Sharp Memorial Hospital And Doctors Medical Center Of Modesto Earn Top Rankings In Independent California Patient Engagement Index

Axial Exchange Releases Third Patient Engagement Index; Ranks Hospitals Based on Personal Health Management, Patient Satisfaction and Social Media Engagement Data

RALEIGH, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Axial Exchange, Inc., a pioneer in using mobile apps to deepen the patient’s role in improving outcomes, today announced the results of its California Patient Engagement Index (PEI), a groundbreaking index that ranks U.S. hospitals based on an analysis of publicly available data in three categories: personal health management, patient satisfaction and social media engagement. In the California PEI, Sharp Memorial Hospital and Doctors Medical Center of Modesto topped the list of 135 hospitals in the state. This is the third regional PEI the company has issued; previous PEI’s ranked top hospitals in Florida and Texas.

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 state’s 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 and is also used to determine reimbursement levels for Medicare patients. 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 the Axial Exchange PEI is a score of 100. Ranking number one, Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego, received an overall score of 90. Lower ranking hospitals in the California PEI included notable healthcare institutions like Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, which received a score of 18, and Riverside County Regional Medical Center which received a score of 13.

“Through our Patient Engagement Indices, we are starting to see more and more provider organizations make a commitment to, and investment in, patient engagement initiatives, demonstrating that healthcare organizations are really starting to see the value of engagement programs—whether that be via enhanced social media engagement, mobile health applications or patient education,” said Joanne Rohde, CEO of Axial Exchange. “Patient engagement is a real game changer when it comes to successful health management, and when done right, will ultimately lead to improve outcomes, better quality care, and reduced costs for the entire healthcare ecosystem.”

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

About Axial Exchange, Inc.

Axial Exchange is revolutionizing the way that patients manage their health. With Axial Exchange, hospitals are able to keep their patients continuously engaged resulting in dramatically improved health outcomes and much more satisfied patients. Axial Exchange 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 Exchange’s flagship solution was named first-prize winner in the U.S. 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). For more information, visit: www.axialexchange.com.

Contacts

Aria Marketing for Axial Exchange
Scott Collins, 617-332-9999 x236
[email protected]