Victorian government puts health info in an app

Stephen Withers
Tuesday, 20 September 2011 16:48

Your IT - Mobility

A new iOS app delivers health and medical information from the Victorian Government's Better Health Channel.

The Victorian Government's Better Health Channel website has been in operation for over a decade, and in that time has won a number of awards for sites in the health and medical category. The site was given a major makeover last year, and the latest development is a free app for the iPhone and iPad.



Launched today by David Davis, the state's Minister for Health, the app was developed by the Department of Health and Deloitte.

"The mobile app extends the reach and access of the award-winning Better Health Channel, which is Australia's number one health and medical website featuring the most trusted, up-to- date and easy to understand health and medical information," Mr Davis said.

"Now thanks to this new app, iPhone and iPad users can search for and locate an extensive range of health services throughout Victoria including doctors, dentists, pharmacists and physiotherapists [by postcode]," he added. The app also provides access to Better Health Channel fact sheets about medical conditions and treatments, first aid information, and a list of health contacts including Nurse On Call, Kids' Helpline, Poisons Information Centre, and Lifeline.

Alan Eckstein, Deloitte's national leader, life sciences and health care, said "Technology is revolutionising the health care industry and is supporting better health outcomes. The Victorian Department of Health has taken the innovative step of providing Victorians with better access to reliable health information through mobile technology. This empowers consumers to make more informed decisions about their health."

The Better Heath Channel app is available from the App Store.