Food Bag founders Cecilia and James Robinson just last month offering patients their first appointment and repeat prescriptions for free.

July saw the launch of Bettr, a virtual consultation platform owned by New Zealand’s largest independent primary healthcare group, Tāmaki Health.

Another new entrant is Well Revolution, launched in April during the national lockdown. It
allows patients to book an appointment with their usual GP if they are using the service, or with another doctor if they are unavailable or have not joined.

CareHQ clinical director Jamie Shepherd says CareHQ does not enrol patients so practices are not at risk of losing patients to the service and patients will be encouraged to allow sharing of their CareHQ consultation notes with their enrolled GP.

“Our aim is to preserve the relationship between practices and their enrolled patients, and the continuity of care that is so important for the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders,” he says.

“CareHQ aims to be the preferred virtual health option recommended by a practice if a patient can’t see their own GP in person.”

Murton says key to the College’s expectations that these new digital services are safe is that they have the ability to provide or refer to an in-person service if necessary.

“Continuity of care is hugely important as well as coordinated care, linking with other systems and services where necessary,” she says.

Also, that they remain an adjunct to routine in-person care with a person’s GP.

“If you don’t know a patient you tend to be more cautious and practise slightly more defensive medicine, maybe doing more tests than you normally would,” says Murton.

“These services are a disruptor and we recognise that’s going to happen. GPs need to say, ‘we are moving into a digital world so how do I get more digital’?”