A new way of connecting doctors with their patients

13 Sep 2018

14 September 2018 

The Doctor Connect app provides specialists secure access to important patient information on their mobile device enabling timely clinical decision-making, from anywhere, at anytime.

St John of God Health Care Group Chief Executive Officer Dr Shane Kelly said the app was a part of the organisation’s focus on using digital technology to enhance doctors’ experiences at our hospitals to support the provision of the very best care for patients.

"The Doctor Connect app goes a long way to enabling our specialists access to patient information at the touch of a button, wherever they are – be that in theatre, in the hospital wards or in their specialist rooms,” he said.

“It also demonstrates how we are embracing our digital future in our hospitals, in close partnership with clinicians.”

Launched in early 2018, the app is being rolled out at St John of God Health Care’s main private medical and surgical hospitals with more than 500 specialists accessing the app to date.

St John of God Subiaco Hospital Vascular Surgeon Dr Peter Bray, who was involved in testing the app and uses it daily to access patient information and results, said the app would help put an end to the days of doctor’s printing patient information and carrying it around hospital wards.

“The app gives me as a specialist everything I need when coming into hospital to care for my patients, whether that is the ability to review diagnostic test results, access their patient information, or even down to the logistics of seeing where my patient is within the hospital,” he said.

“Having the information at my fingertips is not only convenient but means I can be more efficient and effective in caring for patients – and I don’t need to rely on others to print and deliver this vital information.

“For me, the most exciting part is that it is a step towards the future where barriers to doctors being able to provide great patient care such as time and location are removed through the use of innovative technology.”

Telstra Health Head of Hospital and Health Services Michael Boyce said co-creating the app with St John of God meant the innovative technology was able to be tested in hospitals, with specialists, to ensure it met their needs.

“We are proud to deliver the app that seamlessly enables the St John of God specialists to care for their patients through real time access to patient information,” Mr Boyce said.

“Our goal is to empower the Australian healthcare sector to use digital technologies to find better ways of caring for patients in a connected world. Giving doctors better access to patient information is a key to this, particularly as it gives them the ability to care for patients anywhere, at anytime.”

Specialists who are accredited at St John of God Health Care hospitals can find out more and download the app online.