There’s an app for health

Caduceus Medical Group, a multi-specialty group serving Orange County from Laguna Beach, is revolutionizing the way doctors interact with patients via a new iPhone application, launched Jan. 12, that aims to enhance patient information and care on a level that no other practice in the nation has reached.

“Access to care is the cornerstone of our practice philosophy,” Dr. Gregg DeNicola said. “Giving our patients mobile access is a perfect fit.”

The free application allows patients to e-mail physicians, schedule doctor visits, request prescription refills and retrieve directions to the offices through the “Online Concierge Services,” and also provides direct links to twitter, short-cuts to the group’s web-based services including blogs, daily “Health News” features and weekly health-related quizzes that are “fun and informative.”

“If a patient wants to schedule his appointment while watching a Dodger’s game, well, now there is an app for that,” said Melissa Christian, vice president of business development.

All communications, she said, are secured and encrypted, and responses to inquiries and requests are guaranteed same-day, most often within the hour.

Co-developed by Christian, who saw a need to make Caduceus’ practices more accessible to its patients, said positive feedback from users has compelled the group to expand the features on the application.

“The benefits have been tremendous; the only challenge we face is deciding just how much ‘stuff’ we put on the app,” she said. “Our practice is quickly moving toward a robust electronic medical record system, and the iPhone app will eventually give patients tremendous mobile access to their own records.”

Christian is working with the developer to have the same application available to other platforms, including Blackberry, Palm Pre and Android phones by May.

Founded in 1999, Caduceus Medical Group offers services in primary care, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and skincare. They also offer services to Laguna residents without insurance at special rates.

The link to Caduceus iPhone application is itunes.apple.com/us/app/caduceus-medical-group/id349630435?mt=8.

For more information, call (949) 499-0577, visit www.caduceusmedicalgroup.com, or visit the office at 333 Thalia St.