MyHealthDIRECT to Showcase Tech-Based Solutions for Collaborative Healthcare Delivery at Annual HIMSS11 in Orlando

Company Leaders to Highlight Success Stories in Bridging the Gap between Providers and Patients to Streamline Care Continuum

BROOKFIELD, Wis., Feb. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Focused on improving healthcare delivery with effective and efficient IT and service solutions, MyHealthDIRECT announced today that CEO and co-founder Jay Mason and Vice President of Community Alliances Marilee Benson will serve as featured speakers during the Annual HIMSS11 Conference & Exhibition February 20-24 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. Recognized as one of the premier conferences in the healthcare industry, HIMSS brings together nearly 30,000 healthcare professionals from across the globe for this annual gathering.

Mason and Benson will present "Community Collaborations Strategies" at 1:30 p.m. and again at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 21 in the New and Emerging Technology Theatre (#218) located in Hall A. The session will address the critical challenges healthcare leaders face with regard to community collaborations, including ensuring adequate access to care, cost containment and quality. Attendees will learn first-hand how other healthcare organizations are driving change through implementing Software-as-a-Service interoperable service solutions to connect the healthcare community outside the organizational infrastructure to the spectrum of providers and streamline the care continuum. Mason and Benson will expand on a simple yet unique models and success strategies for implementing Collaborative Healthcare Communities.

"The annual HIMSS event gives us a wonderful opportunity to meet one-on-one with people who are looking for the right technology solution for their specific situation," Mason said. "In this session, we intend to introduce attendees to a novel solution that is bridging the gap between the hospital, providers and health plans to provide the best possible care for patients."

MyHealthDIRECT provides a comprehensive service solution to assist healthcare organizations in increasing access to care, facilitating care management and improving quality measures. Whether it is a patient arriving in the emergency room for non-emergency treatment,  a health plan member calling for a physician referral, or a patient in need of chronic disease management, MyHealthDIRECT's solution ensures that patients connect with the most available–and appropriate–care provider for their unique health concern. Patients are automatically directed to the right health professionals offering the right services the right time and location. Its proprietary web-based software requires no additional hardware or software, no capital investment and minimal technical commitment.

The solution not only facilitates appointment booking at the point of service but also provides reminders, locates available public transportation and follows up with patients to ensure the appointment was kept or rescheduled. The system is well suited for call center and/or care/disease management environments within managed care organizations and hospitals, hospital emergency departments and discharge planning units. The solution integrates with any portal or client website for easy access.

In addition to the presentation, representatives from MyHealthDIRECT will be available to talk one-on-one HIMSS attendees about their own needs at Kiosk #11 in the New & Emerging Technology Pavilion throughout the event. For more information, visit www.myhealthdirect.com.

About MyHealthDIRECT

MyHealthDIRECT is a national health services solutions company that connects hospitals, care management organizations, public agencies and community collaboratives for the purpose of scheduling and booking timely and appropriate healthcare appointments on behalf of individuals. Founded in 2006, MyHealthDIRECT offers a web-based solution that organizes open and available healthcare appointments in the community into a searchable and schedulable inventory of healthcare services. The MyHealthDIRECT solution promotes continuity of care, reduces unnecessary cost and utilization and ensures that patients are matched with appointments that best fit their needs and preferences. For more information on MyHealthDIRECT please visit www.myhealthdirect.com.

About HIMSS

HIMSS is a cause-based, not-for-profit organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare. Founded 50 years ago, HIMSS and its related organizations have offices in Chicago, Washington, DC, Brussels, Singapore, Leipzig, and other locations across the United States. HIMSS represents more than 30,000 individual members, of which 68% work in healthcare provider, governmental and not-for-profit organizations. HIMSS also includes over 470 corporate members and more than 85 not-for-profit organizations that share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and management systems. HIMSS frames and leads healthcare practices and public policy through its content expertise, professional development, and research initiatives designed to promote information and management systems' contributions to improving the quality, safety, access and cost-effectiveness of patient care. To learn more about HIMSS and to find out how to join us and our members in advancing our cause, please visit our website at www.himss.org.

SOURCE MyHealthDIRECT