You’re in London. Your child develops a fever of 104 and is writhing in pain with a stomach ache. You suspect it might be appendicitis and she’ll need surgery, but you don’t have a clue how to find a doctor.
Now DestinationDoc does all the work for you. The new app provides travelers all over the world with access to a curated list of the top local doctors in a range of specialties.
But where DestinationDoc differs from other types of medical travel information is that the app doesn’t just present a list of doctors nearby. It’s already researched the best for you.
“We have created an algorithm which takes into consideration many variables, such as education, training (this means who trained them which is different than education), reputation and others, to select the best private doctors in London,” said Greg Mariani, product manager of the app, set up with access to the Internet from a specific satellite.
The app was launched today in London, with the thought that with the Olympics coming up, “there will be a spike in travelers to this city, and two of our founders are surgeons in London,” according to Mariani. “They were a critical part of our algorithm as they led the peer review component. We plan to recruit local physicians to assist in the review process in each new city we launch.” Travelers with chronic conditions needing to plan for care if needed should hold this application in high regard. How does it work? Simply use the app to find a highly qualified doctor, and call or e-mail for an appointment straight from the app. A traveler with an emergency, like the family above, could use the app to locate the nearest hospital, call the local emergency (which they may not know off hand) or find a qualified doctor.
How about filling a prescription while you’re away from home? Use the app to locate the nearest open pharmacy.For those who have children, or parents, traveling abroad, the app ensures that family members know their traveling kin have access to quality healthcare that they can download and carry with them.
The app also provides health related information about the destination city, such as cost. As you can imagine, medical care, coverage and payment varies significantly from country to country.
The best part, though, is that it’s free. Later versions will have optional premium, paid services.
“We see a huge need and opportunity in this area,” said Mariani. “Travelers and non-travelers alike have the problem of finding the right doctor. But the explosion of smartphone adoption gives us the ability to reach and serve the traveler in need, who is often in a more vulnerable position where he might need a special connection, right from the device in his pocket.”
Edited by
Braden Becker
