Healthdirect National Health Services Directory vs Healthgrades

Healthdirect National Health Services Directory (NHSD) provides nationally consistent information about health and related services to help consumers make appropriate choices. It makes 150,000 services accessible and is searched more than 2.2 million times each month across platforms. Listings can include location, contact details, hours, appointment availability, delivery mode, practitioner information, referrals, accessibility, payment options and secure messaging details. Healthdirect offers integrations through FHIR APIs, an embeddable widget and the Provider Appointments API. The responsive widget lets people search for services and can be placed on a webpage or in a mobile app using a code snippet. The appointments API supports real-time availability and online bookings through booking-provider integrations. Directory data aligns with the FHIR Australian Provider Directory Standard and uses SNOMED CT-AU terminology. Integration partner access is listed at free. Services maintain their own listings and are advised to review them at least every 12 months. New service types must meet eligibility criteria, including support by SNOMED CT-AU, community relevance and a trusted aggregate data source.

Healthgrades helps people find doctors and hospitals, review provider information and arrange appointments. Doctor searches can be narrowed by insurance, distance, availability, patient reviews, gender, age and specialty. Users with an account can save doctors and request or book online appointments for featured doctors. The service is available on Android, iOS and the web, and also offers articles, appointment guides, slideshows, videos and quizzes about conditions and procedures. Healthgrades says its profiles feature more than 10 million patient ratings, with reviews confirmed and audited before publication. Each provider listed in the National Provider Identifier Registry has a free profile that providers can claim and add details to. Hospitals and medical groups can pay to promote provider profiles, which are marked sponsored. The free consumer service is advertiser supported. Providers can subscribe to an Elevated Profile for $49.95 a month; that subscription renews automatically until canceled. Healthgrades Choice considers experience, hospital quality, patient satisfaction and medical sanctions, and providers cannot pay for or influence the designation. Patient Favorite has separate rating, review, licensing and sanctions requirements.