Highmark launches Doctor Match online

Everyone has seen ads for online dating services featuring married couples who met through the internet or a mobile app. According to a Pew Research Center poll, about 50 million American adults today have tried online dating sites.

"At Highmark, we've also seen that our members use online tools to look for reviews, ratings and other information on doctors," said Charles DeShazer, MD, chief medical officer for Highmark. "But switching to a new doctor and transferring your medical records can be a daunting task – 40 percent of people say it's a hassle to switch doctors. And, most consumers define quality as the relationship they have with their doctor – more so than the actual care they receive."

Most doctors agree. A survey in Consumer Reports a few years ago revealed that physicians think a long-term relationship with a doctor is essential to better patient care. "So we partnered with providers to come up with a better way for consumers to find a doctor they are comfortable with and actually switch to that doctor," said DeShazer.

Doctor Match is a new online survey developed by Highmark that measures nearly 20 dimensions of compatibility to help consumers identify the right doctor for their unique health care philosophy and needs.

"We are social beings," said DeShazer. "Technology such as the internet and mobile apps can help us to be more social and make it easier to meet people, even doctors."

Here's how Doctor Match works: Say a person is looking for a primary care physician or OB/GYN who is accepting new patients within 10 miles of home. Doctor Match helps a person further refine the search by answering compatibility questions about whether someone wants a doctor who smiles and chats during an appointment or one who gets right to the point.

This leads to results that are more personalized than traditional doctor searches, and the whole process – the first of its kind and intelligently designed – takes less than 10 minutes.

"Best of all, after taking the quiz and finding your top match, we will help you schedule an appointment, transfer medical records, and get your first visit off to a healthy start," said DeShazer.

To access Highmark Doctor Match, go to www.DrMatchQuiz.com.