The main sign-in page includes general health information and updates. Last Thursday, for example, users were warned about using antibiotics for colds or the flu. This page includes security and privacy information, general help tips, a search engine and a function to allow users to change or cancel PINs. Here, users can access directions to offices, a physician directory and information on health education classes. Users come here to access drug and health encyclopedias, fill out a health assessment and access Web links to other health information.
Users can also request non-urgent appointments for primary care physicians.
In addition, there are moderated discussions on issues ranging from relationships to exercise to heart disease. It established a project manager dedicated to security and privacy issues, and developed features such as a log-out button and a timeout session capability. Kaiser also sharpened up its policies and procedures in response to privacy concerns and regulations. Next year, Kaiser plans to add an online prescription refill feature, launch an automated appointment service for Northern California enrollees and introduce patient-care team messaging. The most popular features on the site are the appointment request, nurse and pharmacist advice features, the discussion groups and the health encyclopedia.