ANN ARBOR, MI and BETHESDA, MD--(Marketwire - April 4, 2011) - GetWellNetwork, Inc. today announced that University of Michigan Health System (UMHS) selected the company's pediatric solution, GetWell Town, for the 348-bed C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, which is scheduled to open its new facility in November 2011. The University of Michigan Health System is an award-winning, highly ranked academic medical center with state-of-the-art hospitals and health center facilities serving 45,000 inpatient and 1.8 million outpatient visits annually. UMHS will also implement GetWellNetwork in the Von Voigtlander Women's Hospital, which is the perinatal center for high-risk pregnancies in Southeast Michigan. GetWellNetwork will supply in total 558 units to the new children's hospital and the women's hospital.
GetWell Town was chosen for its innovative and effective approach to engaging children and families into the care process. The 46" flat panel monitors displaying the GetWellNetwork System in the patient rooms enable clinicians, Child Life staff, and other members of the care team to interact and communicate with their patients and families. GetWell Town's unique communication system will allow clinicians and staff to overlay TV or movie programs with important patient safety alerts, Child Life events, and other hospital information like the Question of the Day to help patients become active participants in their care. In addition, patients will have a broad range of entertainment features such as TV, movies, internet service, gaming, and music enabling them to stay connected during their stay.
Another unique feature of GetWell Town is the exclusive KidsHealth® education content that is developed for both younger children as well as teen patients. Parents will have their own set of tools to learn about their child's diagnosis, prescribed medicines, upcoming surgeries and more, ensuring that families are well prepared to support their child's individualized needs and care plan.
"When patients and families are well informed and engaged in their care, they have less anxiety or fear about their health condition and hospital stay plus they're better prepared to continue with their care plans after discharge -- improving outcomes," said Loree Collett, administrative director of Children's and Women's Services, University of Michigan Health System. "GetWellNetwork's comprehensive and flexible digital platform fits in perfectly with our vision of a modern, innovative health care environment that focuses on personalized patient care throughout the care continuum."
UMHS' Von Voigtlander Women's Hospital will implement the GetWellNetwork solution to provide patients with a wide range of features and amenities to increase patients' safety and comfort during their inpatient stay. By enabling women to use the GetWellNetwork from their bedside TV, they will learn, at their own pace, about after-birthing care for themselves and their newborn. It also gives nurses the ability to reinforce safety education that will reduce the risk of falls and complications post-surgery and birth.
Both University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital and Von Voigtlander Women's Hospital will be the first to benefit from the cutting-edge partnership between GetWellNetwork and University of Michigan Health System which will leverage the latest IPTV technology (Internet Protocol TV). IPTV leverages the existing hospital data network for crisp, clear delivery of television and allows location flexibility for future expansion throughout UMHS facilities.
"Patients, families, physicians and clinical staff all have a vital role in the health care process," said Michael O'Neil, CEO and Founder of GetWellNetwork, Inc. "The partnership with the University of Michigan Health System is anchored in a shared vision of empowering each of these stakeholders with the resources and tools they need to affect positive patient experience and ultimately, drive better patient outcomes."
About U-M's C.S. Mott Children's and Von Voigtlander Women's Hospital
U-M C.S. Mott Children's Hospital is nationally ranked in eight pediatric specialties in the U.S. News Media Group's 2009 edition of "America's Best Children's Hospitals." A new 1.1 million square feet, $754 million state of the art facility for children and women will be the new home for cutting-edge specialty services for newborns, children and women. These specialty services include the world renowned Michigan Congenital Heart Center, Neuroscience program including Neurology, Neurosurgery and Craniofacial anomalies, Fetal surgery, Orthopaedics spine program, Brachial plexus program and the Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant service, high risk pregnancy and specialty gynecological services to name a few.
Patient and family centered care is the foundation for the expert care provided with a focus on respect, communication and teamwork between patients, families and caregivers. More information about C.S. Mott Children's Hospital and Von Voigtlander Women's Hospital can be found at www.med.umich.edu/mott and www.med.umich.edu/whp.
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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Media Contact:
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