Mission Hospital’s Physician Relationship Management Program Earns Prestigious Gold Aster Award

<0> For Aegis Health GroupCarol Stevenson818-597-8453, x-3 </0>

physician relationship management program has been recognized for excellence in healthcare marketing and communications by the Aster Awards, one of the largest and most respected national competitions of its kind. Selected from nearly 3,000 entries, Mission was honored with a “Gold Award,” the highest in its category, for its outreach efforts to foster stronger relationships with physicians. Since 2008 Mission has utilized a program provided by .

Building upon proprietary tools provided by Aegis Health Group, Mission Hospital has improved communications with its physicians, tracked and resolved physician concerns in a timely manner, and supported physicians’ desire to network with each other and establish stronger referral relationships. Aegis’ physician relationship management program includes a physician relations specialist to serve as a liaison between the hospital and its physician network as well as specialized software, , which allows the specialist to manage the relationship with each physician.

Communications outreach is a vital component of Mission’s physician relationship management program. The hospital’s award-winning tools include a monthly newsletter, called , which features a doctor-written education article in each issue; , a quarterly publication designed to share timely updates about the hospital; a physician directory; quarterly networking events for female physicians; and periodic surveys to measure doctor satisfaction.

“The physician referral program at Mission combines high-tech, high-touch and consistent follow through,” said Lisa Weaver, regional vice president of strategic services for Mission Hospital. “Partnering with Aegis has given us access to the tools and insight that have delivered tremendous value to both the hospital and its doctors.”

Aegis Health Group has assisted hundreds of hospitals with proven-effective business development strategies for more than 20 years. Its strategic solutions enable hospitals to grow market share and revenue by identifying and intelligently managing the health risks of local consumers within the community they serve. Complementing thisAegis’ data-driven Physician Relationship Management strategy creates strategic alignment between hospitals and their medical staff to drive service-line growth, enhanced patient care and quality, and timely issue resolution. Further information about Aegis is available at or on their blog at .

Mission Hospital provides south Orange County communities with access to advanced care through dozens of locations. Mission Hospital has been serving the greater needs of the community for more than 40 years, improving the quality of life in the communities it serves. Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, the region's only designated trauma center, offers 24-hour emergency care and specialized services for imaging, heart, stroke, maternity, and women's wellness needs. Mission Hospital Laguna Beach offers 24-hour emergency, intensive and medical-surgical care as well as the south county's only behavioral health services including hospital-based chemical and pain medication dependency treatment. CHOC Children's at Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo is the only dedicated pediatric hospital in south Orange County. Mission is the only hospital to twice earn the Ernest A. Codman Award for Excellence in quality healthcare presented by The Joint Commission for its traumatic brain injury protocol and rapid response nursing team and recently earned Magnet® recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. A member of the St. Joseph Health System, Mission Hospital is one of 14 not-for-profit hospitals sponsored by the St. Joseph Health Ministry. For more information, visit .