Award winning Better Health Channel goes mobile
For the first time in Victoria, a free app for iPhone and iPad users will help Victorians conveniently locate local health services and learn more about medical conditions and treatments.
Minister for Health David Davis today launched the Better Health Channel mobile phone app at Inner South Community Health Service in South Melbourne.
"The mobile app extends the reach and access of the award-winning Better Health Channel, which is Australia's number one health and medical website featuring the most trusted, up-to-date and easy to understand health and medical information," Mr Davis said.
"Now thanks to this new app, iPhone and iPad users can search for and locate an extensive range of health services throughout Victoria including doctors, dentists, pharmacists and physiotherapists.
"The app also allows people to get quick access to hundreds of Better Health Channel medical conditions and treatments fact sheets, anywhere at anytime."
Mr Davis said in the digital media age, the app was an innovative way to link people with vital health and medical information and services wherever they were in Victoria.
"It places in the palm of people's hands trusted health information and connects them with a range of services including those found at Inner South Community Health such as counselling, occupational therapy and child services," Mr Davis said.
"In a recent online study, nearly three quarters of the Australian population went online last year to access health and medical information."
Mr Davis said the app built on Better Health Channel's previous success, winning the No.1 Hitwise Australia Award, to deliver the best health and medical information almost instantly.
"Findings from earlier this month reveal that Australia has the second highest smartphone penetration in the world at nearly 40 per cent, with further growth expected in 2012," Mr Davis said.
"The app helps people make better informed health decisions by providing easy to understand health information articles that can be searched by category, body part, or with the helpful A-Z index.
"It also includes first aid information and procedures to a range of common injuries to help users respond confidently in critical moments.
"The app features a quick list of important health contacts including Nurse On Call, Kids helpline, Poisons Information and Lifeline."
Anyone who owns an iPhone or iPad can download the free app today by either visiting the Better Health Channel website at www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au or the Better Health Channel facebook page www.facebook.com/betterhealthchannel or by searching 'Better health' in the Apple app store.
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