MedRespond

MedRespond has developed a cutting-edge solution to this challenge at www.patientsafetypartners.org. The site features patented technology called Custom Conversations™ that was designed to reproduce a one-on-one consultation with an expert about healthcare issues, over the Internet.

Situation

Medical errors are reported to kill 100,000 Americans each year. Medical errors cost an estimated $500 billion per year in avoidable medical charges, 30% of all healthcare spending.

Patients may have heard about such problems, but they have no idea how to avoid becoming part of these statistics. There is a desperate need to educate patients and their families about how to stay safe while in the hospital. Patients must learn what to expect, what can go wrong, and how they can prevent it.

But, patient education is costly. Healthcare personnel are already over burdened with critical staff shortages in many regions. Effective patient education is not being delivered.

Solution

MedRespond has developed a cutting-edge solution to this challenge at www.patientsafetypartners.org.  The site features patented technology called Custom Conversations™ that was designed to reproduce a one-on-one consultation with an expert about healthcare issues, over the Internet.

Renowned experts were video taped answering over 300 questions that patients ask over and over again about hospital risks. These video clips, about 1-2 minutes in length, are stored in an electronic database that is used to answer questions.

When patients preparing for a hospital stay visit the website, they type their questions online. “How can I prevent an infection?” “Who is at risk for bedsores?” “How can I be sure they operate on the right leg?” The system interprets the question and streams the video response. Along with the video respond, users are given checklists, instructions, images and links that are related to their questions.

It’s simple. Patients ask questions. Experts give answers.

Patients and their families feel as though they have had a one-one-one consultation with the medical staff. They can ask their questions anonymously in the privacy of their home. The experts are always “in” -- 24-hours a day, 7-days a week, from anywhere in the world.

No question is stupid or embarrassing. Each answer is given in clear and simple language. Patients learn in a personal manner at their own pace. Responses can be replayed or printed to review again later.

The technology improves patient safety by empowering patients with more knowledge and urging them to speak up and take control over their hospital visit.

Better Health & Lower Costs

Custom Conversations provide patients with a service that could not be made available any other way – unrestricted access to a panel of experts to answer their questions. A consultation with any one of the medical experts would cost hundreds of dollars.

Current attempts at educating patients on these types of topics involve costly printing, handling and mailing. And in reality, few people read. Very costly brochures and videos go unread and unused, enormously wasteful. Updating the material requires a total rewrite, instead of the simple addition of a new video clip to the online interview.

The dollars to be saved when patients can participate in their healthcare and be a vigilant consumer have an enormous potential to show positive gains.

1/10th of 1% of what is wasted would mean savings of $500 million per year.