Kaiser Permanente Launches Online Appointment Scheduling Service in Northern California
Kaiser Permanente this week announced the launch of an appointment scheduling service that allows members in Northern California to schedule doctors' appointments online. The service, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, provides members with immediate confirmation of the date and time of their appointment. Currently, members can use the service to schedule appointments in the family practice, internal medicine, pediatric and OB/GYN departments; other departments eventually will be added to the service. "We're giving members more choices and control over their health care," Robert Pearl, executive director and CEO of The Permanente Medical Group, said, adding, "Because of our uniquely integrated system, we can connect our members directly to the information and services they need." Kaiser Permanente's Web site currently provides prescription refill services, discussion and support groups, health and drug encyclopedias and links to other health Web sites approved by network medical professionals. According to Kaiser Permanente, 75% of their more than 3.1 million Northern California members have Internet access (Kaiser Permanente release, 10/8). For more iHealth & Technology stories, visit iHealthBeat.org, a new Web publication sponsored by the California HealthCare Foundation.
This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.