Wednesday, September 1, 2021

InOrder launches ‘Health Answers’

 Web portal to answer queries related to people’s healthcare needs

and

Helpline for patients to navigate complex healthcare delivery system

 

·       For the first time Patient navigation will be available to the citizens of Telangana

·       Health Answers has a unique and user-friendly navigation system

·       To cover entire India  in a phased manner

·       Citizens can reach out for answers on web portal or can call 1800 121 6780

 

1st September 2021 , Mumbai : InOrder,  a nonprofit institute with a core purpose of strengthening systems to secure health, has launched ‘Health Answers’ - a mission to answer myriad queries people have related to their health, and to empower people through health education and awareness 

 

Through Health Answers people can get answers through InOrder website (www.inorder.in) or through a dedicated helpline by calling 1 800 121 6780. The helpline is operational from today i.e 1st September 2021 for callers in the Telangana state and will be expanded to the rest of the country in a phased manner.

 

 

Launching the InOrder Health Helpline, Dr Krishna Reddy Nallamalla, President, InOrder, said -  “The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the need for the availability of easily accessible information at one place to guide and help citizens coordinate for their healthcare requirements, especially during emergencies. Information asymmetry between people and healthcare providers puts people at a great disadvantage. People lose precious time and resources while navigating the complex, mixed healthcare system that is made up of both private and public providers. Moreover, people also need constant assistance towards their acute and chronic health needs. They need guidance in financing their healthcare needs and in availing their health insurance benefits, be it government financed, employer financed, or self-funded. They need guidance in accessing and processing the right information about diseases, drugs, and procedures to help them make informed decisions. They need to be aware of their rights as a citizen, as a patient, and as a health insurance beneficiary.”

 

Citizens can look for answers to their questions either on the web portal http://www.inorder.in/healthanswers/ or call on the toll-free number 1800 121 6780, Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 6 PM. The web portal has a number of FAQs answered by experts and a user can find the answer by simply typing the keywords related to his query.

 

 

Even as several health helplines are currently operational across the country, there are few that cover the entire gamut of healthcare provision and handhold patients in navigating the disconnected healthcare systems. Patient navigation systems guide patients through the healthcare system and help them overcome barriers that prevent them from getting the care they need. The Health Answers patient navigation program has created a trained task force to facilitate the patient’s logistics journey right from entry to the hospital to follow-up and recovery; also addressing emotional, economic, and other needs holistically along the way. In addition to including all healthcare service and product providers under its network, Health Answers will also connect with volunteer groups and technology platforms to widen the reach of this initiative. 

 

 

More About Health Answers:  Citizens can call for or search the web portal information on medical and non-medical healthcare services, hospital transportation, reaching the appropriate doctor and hospital, understanding their financial coverage (through insurance and non-insurance mechanisms), pharmacies, laboratories and diagnostics, availability of hospital beds and medical equipment, and access to donors – blood banks, plasma and organ transplantation among other. For crisis management, the helpline will connect with volunteer networks and other similar platforms to help patients access food, medical oxygen, financial aid etc.

Areas of service currently included are:

a)      Information – Medical & Non-Medical

b)      Hospital Transportation

c)       Financial coverage – insurance and non-insurance mechanisms

d)      Pharmacies, Laboratories and Diagnostics

e)      Hospital Beds Availability

f)        Equipment Availability

g)      Donors – Blood Banks, Plasma and Organ Transplantation

h)      Access to Personal Health Record and Management

i)        Guidance towards safe and accurate information in social media

j)        Crisis Management

                                i.            Volunteers Network

                              ii.            Platforms Network

                            iii.            Access to food

                             iv.            Access to Oxygen

                               v.            Access to Safety

                             vi.            Access to Financial Aid

 

About InOrder : InOrder works towards strengthening health systems through thought leadership, knowledge sharing, capacity building, and technical support so that policy makers, healthcare provider & payer systems, and the public at large are better equipped to sustain good health at lower cost with a mission to secure health through strengthening health systems.

No comments: