Tony skinner 00:00
Hi, and welcome to the podcast channel for podcastmybusiness Com .au and contentadeEasy.com.au And today we’ve got Lana klimovski I hope I’ve got that surname correct. From doctors.com.au Hi, Lana.
Lana 00:16
Good, thanks. How are you?
Tony skinner 00:18
I’m very, very good. I do have friends that have similar sound is that polish?
Lana 00:24
Macedonian
Tony skinner 00:28
I’m not even going to say a word. This, I keep my mouth completely closed on. Okay, cool. So what we’re talking about today, is, I guess this sort of a bit of a follow up from an interview I did some time ago with Todd Harper from Cancer Council, Victoria Cancer Council, Australia, and we’re talking about COVID and cancer and the impacts of COVID on cancer rates in cancer testing, and you’ve become aware of that.
Tony skinner 01:00
And as well, at doctors.com.au that you you have a passion to help people deal with making sure they get to have their appointments when they’re supposed to have them.
Lana 01:08
Yeah, that’s right. So, I personally have the connection as both my grandma has died of preventable cancers. You know, COVID, only just amplified, which probably already was an existing problem that we’re not in control of our health in in terms of getting those preventative checkups, when we need to, you know, almost half of all, all these have conditions that could be prevented, essentially.
Lana 01:36
And he talked about the screenings, obviously covid had that impact on breast screenings, for example, we’re down 98%, from April 2018, to 2020, which is very alarming, you know, only for one in 10, complete bowel cancer test kits as well. Like, there’s a lot of statistics at the moment about this, which is really the driver for us in what we’re doing at the moment with doctors.com.au
Lana 02:05
And that is the development of a platform, which will allow patients basically, once they’re registered in their accounts, we’ll be sending them tailored, personalized, friendly reminders and prompts about their checkups and screenings that they’re eligible and should be attending to prevent, you know, health issues that could ultimately become obviously devastating in some circumstances.
Tony skinner 02:32
Yeah, I understand that I’m a guy and you know how Slack we are. We’re probably the slackest of slacks when it comes to anything done. But I’m good. I get a blood test every year. Because it’s free insurance.
Lana 02:51
Yep. Yep. Well, that’s right. We live in a country with, probably one of the best healthcare systems in the world. But the way that we live our lives, you know, we’re very busy. And we don’t prioritize our health, unfortunately, until sometimes it’s too late. So it really is just about us getting in front of that.
Lana 03:12
And, you know, just through gentle reminders on your phone, once you’ve logged in, to saying, Hey, do you know that you’re due for this checkout? Now? Just go and get it? Or, you know, when you do get that, that thing in the mail, as
Tony skinner 03:28
I do get the poo test? Yeah.
Lana 03:32
You know, completing that test doesn’t take much time. But you hear you, you know, we’ve got lots of stories, especially working with Cancer Council of, of people who have had those those screenings, and have been very fortunate, and are big, big champions for that. So we need to listen to that and just just do it, just do the tests. And you know, log and log into doctors.com.au Sign up once the platform is available, I will tell you when to go.
Tony skinner 03:59
Yeah, exactly. Well, when to go literally probably, you know, oops, you did the first part now the next partner and oops, hang on, did you log in and sign it you’ve been in use it ready for the test, or when I got to go? I think we were all used to getting prompts, and being reminded, and we all have busy lives, or we forget to do things and just couldn’t be bothered to be honest, because they’re going to happen to me. That’s right, because it does actually happen to people.
Lana 04:30
That’s right. And you know, it’s also not just about the prompts like it, we are making it easier for people. So you’ll have that prompt and then you’ll click through and we’ll say hey, here’s some, some practitioners around you who can do that for you at these times, click on book.
Lana 04:43
We’ve got your you’ve got your details in the system, it’ll just automatically go through and book you in. So, it is an exciting time for us, you know, with the working of the Cancer Council and the development of this platform. So at the moment on our site you can currently already Search and book, different types of health professionals. But yeah, we’re developing that platform at the moment where patients can currently register. So that when these available, you’re alerted, and you’re jumping on the platform and getting those reminders.
Lana 05:19
And yeah, we’re also crowdfunding at the moment just to push and the development of that. And marketing that we’ll be doing next year. So we’re currently crowdfunding through on market, which is Australia’s largest crowdfunding platform. So yeah, there’s lots of stuff going on. For us at the moment. I’m quite busy.
Tony skinner 05:45
Yeah, well, that’s good. And you know, it’s interesting, you say, busy, like, I’m busy as well. And I think some industries have done well from COVID. And I know you’re not doing this for the reminders as part of a profit making enterprise. But you know, we are in business at the end of the day, and you need to stay in business in order to provide the services that you’re providing. So finding a doctor, dentist, and everybody else is a pretty important thing. So normally, people look at testimonials from referrals from other people, but jumping onto a website where you can just book it, it’s got to be easier.
Lana 06:23
Yes. So in terms of like generating revenue that our customers are paying customers are the practitioners and the clinics? Yeah, so So to them, we offer them basically a suite of tools to attract and retain patients and just just better handle the interactions between the patient and the customer.
Lana 06:43
So the patient, the doctor, so your online booking, they have that that web presence on doctors.com delay you but also telehealth, new patient forms, patient feedback, and a few other tools as well. So the doctors pay to be on the platform, essentially. So so even though we are obviously that those reminders, it’s good, but it’s also good for business in that we are increasing amount of bookings at the same time.
Tony skinner 07:14
Well, you got a huge number, seven and ahalf thousand GPS already and 5000 dentists already,
Lana 07:21
we have 32,000 listings, currently, over 100 categories. And there’s over 40,000 patients who are currently organically visiting and using the platform.
Tony skinner 07:33
Wow. So what do you put down for your success for hitting those sort of numbers?
Lana 07:40
I think, obviously, the timing has, has assisted with COVID.
Tony skinner 07:46
Yeah, yeah, the covid has helped some people.
Lana 07:48
Yeah, in particular, with the the website traffic, like I mentioned, the 40,000 patient that’s all organic. There’s been no marketing in that. So that that’s definitely to do with the time. And as well as you know, the need for telehealth, like 36% of GP consults last year, were all done by telehealth or over the phone. So there is also that need for health practitioners to go online. And they are looking to do that. And have that presence. Because we need it now we expect it now. That’s the world that we live in at the moment. So
Tony skinner 08:25
yeah. Cool. Okay. All right. So yeah, cuz I like having a business stories. So in the business success stories. So how long has doctors.com.au actually been going for?
Lana 08:36
So we’ve had doctors.com.au. So I run it with my sister, Lydia, and i were founders. So we’ve actually had the site for a couple of years. However, we’ve only really started in April of last year, if you get what I mean, so we had the domain. But really this market that’s emerged? It’s been since April. Yeah.
Tony skinner 09:07
Yeah, that’s right. Okay. We would try, I guess, we’re trying to cover quite a few bases in this interview. One is the importance of the cancer screening. But my listeners love to hear about the business success story. So we’d love to hear behind the scenes how you did well as
Lana 09:28
ive got an IT background. Olivia has a marketing background, strong marketing background. So our expertise kind of marry up quite nicely for this business and what we’re doing what we’re trying to achieve. And you’re just the partnerships, good partnerships has helped a lot as well obviously the Cancer Council and looking to further develop that and get more more partnerships is a big part of our strategy, not only for reach, but also for getting those messages out there and all on boarding more like, you know, not just about cancer, but all these other health conditions as well.
Tony skinner 10:08
Good. All right. Okay, anything else you’d like to add?
Lana 10:13
For the site, or just anything General?
Tony skinner 10:20
Well, if you’ve got any business tips, you want to share tips,
Lana 10:26
I do have some tips. I think the first tip would probably be, you know, kind of back to how you said, we had it a start, it would be about timing, about timing, because, and also just the cost of the cost of time, and the cost of money as well.
Lana 10:46
So, you know, you need to be, obviously have the money to start, start your business, but also really need to factor in the time cost as well. So in saying that, like, if you don’t have enough time, it’s probably best to wait till you do have the time. Yeah, till you can, can put in that time that’s required and sort of string a little bit here and there to be successful, because it does require a lot of time.
Lana 11:16
And then also just don’t put off for tomorrow, what you can do today as well, I think, because you know, markets change as well so quickly. Yes, they do. Just really seizing opportunities, if you can, if you can do it today, do it today, because tomorrow could be a different story, essentially.
Tony skinner 11:32
Yeah, absolutely. And you know, what I will say to businesses, as well, as you know, just really starting off, make sure you got enough money to survive 12 months without any income.
Lana 11:40
That’s right. Yeah, definitely. Very important. And also don’t spend too much time on things that don’t really matter that much. is a big one.
Tony skinner 11:52
Little things look after themselves.
11:54
Yeah, that’s right. And like, sometimes, like everything has to be perfect. We seem to focus on things tightly, but then kind of focus on things that, you know, maybe I’ll notice, or maybe even interesting, more, well, isn’t really necessary.
Tony skinner 12:13
It’s true. Yeah, I mean, 80% is good enough, in most circumstances. That’s right. Yeah. And we get hung up on that extra 20% must be surprised with that. And like, we had a few issues, getting this recording happening. And I’ve changed microphones that are probably my other microphone and blah, blah, blah, blah. Not my preference to where I’m recording it at the moment that you’ll have to do. And of course, the neighbor next door is doing the garden. Which the other microphone would filter out a lot more easily. But hey, you know what? We are where we are. And maybe one day we’ll be back in offices, the offices that I share at a university, so I’ve been reopened.
Tony skinner 12:56
I don’t know when to reopen. I don’t know what’s going on. Yeah. Nobody knows what’s going on. We are where we are. Cool. All right now is Lana look, thanks very much for that. I think what you wanting to do is really good and really important to get those messages out. Because at the moment Yeah. Thanks to COVID people who’ve been too scared have been unable to get it look in Melbourne. They’ve been locked down more than they’ve been unlocked. Yeah,
Lana 13:18
well, yeah, I’m in Melbourne, so yeah.
Tony skinner 13:22
Yeah, exactly. You might want to go get screening but then they say well, we’re open but you can’t try 5k You can’t do this. You can’t do that. And then you go well, what’s the risk and what’s this and there’ll be plenty of stories about COVID in a couple of years time when it’s all been washed through and the numbers have been analyzed and everything else ago one of those things
Lana 13:45
but I wanted too mention before we wrapped up I think already did but just that we are crowdfunding at the moment you know it’s exceptional opportunity getting to this business while that crowdfunding is open. So obviously it’s captured at a certain amount but um, you know, currently is open on openmarketcom.au you so if you can just have a look at that. We’ve got further details on there. And yeah, like I said, just opportunity to get in, get in on the business and investment stuff.
Tony skinner 14:14
Alright, cool thats doctors.com.au and it’s Lana klimovski
Lana 14:22
And thanks very much for your time.
