Providence Memorial Hospital Top Texas Patient Engagement Index Ranking

PRESS RELEASE

May 15, 2013, 2:31 p.m. EDT

CORRECTING and REPLACING Houston Northwest Medical Center, Park Plaza Hospital and Providence Memorial Hospital Top Texas Patient Engagement Index Ranking

Axial Exchange's Patient Engagement Index Ranks Hospitals Based on Personal Health Management, Patient Satisfaction and Social Media Engagement Data

RALEIGH, N.C., May 15, 2013 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Third graph, third sentence of release should read: Lower ranking hospitals in the PEI included notable healthcare institutions like Parkland Hospital, which scored a 41 and University Hospital in San Antonio, which scored a 36.

The corrected release reads:

HOUSTON NORTHWEST MEDICAL CENTER, PARK PLAZA HOSPITAL AND PROVIDENCE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL TOP TEXAS PATIENT ENGAGEMENT INDEX RANKING

Axial Exchange's Patient Engagement Index Ranks Hospitals Based on Personal Health Management, Patient Satisfaction and Social Media Engagement Data

Axial Exchange, Inc., a pioneer in using mobile apps to deepen the patient's role in improving outcomes, today announced the results of its Texas Patient Engagement Index (PEI), a groundbreaking index that ranks U.S. hospitals based on an analysis of publically available data in three categories: personal health management, patient satisfaction and social media engagement. This is the second regional PEI the company has issued; the first ranked top hospitals in Florida. Both states were selected because their demographics make them bellwethers for the rest of the country.

Axial Exchange's methodology for ranking hospitals' patient engagement performance is based on analyzing metrics that research has indicated lower costs and improve clinical outcomes. For each PEI, Axial Exchange evaluates provider organizations' personal health management strategies, awarding maximum points to those organizations that not only offer electronic access to patient health records, but also provide resources for ongoing disease management support, including mobile, tablet and desktop tools. Axial Exchange also ranks hospitals according to an annual Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) patient satisfaction survey called the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Health Plans Survey (HCAHPS), a standardized instrument for measuring patients' perspectives on hospital care. Lastly, Axial Exchange analyzes the extent to which hospitals and health systems engage their patients via social networking channels.

The highest possible ranking a hospital can receive in Axial Exchange PEI is a score of 100. Top ranking hospitals in the Texas PEI included Houston Northwest Medical Center, which received an overall score of 84; Park Plaza Hospital, which received a score of 83; and Providence Memorial Hospital in El Paso, which received a 76. Lower ranking hospitals in the PEI included notable healthcare institutions like Parkland Hospital, which scored a 41 and University Hospital in San Antonio, which scored a 36.

"The term 'patient engagement' has been so widely used that its true meaning has been diffused; people talk broadly about improving patient engagement, but have not done the analysis and research to determine exactly what types of patient engagement programs improve outcomes," said Joanne Rohde, CEO of Axial Exchange. "However, we have done the research to determine which programs and tools actually drive more meaningful patient engagement that leads to improved patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower healthcare costs. My hope is that these indices we have issued, and will continue to compile and share, will encourage provider organizations across the country to reevaluate their patient engagement strategies and place higher emphasis on the programs that drive real change."

Future indices for other U.S. regions will debut throughout the coming months. Detailed methodology of the Patient Engagement Index is published here. All Texas hospitals were notified of their ranking, and provided with links to the published data for consideration in their own initiatives toward Meaningful Use and heightened reimbursement levels.

About Axial Exchange, Inc.

Axial Exchange is revolutionizing the way that patients manage their health. With Axial, hospitals are able to keep their patients continuously engaged resulting in dramatically improved health outcomes and much more satisfied patients. Axial drives engagement by giving patients the information and interactive tools patients need in order to get well -- all delivered securely to the device of the patient's choice. Patients can share their health information with providers and care givers. Health systems benefit via lower readmissions and improved patient satisfaction scores.

In December 2011 Axial's flagship solution was named first-prize winner in the US Department of Health and Human Services' Partnership for Patients Initiative innovation competition for "Ensuring Safe Transitions from Hospital to Home." Axial Exchange is backed by a syndicate of top venture capital firms, led by Canaan Partners (www.canaan.com). Visit www.axialexchange.com.

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SOURCE: Axial Exchange, Inc.