According to OrthoNOW Founder and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Alejandro Badia the App offers orthopedic patients more convenience and efficiency
OrthoNOW, a network of orthopedic immediate care centers based in South Florida has won another award for its mobile app. “We are thrilled that our new app has been acknowledged by the Health Information Resource Center,” noted Eric Rylander, VP Operations at OrthoNOW.
The Digital Health Awards competition, in its 22nd year, is held two times a year. The program is organized by the Health Information Resource Center (HIRC), a national clearinghouse for professionals who work in consumer health fields. A panel of 30 judges at the 2020 Digital Health Awards selects the winners based on content, format, success and overall quality in reaching the targeted health audience. The goal of the Awards is to recognize best in class digital health resources for consumers and health professionals.
OrthoNOW Founder and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Alejandro Badia is proud that the new app is receiving attention, and more importantly, that it is working well to offer patients a more convenient and efficient tool for seeing and being treated by an orthopedic expert.
According to HIRC, “hundreds of local, state and national health-related organizations and companies enter the competition each year. Recent winners have included AARP, Aetna, American Heart Association, Bayer, Blue Cross Blue Shield Plans, Centene, CGI Federal, Cigna, CMEducation, Coffey Communications, Edelman, Geonetric, GlaxoSmithKline, HealthEd, Healthwise, Hospitals & Health Systems, Humana, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Ketchum, Mayo Clinic, NIH, Quintiles, UnitedHealthcare, Walgreens, WebMD, Wellness Council of America, and more.
The initial version of the OrthoNOW app was released in 2013 and has gone through several iterations to achieve its current broad level of functionality. The 2nd version of the app won a national award for sports medicine innovation via “Orthopedics this Week” in 2017. The newest version of the OrthoNOW Mobile App, v3.0, was first introduced in July 2020. This updated version is compatible with Android and is available in the Google Play store. The iPhone version of the app was also updated in July 2020.
The new app has been particularly useful due to the COVID-19 pandemic, where healthcare technology has become an essential tool for providing information and care. According to Rylander, “we know that technology and telehealth methods cannot replace traditional in-person examinations. However, our digital suite is a critical component of our mission to improve access to orthopedic specialists. The app helps consumers and businesses communicate with a clinician or track progression of an orthopedic problem or specific injury.”
Dr. Badia adds that, “being able to see and access all of your orthopedic medical information in one place is just one of the benefits of the OrthoNOW Mobile App. Many of our patients appreciate the features in the application, which allow them to sidestep the traditional process for setting up an appointment. Instead, with the help of the app, they can make an appointment on their terms and at the most convenient time for them.”
“Rylander goes on to say that for people who wake up with shoulder pain, get injured at work, or take a spill while biking or exercising, the OrthoNOW app is tremendously helpful.” The app has numerous pioneering functions that distinguish it from other technologies and telehealth offerings. For example, included in the program is an option for parents and coaches of young athletes to input information for rapid game-time decision making. For example, Dr. Badia adds, “the OrthoNOW app will provide guidance and information for coaches and other sports enthusiasts, to decide when it’s time to come off of the field.”
Version 3.0 of the app includes:
- On My Way NOW®, a way to select a clinic, order a car from Uber or Lyft, and alert the medical team that you’re on your way
- Referrals functionality which allows patients to be referred to an OrthoNOW clinic from primary care doctors, general urgent care centers, and even hospitals
- A live Link to OrthoNOWlive telemedicine for video visits
- Driving directions and location information, including hours of operation
- A way to take and store pictures of your injuries and share progress with clinicians
- More information about services, social media links, Q&As and more
For more information and locations, visit http://www.orthonowmobileapp.com or call (305) 537-7272.
Bios: Alejandro Badia, MD, FACS, internationally renowned hand and upper-limb surgeon and founder of Badia Hand to Shoulder Center and OrthoNOW. Eric Rylander, VP Operations at OrthoNOW.