BETHESDA, MD--(Marketwire - September 29, 2010) - GetWellNetwork, Inc. today announced that Sharp Memorial Hospital, a Magnet hospital and part of Sharp HealthCare, a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award recipient, has selected the Company's award-winning interactive patient care solution to enhance the patient care experience and streamline clinical workflows. Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego, California will use the GetWellNetwork® solution to provide superior patient education, high-tech amenities and enhanced communication with their caregivers.
"When we evaluated our goals against solutions on the market, it became very clear that GetWellNetwork was our best option," said Susan Stone, chief nursing officer, Sharp Memorial Hospital. "GetWellNetwork clients have documented impressive improvements in clinical outcomes, patient safety and patient satisfaction. In addition, the company offered something other solutions lacked -- proven integration with our EMR system for efficient automation of nursing workflows and the ability to extend The Sharp Experience when patients go home."
The GetWellNetwork system will provide Sharp Memorial Hospital with a systematic and consistent approach to patient education and communication with caregivers and hospital staff. By integrating with the hospital's Cerner® EMR system, patients will access personalized medical information as soon as they arrive in their rooms and will be encouraged to learn about their diagnosis, treatment plan and any upcoming medical procedures through the GetWellNetwork system.
In addition, clinicians will be able to track patients' progress and comprehension of their treatment plans and prescribed education materials, which will be documented automatically into patients' records through the bi-directional integration with the Cerner EMR. The result is a consistent process for documentation of patient records, which in turn offloads non-clinical tasks from clinicians.
The GetWellNetwork solution will also provide a wide range of entertainment features to help patients relax and stay connected with their tech-savvy friends and families. Patients can watch a variety of Hollywood movies, play video games, listen to music on Pandora, and surf the Internet, as well as stay connected via email and social media sites.
"Sharp has earned a national reputation for delivering exceptional patient care, and we had a unique opportunity to work intimately with their leadership team as they evaluated potential partners for the new hospital," said Michael O'Neil, CEO and founder of GetWellNetwork, Inc. "We are very proud to be selected as the interactive patient care solution of choice by Sharp, and we look forward to collaborating as we implement a digital platform that will impact patient outcomes throughout the patient journey."
About GetWellNetwork
GetWellNetwork, Inc. uses the bedside TV to entertain, educate and empower hospital patients and caregivers to be more actively engaged in their care. This patient-centered approach improves both satisfaction and outcomes for patients and hospitals. GetWellNetwork is the leader in interactive patient care solutions and exclusively endorsed by the American Hospital Association. More information about GetWellNetwork can be found at www.GetWellNetwork.com.
About Sharp Memorial Hospital
With a tradition of excellence since 1955, Sharp Memorial Hospital is recognized internationally for outstanding programs in emergency and trauma services, surgery, cardiac and vascular care, cancer treatment, rehabilitation, orthopedic and neurological services, women's health, weight loss surgery, multi-organ transplantation and home care.
A Magnet-designated facility for nursing excellence, Sharp Memorial completed an expansion in January 2009 to become San Diego's first hospital with all private patient rooms. The new 315,000-square-foot, 334-bed structure, named the Stephen Birch Healthcare Center, is also the first hospital in San Diego to open since 1993.
Sharp Memorial is part of Sharp HealthCare, the region's largest health care provider and a 2007 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award recipient. To learn more about Sharp Memorial, visit www.sharp.com/memorial or call 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277).
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Media Contact:
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