PHOs partner with Webtools to enhance patient portal experience

NEWS - eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth 

Tū Ora Compass Health and Health Hawke’s Bay have formed a strategic partnership with Webtools to offer practices a new patient portal option with enhanced functionality and user experience, called Tō Mai.

Powered by Webtools’ Centrik platform, Tō Mai allows patients to manage appointments, request and pay for prescriptions, receive reminders, message their care team, and attend video consults.

Initially available to practices within the Tū Ora and Health Hawke’s Bay PHO networks, the app is expected to expand across the Te Ikaroa region. 

Matthew Lord, chief information officer at Tū Ora and Health Hawke’s Bay, says the partnership aims to give practices more choice in the patient portal space while driving innovation in healthcare technology.

The decision to partner with Webtools was driven by their dynamic approach to healthcare technology, which includes regular "sprints" and user-centric design that allows customers to contribute to the portal's design.

"That allows us as a PHO to pull our practices into design meetings and input some of our ideas and wishes," Lord says.

He believes there is significant room for improvement in the functionality of patient portals compared to other digital tools consumers regularly use.

"There's a lot of push for better digital tools for patients,” he says, adding that Tō Mai is simply an option for practices rather than a mandated change.

The PHO already has high uptake of patient portals amongst its practices and Tū Ora Compass has conducted several webinars about the new portal, garnering growing interest from practices.

"My long-term goal is that it will lift all portals, by bringing to the table this new functionality,” Lord says.

The PHO has previously rolled out an app called Te Ara Pae Ora, which is used by community teams for whānau wellbeing, winter wellness plans and community care plans.

The app lets health professionals record and share personalised health advice with patients, covering everything from physical activity to nutrition and preventive care.

Its use is expanding to include more communities and enable winter wellness check-ups, Lord explains. 

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