News Release
January 15, 2009
First in the nation, HMSA’s Online Care goes live
Laura Lott
(808) 952-7566
laura_lott@hmsa.com
The Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA) today announced the launch of its
new Online Care service that connects patients and physicians via the Internet or
telephone. HMSA’s Online Care is now available to everyone in Hawaii. Residents
do not have to be an HMSA member to use the service.
“HMSA’s Online Care takes health care access to whole new level, and
we’re proud that HMSA is the first health plan in the nation to provide its
residents with such a revolutionary service,” said HMSA President and Chief
Executive Officer Robert P. Hiam. “In the weeks and months ahead, we expect
many families in our community to experience the ease, convenience and affordability
of HMSA’s Online Care.”
Online Care is aimed at improving access to care throughout the Islands, especially
in Hawaii’s rural areas. Residents can speak with a local physician from HMSA’s
network of credentialed participating physicians whenever they need to. Online Care
is available anytime, including after business hours, on holidays and weekends.
Online sessions are affordable, quick, secure and private. HMSA members can speak
with a physician online for only $10. Nonmembers may use HMSA’s Online Care
for $45 per session.
“HMSA’s Online Care is making Hawaii’s health care system more
accessible to patients by overcoming the constraints of time, distance, mobility,
or lack of insurance,” said HMSA Executive Vice President and Chief Operating
Officer Michael A. Gold. “Our state is an island community with many rural
areas, and HMSA’s Online Care will help improve access by connecting patients
in those areas to physicians statewide.”
“This exciting new service will increase access to specialty care for our
Neighbor Island residents,” said Gold. “It will also improve the quality
of health care by making it easier for physicians to keep in touch with patients
and monitor their progress over time. Today’s launch is just the beginning.
In the weeks and months ahead, we will be adding many more health care providers
to HMSA’s Online Care, such as psychologists, advanced practice nurses, and
midwives.”
“I commend HMSA for finding new ways to utilize technology to extend physicians’
reach into our communities,” said Congresswoman Mazie K. Hirono. “With
so many rural communities in the 2nd Congressional district, there is the potential
for this Online Care program to be of great benefit in increasing patients’
access to health care. I wish the program every success.”
The launch of HMSA’s Online Care follows a long period of testing and early
introduction, during which physicians and patients used the system and then reported
their experiences. During the introduction period, hundreds of patient-physician
interactions were conducted. Eighty-five percent of participants reported favorable
experiences with the service, and many patients said they would routinely use the
new health care service to maintain their health.
“We’re proud to partner with HMSA to improve access to physician care
in Hawaii,” said Ido Schoenberg, M.D., chairman and chief executive officer
of American Well Corporation. “The results from early participants are encouraging
and demonstrate that HMSA’s Online Care is poised to become a very important
option for health care delivery in 2009.”
Currently, more than 140 local physicians from a variety of specialties are participating
in Online Care. These specialties include general practice, family practice, cardiology,
internal medicine, OB/GYN, ophthalmology, pediatrics, psychiatry, surgery, urology
and more. As time goes on, HMSA expects more specialties will be added.
Participating physicians are able to log on at their convenience and interact with
patients who want to speak with a physician. HMSA’s Online Care is flexible
and allows local physicians to practice in a way that is both productive and convenient.
Online Care is not intended to replace face-to-face visits with a physician. However,
it may be used as an alternative in situations where a patient is not able to visit
their physician’s office. Because Online Care is available anytime, it may
be used whenever a patient needs to speak with a physician right away.
In addition to improving access, the new service supports the delivery of informed,
coordinated care through its integration with Microsoft® HealthVault™.
Hawaii residents may use HealthVault to track and share personal health information
from many sources, including provider and hospital record systems, home monitoring
devices, and patient entries.
“Our collaboration with HMSA and American Well helps ensure that care is informed
and closely coordinated among all of the important stakeholders, including primary
care physicians,” said Peter Neupert, corporate vice president of the Health
Solutions Group at Microsoft. “The early success of Online Care in Hawaii
can serve as a model nationwide for improving the flow of information between individuals
and their care providers.”
HMSA is a nonprofit, mutual benefit association founded in Hawaii in 1938. It is
governed by a community board of directors that includes representatives from health
care, business, labor, government, education, clergy, and the community at large.
HMSA is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Nationally,
HMSA and 38 other Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans provide worldwide coverage to
more than 100 million members.
####