Online Appointment System Earns Innovation Award

She knew the online system for vaccination appointments at the South Public Health Center would be a success. Clients had been asking for it for a while.

What Paulina Bobenrieth did not know was that the system would earn her the Innovator of the Quarter award from the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA).

“I was pleasantly surprised and delighted,” said Bobenrieth, public health nurse manager for HHSA’s southern region. “I was so honored.”

Launched nine months ago, the Online Appointment System makes it is easier and more convenient for patients to make appointments and helps them avoid unnecessary trips when getting vaccinations for themselves or their children.

“Some clients need to be in and out, so it was really important to be more efficient with vaccination appointments,” said Bobenrieth, who has worked for HHSA for 10 years.

Bobenrieth said a recent survey indicated nearly 97 percent of clients said it was “easy” or “very easy” to use.

“The clients could not be happier,” she said.

The system, available in English and Spanish, was initially a pilot project at HHSA’s South Public Health Center, one of the busiest in the County.

Prior to implementing the new system, immunization appointments at the center were available only on a first-come, first-served basis. When the clinic reached capacity, clients had the option of calling 2-1-1 or returning another day. Now clients can schedule an online appointment and be in and out, fully vaccinated, within 20 minutes.

The online appointment system has been such a success, HHSA has decided to continue using it and will soon be expanding it to all County public health centers. The system has improved access to vaccines, part of the County’s Live Well San Diego initiative.

Currently, only 30 percent of vaccination appointments—about 300 per month—can be made using the new system, but Bobenrieth said they plan to increase the figure to 50 percent sometime next year to continue reducing the wait time at the facility and decrease disruption of clients’ work or school schedules.

“It’s easier for the clients and it’s easier for us,” said Bobenrieth. “It runs itself.”