A website and an application that allow users to evaluate their doctors is dubbed the "Tripadvisor Health Care" – and critics say it's completely inappropriate.
Whitecoat, recently launched in New Zealand, allows patients to find practitioners based on their location and patient feedback.
Ian Powell, the executive director of the Association of Medical Specialists Employees, said the scoring tool was inherently unreliable.
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"The only reliable thing about the website is its lack inherent reliability. "
Powell added that there were "rigorous processes for assessing physician competence" and formal avenues for patients.
He also raised concerns about privacy.
"It seems that doctors can be added to the site without their permission and the only way for them to have a semblance of control over what appears is to then go through a process of" claiming "their profile
SUPPLIED
Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) Whitecoat will not be reliable.
Kate Baddock, President of the New Zealand Medical Association, said that an official investigation into how patients evaluate their medical experience was already underway.
She said that Whitecoat seemed to sell itself as "the health care advisor", but it was problematic because bias could influence how patients rated healthcare professionals. e
"I do not think it will be free of influence, whether it is the influence purchased [from healthcare practitioners paying Whitecoat] or the influence of unhappy comments. "
In a statement provided to Stuff Whitecoat dismissed concerns that it was inappropriate.
" We do not believe that anybody is "The company stated that She took privacy seriously and would only publish publicly available information. "
a supplier has safety or security concerns as a result of the publication of his address or telephone number on Whitecoat; he can contact the Whitecoat team to discuss their options. "
King and Moderation procedures" to ensure that they focus solely on the customer service experience, and are not offensive.
Those listed on the site could respond to criticism and refuse to post comments on their profile.
WHITECOAT / SCREENGRAB
Whitecoat is now launched in New Zealand. [19659017] HOW IT WORKS
Whitecoat offers a directory of health care providers for New Zealand, across several categories, including general practitioners, dentists and more.
It allows those who use the site or application to read the reviews of these health professionals and their own experience with a particular health care provider.
On his website, Whitecoat says they moderate exams according to strict and uncompromising guidelines. The service also allows health professionals to receive and respond to reviews and to "claim" their profile on the website and in the app, in order to manage it by downloading a report.
SUPPLIED
Kate Baddock, President of the New Zealand Medical Association, worries about a commercial product.
– Tips and Tricks
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