Digital Health Done Right: Pager

Digital Health Done Right is a Redox Blog Series that shines a light on a member of our interoperable network. We believe in what our partners are doing and want to share their stories and outcomes with you.

For many, going to the doctor isn’t necessarily a pain point, but rather an inconvenience—you have to set aside your morning, afternoon, or maybe even an entire day to take either yourself or a loved one to the doctor’s office.

If you have a bad cold and need to see your primary care physician or go to urgent care, you have to park, register, and wait for who knows how long before seeing a doctor who may diagnose you with a virus and tell you there’s nothing she can do to help. In this workflow, you waste, time and effort only to leave frustrated and empty handed, and even in situations where people receive exemplary care and leave satisfied, they’ve sunk time and energy into the visit.

Luckily, modern healthcare technology is rethinking some old methodologies of medicine. From how people receive care to how people manage life-affecting conditions, every workflow in healthcare is subject to improvement, even one as common and simple as going to see the doctor.

Meet Pager

Pager has developed a mobile application that helps people connect with and navigate healthcare with only a few clicks. Instead of following the usual path to the doctor’s office, patients can begin treatment at home by picking up their phone and opening the Pager app. Their workflow starts with a simple (and secure) chat via text with a live healthcare professional who asks about your symptoms and current condition. Based on your answers, location, and other factors, Pager connects users to the appropriate care.

When a chat dialogue isn’t enough to adequately treat someone, Pager can connect people with providers via teleconsult or videoconsult. Being able to speak directly with a medical professional helps people feel confident that their symptoms were properly evaluated and that their care plan is most effective. However, when a provider feels it’s necessary, they may schedule an in-person visit to further diagnose and assess illnesses, and they can even order testing and lab procedures via Pager.

Beyond this functionality, the Pager team knows that a second opinion is sometimes needed to deliver the best care. When that’s the case, the application can facilitate referrals and connect people with a second primary care physician or in-network specialist that can provide help.

Pager helps treat common issues people typically see a doctor for including strep throat, insect bites and rashes, allergic reaction, pink eye, UTIs, STD testing requests, and much more. Their application enables people all over the world to access and navigate care more conveniently, resulting in more effective treatment and time saved.

Pager is a perfect example of how technology can be used to alleviate pain points felt by clinicians, health systems, and patients alike, and we’re proud to power their application and have them in our interoperable network.

For more on Pager and all that they do, check out their website here.