By Nathalie Voit
Google unveiled a new feature that will make it easier for consumers to browse and book medical appointments, Chief Health Officer at Google Karen DeSalvo wrote in a blog post on March 24.
The new feature will enable users to browse medical office availability and schedule appointments directly through Google’s search engine. Consumers looking for a same-day appointment or a new doctor or healthcare provider will be able to view open appointments and schedule a visit via a simple tap on the “Appointments” tab.
According to the post, Google said it was partnering with scheduling solution providers like MinuteClinic at CVS to develop the functionality.
“There can be a lot of friction when you’re making a doctor’s appointment,” said Hema Budaraju, Google’s Senior Director of Product for Health and Social Impact, during Google Health’s second annual event, The Check Up. “In the U.S., the average wait time for a primary care appointment can be 20 days or more. It shouldn’t be this hard to get access to care.”
The upcoming feature builds on the search giant’s expanding commitment to providing more high-quality healthcare information to consumers on the internet. In December of last year, the company introduced a panoply of new healthcare options on Search, including new ways to find insurance information on Google and a language assistance tab that allows users to communicate with a primary care provider in their preferred language.
“When people have questions about their health, they often start with the internet to find answers,” DeSalvo said. “No matter what people are searching for on Google Search, it’s our mission to give high-quality information, exactly when it’s needed.”
