North Queensland general practices are using Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to successfully increase voluntary patient registrations into MyMedicare.
Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) has partnered with Healthily, the creators of GoShare Voice, to offer general practices in North Queensland the AI technology to help them prepare for changes to Chronic Conditions Management Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS) item numbers from November 2024.
It is being funded under the NQPHN’s MyMedicare Mini Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activity.
NQPHN Chief Executive Officer Sean Rooney said the technology was working effectively to identify and contact eligible patients for MyMedicare registration.
“This AI technology is helping practices to easily reach out to patients who are eligible to register for MyMedicare,” Mr Rooney said.
“It is an effective solution that is enhancing efficiency in workflows, while also helping to reduce the administrative burden that healthcare staff face.”
GoShare Voice is an innovative AI technology that enables automated outbound phone calls with patients to provide relevant health information and support.
Practice Manager Emma Pullen, from Sydney Street Medical in Mackay, said using the AI technology had a positive impact on the practice and their patients.
“Using the GoShare Voice AI technology has increased the effectiveness of GoShare overall for our practice and has taken some of the pressure off our administration staff when registering eligible patients for MyMedicare,” Ms Pullen said.
“The GoShare technology in health campaigns has also helped patients to take more responsibility for their own health, and we are seeing a positive impact on patient health literacy and self-management.”
Eligible patients are sent a personalised SMS that includes contact details of the practice, a direct link to information about MyMedicare, and a link to the MyGov registration page.
Patients who do not respond to the text message will receive a follow-up phone call through GoShare Voice taking patients through registration options and allowing them to ask questions.
MyMedicare is a voluntary patient registration model by the Department of Health and Aged Care that aims to improve health outcomes and continuity of care for patients by formalising the relationship between patients, their general practice, general practitioner, and primary care teams.
