Enhancing the provider search experience through Smart Choice

If you’re looking for a new doctor or health provider, ideally it should be like searching for many other services — with helpful information and personalized results available through a simple online search experience. 

UnitedHealthcare is working to make that possible. Eligible UnitedHealthcare commercial members now have access to Smart Choice through the UnitedHealthcare® app or myuhc.com®.

Smart Choice is an easy-to-use, enhanced provider search capability designed to help provide greater health benefit personalization, easier access to care, and more informed choices for members, all of which may lead to better health outcomes and lower costs.

Smart Choice results can make the health care experience easier by helping members:

• More easily find care providers who meet nationally recognized standards*. Smart Choice helps members more easily find and access care with providers who meet criteria for safe, timely, effective quality care, based in part on nationally recognized standards*. Members can also access board certification status and consumer ratings and reviews with Smart Choice.
  
  Smart Choice uses advanced technology to help members more easily find quality network providers who also meet the member’s selected preferences. It provides a straightforward approach to navigating care options by displaying a score that reflects which providers most closely match members’ search criteria.

• More easily choose and access care based on personal preferences, including:  
  • distance to travel
  • language
  • gender
  • appointment availability, like evenings or weekends
  • virtual or in-office care
• Maximize their benefits. The Smart Choice results also factor in a member’s benefits. Smart Choice results include a comparison of the average total costs of care for providers who are in-network. Providing members greater insight into their care options may result in lower total costs across episodes of care.
   

“A smooth provider search experience is crucial for empowering employees to more easily find and connect with care. By making this process more personal, intuitive and efficient, we not only aim to enhance member satisfaction but also help ensure they receive care in the setting that is most appropriate for them,” said Amy Jordan, vice president of product with UnitedHealthcare’s commercial business.

Smart Choice is the latest example of UnitedHealthcare’s commitment to using innovation to help make health care simpler and provide a better overall experience for members.