DSS, Inc. and GetWellNetwork Collaborate to Enhance the Patient Experience for Veterans

JUNO BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Document Storage Systems, Inc. (DSS), the leading provider of software development and support for VistA and vxVistA, in partnership with GetWellNetwork, Inc.^®, the leading provider of interactive patient care (IPC) solutions, today announced the implementation of a new personalized patient experience platform into two Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMCs) to enhance veteran engagement in their health care and recovery.

The GetWellNetwork system is directly integrated into VistA, the VA's electronic health record (EHR) framework, to deliver a customized solution based on each patient's medical history and current visit information. Patients can access educational videos about their specific illness or disorder, learn about their medications, take quality measure surveys and communicate with staff during their hospital visit through the Web, mobile or television. In addition, the GetWellNetwork system is also available to patients while at home, post-hospital stays, to further assist with the healing process and encourage preventative medicine.

“Patient-centered care is the key to improving patient safety, quality and overall satisfaction, and our collaboration with DSS is a first step in providing Veterans with the ability to control certain aspects of their hospital stay and gain better understanding of their health,” said Michael O'Neil, founder and CEO of GetWellNetwork. “Working alongside DSS and leaders from the VA, we will help drive a new level of personalized care to our nation's Veterans ultimately paving the way for better outcomes and reduced readmissions.”

The GetWellNetwork IPC system enables patient engagement and education through various tools and features, including:

• Customized care tasks so patients can move through videos, surveys and coordinated care plans at their own pace with information specific to their needs;
• Staff notifications—via phone, email and pager—if patients have questions about treatment or need immediate assistance; and
• Integration into the patient's EHR to record patient progress, monitor patient activity and address patient needs as necessary.

“We're excited to partner with GetWellNetwork on this solution, which we feel is setting a new standard for fully engaging veterans at the point of care, including a personalized experience with both the healthcare setting and its providers,” said Mark Byers, CEO and president of DSS.

About GetWellNetwork

GetWellNetwork, Inc. entertains, educates, and empowers patients throughout the patient journey using the bedside TV and iPad 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 is recognized by KLAS^® as the leader in the Interactive Patient Systems category and exclusively endorsed by the American Hospital Association. More information about GetWellNetwork can be found at www.GetWellNetwork.com.

About DSS, Inc.

For more than 20 years, Document Storage Systems, Inc. (DSS) has worked extensively with VistA/CPRS and the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to modernize the legacy system's performance and improve efficiencies for clinical and administrative users. In 2009, DSS released vxVistA, an open source EHR, to meet the needs of hospitals, clinics, long term care facilities and physician practices, as well as state and local governments. DSS also offers add-on products including behavioral health, clinical decision support, dental electronic records, document imaging and revenue cycle solutions.

To foster the adoption of open source in healthcare organizations, DSS is a founder and supporter of a community-driven, collaboration environment website called www.vxVistA.org. This online community acts as a forum for discussion and best practices among worldwide vxVistA and VistA EHR users including clinical and administrative staff, new adopters, C-suite executives and developers. DSS is a supporter and an active member of the Open Source Electronic Health Record Agent (OSEHRA) organization. For more information on DSS, visit www.dssinc.com.