South Africa’s Discovery Health Medical Scheme (DHMS) has launched new app which has several new features, notably 24/7 access to online doctors, and which is available to members to download on iPhone or Android devices immediately.
The new app “is the digital front door to the health system for our customers, providing a single access point through which health consumers can meet all their digital healthcare needs,” Discovery Health CEO Dr Ryan Noach said in a statement to newsrooms.
Discovery Health App download and features
You can download the Discovery Health App on the App Store here for iPhones and on Google Play here for Android devices.
“The App allows customers to seamlessly navigate and managed their health plan benefits. It offers personalised recommendations – ‘Just For You’ – of lifestyle and healthcare interventions to improve wellbeing and care,” the company explained.
Key features include Speak to a Doctor Now, Virtual Physical Therapy and Digital Therapeutics for Mental Health. The sections below outline these features in greater detail.
Speak to a Doctor Now
This enables medical aid members to speak to a doctor on demand, 24/7, and to summon emergency assistance immediately based on their current geolocation. “In an emergency, hit one button on the App which immediately and automatically geo-locates the user, and summons emergency medical services to your location. There is also a transfer of relevant clinical records to the emergency services to enable improved care,” Discovery explained.
Virtual Physical Therapy
This enables members to access professional support for musculoskeletal rehabilitation. “In partnership with Genie Health, customers can access in-app support for their prescribed physical and rehabilitation programme. Through this highly sophisticated platform, whilst doing the rehab exercises, the patient’s movement is tracked using computer vision through their device camera,” Dr Noach said.
Digital Therapeutics for Mental Health
This feature enables members to access internet-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (iCBT) to treat depression. They can also undertake a “quick and easy” mental wellbeing assessment. “Evidence shows that, to treat depression and anxiety, iCBT is equally effective to CBT delivered face-to-face. The benefits of providing customers access to this tool include allowing patients to access care 24-7, no matter where they are located. Care and treatment can also be personalised to increase treatment effectiveness and outcomes,” Discovery said.
Users can find these features under the following sections on the app:
- Just For You: Located on the App’s home screen and personalised for each user prompting the “next best action.”
- My Health: Members can access information and programmes directly relevant to them, such as booking a Health Check or taking the Mental Wellbeing Assessment. Member-specific programmes such as Virtual Physical Therapy or Digital Therapeutics for Mental Health are also located here.
- My Cover: Members can manage their medical aid plan, including view their Medical Savings Accounts or WELLTH Fund, track and manage benefits and limits, and track claims.
- Get Care: Members can access immediate care such as Speak To a Doctor Now, search for healthcare professionals and make a booking directly with their practice. They can also order medicine for same day delivery in this section, after uploading a valid prescription.