BETHESDA, MD--(Marketwire - Aug 9, 2011) - GetWellNetwork, Inc., provider of the industry's leading interactive patient care (IPC) solution, today announced a new white paper that outlines the requirements and monetary impact of the Meaningful Use (MU) program and provides an overview of how IPC solutions can help satisfy MU requirements in the Patient and Family Engagement Category.
As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the federal government designated $27 billion under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH Act) to be used as reimbursement incentives for hospitals and health care professionals that adopt and meaningfully use Electronic Health Record (EHR) technology in providing patient care. The HITECH Act introduced the MU program with standards that health care providers must comply with in order to receive these incentives and avoid payment penalties through Medicare.
Titled "Meaningful Use of Health Information Technology: Requirements and Solutions in Patient and Family Engagement," the white paper specifically addresses how hospitals can use IPC tools to meet the patient information requirements such as providing patient-specific education, medication lists, health information and direct patient feedback, among other areas following a patient's stay in the hospital.
"The HITECH Act was built on a strong belief that the use of Health Information Technology (HIT) should be expanded and adopted to be more meaningful to substantially improve the quality, safety and costs of healthcare in the United States for patients and their families," said David Wright, chief outcomes officer, GetWellNetwork, Inc. "Patient and Family Engagement is an important part of the MU program, as the standards are consistent with National Health Priorities and reflect the strong, growing push from consumers to have the information they need at the right time to make informed choices about their health care."
A GetWellNetwork solution, GetWell@Home, enables the care team to continue the communication with the patient as the patient transitions through their care, and specifically supports the hospital's compliance with MU requirements to deliver patient information electronically once the patient is discharged from the hospital. GetWell@Home offers health care providers the capability to deliver an electronic copy of hospital discharge instructions on request, provide an electronic copy of health information to the patient upon request, and send reminders to patients for preventative and follow-up care all through the patient's personal computer.
Patients and their care teams use the GetWellNetwork solution to engage the patient and their family in their care while in the hospital. GetWell@Home supplements and continues the patient's use of this IPC technology beyond their hospital stay into their homes to ensure patient has the necessary information and support, and remain compliant with their care plan.
Hospitals using this IPC technology are routinely reporting significant advances in patient outcomes including patient satisfaction, quality and safety outcomes and financial and operations improvement
"With GetWell@Home, healthcare providers will have the confidence of a technology that can not only help them satisfy approved Stage 1 standards, but that will be an even more important resource as Stage 2 and 3 standards are implemented," explained Wright. "At GetWellNetwork we believe we are uniquely positioned to help hospitals extend EHRs to enable direct patient interaction and provide the proven tools needed to fulfill the criteria of this MU category across the care continuum."
"Meaningful Use of Health Information Technology," by David Wright, MPH, Chief Outcomes Officer, GetWellNetwork, Inc., may be found on the GetWellNetwork website by clicking here.
About GetWellNetwork
GetWellNetwork, Inc. entertains, educates, and empowers patients throughout the patient journey using the bedside TV in the hospital, mobile devices, Web or Cable TV at home. This patient-centered approach improves both satisfaction and outcomes for patients and hospitals. Additionally, the company extends the value of existing IT investments by integrating seamlessly to leading HIT systems including Cerner, McKesson, Epic, Meditech, GE and Siemens.
GetWellNetwork was also recognized by KLAS® as the leader in the new Interactive Patient Systems category and exclusively endorsed by the American Hospital Association. More information about GetWellNetwork can be found at www.GetWellNetwork.com.
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