Patient experience provider Medfusion Inc. is making a bigger run at the online physician scheduling market. MedFusion has acquired NexSched LLC, a provider of scheduling applications, for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition addresses consumer demand for greater control by giving patients 24/7 access to schedule their own appointment, make a co-payment or pay their doctor’s bill and access medical records from a mobile device.

The inclusion of NexSched’s software to Medfusion’s platform will allow patients to schedule same day and future appointments and simple procedures, such as annual flu shots. At the same time, medical practices can implement various filters to retain full control over scheduling and appointments, MedFusion says.

“With NexSched, we are meeting the patient demand for an improved healthcare experience and arming practices with the technology they need to be successful in a consumer-driven market,” says Medfusion CEO Kimberly Labow. “This acquisition is a strong strategic fit with Medfusion’s core offerings and accelerates the growth of our patient experience platform.”

Medfusion’s patient platform allows consumers to access their medical records online, pay a provider, request a prescription renewal and e-mail their doctor. The platform is used by such electronic medical records providers as GE Centricity, Greenway PrimeSuite, Allscripts Pro PM/EMR and NextGen.

Concurrently, Medfusion has enhanced its Medfusion Plus mobile app. The free app allows patients to securely view their health records and that of family members through a mobile device.

Enhancements include the ability for patients to share health data with their physician or others using an e-mail address and the ability to print their health record from the app.

In addition, Medfusion has increased the number of providers and medical facilities to which users can connect. Pharmacies such as CVS and Walgreen’s and lab processing firms, such as LabCorp and Quest, are now a part of the Medfusion directory along with thousands of health providers and facilities, the company says.

The app will also automatically differentiate between each family member’s health data to ensure each account profile is up-to-date. The feature is expected to benefit families that use the same healthcare provider or facility, the company says.

“All of these updates place patients in the center of their care so they can feel empowered to take charge of their healthcare decisions,” says Medfusion senior product manager Brady Keeter.

More than 13 million patients in 50 states use Medfusion’s platform, which the company launched in 2000, Medfusion says.