BETHESDA, MD--(Marketwired - December 16, 2014) - GetWellNetwork®, Inc., the leader in Interactive Patient Care™ (IPC) solutions, today announced that it has signed strategic partnerships with two industry-leading solutions providers. The partnerships are an extension of GetWell Labs™, a research and development initiative that serves as an incubator for disruptive patient and family engagement technologies.
First, the company has partnered with Pro-Change® Behavior Systems, Inc. Pro-Change helps individuals and communities make healthy lifestyle changes supported by evidence-based behavior change solutions. Pro-Change principals are responsible for major breakthroughs in the science and practice of behavior change.
GetWellNetwork will incorporate Pro-Change's Transtheoretical Model -- based on more than 35 years of scientific research, intervention development and empirical studies -- into its Interactive Patient Care Pathways™. Delivered on the iPad, mobile device or bedside TV, IPC Pathways are workflows that engage patients at the right point of care to learn about their condition and take action to manage their health. With Pro-Change's proven methods, Pathways can now be customized to target and deliver patient-specific care plan interventions.
"Pro-Change is thrilled to partner with GetWellNetwork," said Pro-Change Senior Vice President Research and Product Development Kerry E. Evers, Ph.D. "The combination of our scientifically validated behavior change programs and GetWellNetwork's IPC technology will create a powerful solution. Together, we can engage and empower patients and families in the behavior change process, improve outcomes and transform the patient experience."
GetWellNetwork has also partnered with QuadJoy to provide patients with limited mobility access to IPC functionality through assistive mouse, or "Sip-and-Puff," technology. Patients with quadriplegia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease), or other mobility restrictions can move and click the on-screen cursor to interact with the GetWellNetwork system, use the Internet and change in-room television channels and volume.
QuadJoy is a USB mouse that can be fully controlled with the user's mouth. The user simply moves the straw joystick with his or her lips or tongue to move the on-screen cursor. This breakthrough technology is particularly vital to GetWellNetwork's Veterans Affairs (VA) client community, where many wounded veterans suffer from limited mobility, dexterity and communication abilities. "This is outstanding and extremely easy to navigate," said Mr. Michael Dawsey, a patient using the system at the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital in Tampa, Fla.
"When we launched GetWell Labs, we promised to bring the future faster to engage patients and families in new ways," said GetWellNetwork Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer David Bennett. "These partnerships will enable our client community to build on the outcomes they're already achieving by delivering even more effective care and empowering every patient."
About Pro-Change
Pro-Change Behavior Systems, Inc., a certified Women's Business Enterprise, is a research and development company providing Wellness Partners with computer and coaching-based programs for changing health risk behaviors. Based on the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change developed by founder Dr. James O. Prochaska, Pro-Change programs are for entire populations and are uniquely tailored to each individual. Pro-Change programs have produced unprecedented impacts on multiple behaviors to enhance health and reduce health care costs. In 2009, Pro-Change LifeStyle Management Programs for Stress Management, Depression Prevention, Weight Management, Exercising Regularly, Smoking Cessation, and Medication Adherence won the URAC Gold Award for Best Practices in Health Management. In 2012, the LifeStyle programs were featured on AHRQ's Innovation Exchange website. In 2014, Pro-Change was awarded Health Information Products (HIP) Certification for Health Appraisals by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).
For more information about Pro-Change, please visit www.prochange.com.
About QuadJoy
QuadJoy is dedicated to improving the well-being of people with temporary or permanent hand impairment by providing them with innovative products and excellent customer services. In 1988, founder Tom Street was seriously injured while unloading his rail dragster from his truck, which left him paralyzed from his shoulders to his toes. He never regained the use of his arms or legs. One year later, Tom formed Street Electric Mfg. Co. and served as a consultant for repair of heavy electrical equipment. In 1993, he designed and developed the QuadJoy orally controlled mouse technology.
For more information about QuadJoy, please visit www.quadjoy.com.
About GetWellNetwork
GetWellNetwork®, Inc. provides patient engagement solutions that help health care providers engage, educate and empower patients along the care continuum. Our patient-centered platform, delivered across multiple technology platforms including mobile devices, computers and televisions, enables providers to implement a revolutionary care delivery model called Interactive Patient Care™ to improve performance and patient outcomes. The company further extends the value of existing IT investments by integrating seamlessly with electronic medical record and patient portal applications.
GetWellNetwork is recognized by KLAS® as the leader in the Interactive Patient Systems category and exclusively endorsed by the American Hospital Association. Learn more at www.GetWellNetwork.com.
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Contact Information:
Media Contacts:
Valerie A. Hupf
Pro-Change
401.360.2980
