'Find a Doctor' iPhone App Wins Prestigious Award

 

  

An iPhone App and website that allow Australians to locate their nearest GP with the push of a button has won a prestigious AMA Award for Excellence.

 

The 'Find a Doctor' iPhone App and website was developed by AMA Queensland and won the award for the 'most innovative use of website and new media' at the weekend's AMA National Conference.

 

AMA Queensland President Dr Gino Pecoraro said the iPhone App is a community service that makes it easy to pinpoint an AMA doctor anywhere in Australia.

 

"The 'Find a Doctor' iPhone App uses GPS technology to locate a doctor nearest to you and then using 'Google Map' directions guides you to the medical practice," Dr Pecoraro said.

 

"The iPhone App can also be used as a medical directory allowing users to type in any suburb, town or city across Australia to find contact details for a local AMA GP."

 

Dr Pecoraro said 'Find a Doctor' was launched in December and the timing could not have been better.

"Many Queenslanders were unable to reach their regular GP during the January floods so our free iPhone App came in very handy" he said.

 

"The number of people using the iPhone App peaked during the flood crisis as residents were either isolated or had to relocate to neighboring towns and needed help to quickly find a local GP."

 

"'Find a Doctor' has also proven popular with people moving house, holiday makers, travellers and day trippers as they can move around Australia confidently knowing they have a portable GP directory in their back pocket."

 

Dr Pecoraro said this was the second year in a row AMA Queensland had won an award in the innovative website and new media category.

 

"We won the same award last year for the Your Hospital’s Health website which was designed to improve transparency in the health system by making the latest Queensland public hospital performance data available to the public in an easy to read format"

 

"This award proves that Queensland is leading the way when it comes to innovative initiatives for patients and their families."

To download the free 'Find a Doctor' App, visit the Apple iPhone App Store at www.apple.com/iphones/apps-for-iphones or visit www.amafindadoctor.com.au.