Smartphones and secure cloud allow individuals to take control of their healthcare worldwide
Oxfordshire, 4th September 2014 - Customers with Aviva’s International Solutions private medical insurance can now use a new UK- developed membership smartphone app to provide access to: their securely stored personal medical records; details of how to claim wherever they are in the world and to get immediate access to emergency assistance and medical advice.
Produced in partnership with Medelinked, which developed Aviva’s My Health Passport online record system for International Solutions customers, it is one of a rapidly growing list of apps, devices and sensors compatible with the Medelinked Health Cloud.
Partnership fuels innovation
Integration with the Medelinked Health Cloud API is allowing developers to create a series of new applications that deliver real benefits to the end user, healthcare providers and health professionals alike.
Ian Gallifant, Medelinked founder and managing director, says: ”Aviva’s International Solutions App is an outstanding example of this booming market. It provides a secure online platform that empowers its customers to take control of and manage their healthcare; and to view, update and provide trusted medical professionals with tailored access to their cloud-based personal medical records.
“This partnership is also a great example of how big UK brands are encouraging and working with entrepreneurial British technology companies to fuel innovation and continually improve the quality of their customer service.”
Aviva International Solutions App
The Aviva International Solutions App is available for both Apple iOS and Android smartphones via Google Play and iTunes App stores. It enables individuals to record a range of medical details including allergies, conditions, immunisations, medications and tests, and has the ability to store images of scans and x-rays to complete their health profile.
The free App provides Aviva customers with peace of mind that if they need urgent medical treatment abroad, their medical history can be quickly and safely accessed and shared from their mobile device.
The App stores customers’ medical records securely through the Medelinked Health Cloud-based online system. The customer has sole control over the information that is stored and can decide whether they wish any healthcare individual or organisation to view any part of their medical history. Aviva is unable to access any of the data, unless the user chooses to share any records with them.
The customer can also choose any information they would like to store in a password-protected Emergency Records area, which a chosen family member or colleague can immediately access in the event of an emergency.
When healthcare or emergency support is needed, the app will enable customers to dial straight through to Aviva and its 24 hour emergency assistance and medical advice service, as well as to a list of their healthcare providers. There is also a clear step-by-step guide on how to make a claim and details about International Solutions cover.
Medelinked also allows Aviva’s International Solutions customers to get health advice in real time and chat instantly with healthcare providers – for example their doctor, dentist, physiotherapist, optician, travel clinic - using IM, voice, text, email and video from their desktop using their own membership account.
The future now
Gallifant adds: “We are now seeing a dramatic shift in healthcare - individuals have a heightened interest in their own wellbeing and are increasingly interacting with personal technology to manage their lives.
“At the same time, people are realising they have choices, are gaining control and knowledge and are proactively engaging with health issues. The realisation of support and education from online technology and apps as well as their increasing availability is driving new opportunities for improved healthcare services and better outcomes.
“Personal electronic health records are the way forward for effective healthcare in the future. It starts with past health information being stored in an easily accessible way and provides users with the ability to add to their records and share information easily with the medical providers they choose, to ensure the best advice is given based on previous history, wherever they are in the globe.
“And as the information is personal to the user, it will only be provided to those they wish to share it with, and no organisation is able to access the data unless the user chooses to share with them.”
