Nearly 3000 people across the region have signed up to the Waikato District Heath Board's free online healthcare service SmartHealth.

Previously known as ‘Virtual DHB', the service connects patients and healthcare professionals by video, voice or text, and can be accessed at home via a desktop computer, smartphone or tablet.

Virtual Care and Innovation executive director Darrin Hackett says the Waikato DHB carried out market research which discovered SmartHealth's former name was confusing for the public, with many thinking they wouldn't be dealing with a real doctor.

'As we are still in the early stages of rolling this initiative out, we wanted to make sure we used a name that resonated with the public and explained the value of the service. It is still all part of our virtualisation strategy, which includes Telehealth and other initiatives.”

Powered by HealthTap, the SmartHealth service allows people to access a free out-of-hours doctor by video, voice or text chat Monday to Friday from 6pm–11pm, and on weekends and public holidays from 8am–8pm.

Service users are also able to schedule online appointments with hospital specialists without leaving their home or office, as well as link all of their care team together to better manage their health.

People can also access a knowledge base of doctor-approved health information on topics, conditions, treatments and research, plus ask a healthcare professional a question 24/7.

Usual charges will apply for people receiving services from General Practices through SmartHealth, adds Darrin.

SmartHealth's free out-of-hours online doctor service is proving popular with people who have signed up so far, says Waikato DHB Primary and Integrated Care clinical director Dr Damian Tomic.

'Many patients who are having consultations by text and video with a doctor out of hours have rated the service either four or five out of five stars.”

Damian adds the number of consultations will grow as the number of people signed up to HealthTap increases.

'Being able to talk to a doctor from home has led to patients being given helpful advice to self-manage their condition instead of coming into the hospital Emergency Department and they have been issued prescriptions or advised to see their GP.”

The NZ registered doctors are also creating New Zealand-specific content on HealthTap for the population to use and have answered more than 1000 patient questions online.

Hospital specialists, nurses and other DHB healthcare professionals are continuing to sign up to the system which means many patients coming to Waikato hospitals can now avoid long journeys for a short appointment when a physical examination isn't needed.

'It's proving very effective in our renal department where transplant and dialysis patients are having their consultations over a video chat with their specialists,” says Darrin.

'And age is no barrier, we recently signed up an 88-year-old patient with an ipad so she can speak to her district nurses in Waihi.”

Darrin says the SmartHealth team have also been working on a way of making the sign up easier.

'If you're over 16 years old you can now take a ‘selfie', and a photo of your photo ID, and sign up online. There are different processes for signing up if you are under 16 years old or unable to manage your own account.”

For more information or to sign up visit the SmartHealth website at: www.smarthealth.org.nz