Anthem, Google Partner To Encourage ED Alternatives
Anthem Blue Cross has partnered with Google to launch the California ER Alternative Finder, an online mapping tool that provides users with locations of urgent care centers and retail health clinics. The goal of the system is to discourage use of costly emergency department care for treatment of non-emergency conditions. The program lets users input addresses or ZIP codes through Google Maps to find nearby health care providers and also features automated calls to patients whose ED visits potentially were unnecessary.
- "Anthem Program Points People to ER Alternatives" (Robertson, Sacramento Business Journal, 7/12).
- "Anthem Blue Cross Promotes Alternatives to Expensive Emergency Room Visits" (Helfand, "Money & Company," Los Angeles Times, 7/11).