INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The COVID-19 pandemic has put a spotlight on virtual care options as both doctors and patients try to reduce in-person visits for routine
Patients aren&t always aware of what available to them, though, so over the course of the next two weeks, Google will roll out new features
in Search and Maps that will highlight telehealth options.
Hospitals, doctors and mental health professionals can now add details about
their virtual care offerings to their Business Profile in Search and Maps, for example
When a patient then searches for them, they&ll see a &get online care& link that will take them to their provider website with more
information.
In the U.S., Google will also start showing virtual care platforms when people use search queries like &immediate care.& The
search results page will now highlight both in-person and virtual care options, something that wasn&t previously the case
Uninsured users will also see more details about out-of-pocket prices for their visits.
In addition, Google will now also automatically try
to surface a link to a healthcare provider COVID-19 page, where they can highlight their own policies for walk-in visits or updates to their
operating hours, for example.
