Healthcare review, rating website launches

WELLINGTON: A new website allowing New Zealanders to rate, review and compare their healthcare providers is creating a stir among the medical profession.

The site, dubbed Whitecoat, launched today, and more than 4000 New Zealand doctors, dentists and physiotherapists have signed up in a bid to become ‘‘more transparent’’.

Other medical specialists say it is a concern that will cause more harm than good.

‘‘I think we are going to start to see a high level of disquiet as soon as people start putting experiences on the site,’’ New Zealand Medical Association chairwoman Kate Baddock said.

The free and publicly available website allows patients to see what they will be paying, book an appointment online and review their experience, plus read others’ reviews.

The association had several concerns, one being who would be monitoring the comments.

‘‘If everybody used it, irrespective of their outcome, then it would have more value because it wouldn’t be just those who had a really good experience or a really bad experience,’’ Dr Baddock said.

She said experience in healthcare was coloured by the issues brought up in consultation and separating that was problematic.

Whitecoat chief executive Matthew Donnellan said historically, the healthcare market had lacked ‘‘information, transparency and comparability’’.

He said New Zealanders did not think a lot about health until it affected us, or someone we loved, and then it became really important.

‘‘Consequently, many have experienced overservicing, wide cost variation and avoidable hospitalisations,’’ he said.

He hoped Whitecoat would change those issues.

‘‘Our goal is to let people know exactly what their options are when they need it.

‘‘The more information we have, the more we can make available to people and the better our health service can be.

‘‘We think it’s absurd that you can book a holiday on your phone yet if you need to see a GP tomorrow you have no idea of the costs or what’s available or how long wait times will be,’’ Mr Donnellan said.

Former New Zealander of the Year Lance O’Sullivan supported the new service, saying it would keep healthcare professionals accountable.

‘‘When you’re looking for a healthcare provider, you want to be sure you’re seeing someone that will give you the best possible care,’’ Dr O’Sullivan said.

❛ I think we are going to start to see a high level of disquiet