HealthPartners Launches iPhone, Mobile Clinic Finder

MINNEAPOLIS - Running a fever, think you have H1N1 and want to find the nearest urgent care? There's an app for that.

HealthPartners announced Wednesday it has launched a mobile service for smart phones and the iPhone allowing users to map directions and call clinics, urgent care centers and hospitals anywhere in the U.S.

The mobile service, found at healthpartners.com/mobile, also has appointment lines, a nurse line and info on prescription refills.

"Mobile access to health care information is critical to improving the overall experience we want to achieve with our customers," said Scott Aebischer, HealthPartners senior vice president for customer services and product innovation.

HealthPartners has also developed secure, encrypted services for smart phones that will be tested in early 2010, including the ability to two-way message with a doctor. The program will be tested with women who have high-risk pregnancies and patients with chronic illnesses who have been discharged from the hospital.

In October, Minneapolis-based Medica launched a mobile application to help patients compare the costs of a variety of medical procedures.

The app, based on the website MainStreetMedica.com, is available at the iPhone App Store.