31 National Health Care Leaders Join GetWellNetwork's O'Neil Center

BETHESDA, MD--(Marketwired - Jun 5, 2014) - GetWellNetwork®, Inc., the leader in Interactive Patient Care™ (IPC) solutions, today announced the formation of the O'Neil Center™, the industry's first central resource dedicated to helping health care providers translate patient and family engagement theory into practice. The O'Neil Center will be led by Karen Drenkard, Ph.D., RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, senior vice president, chief clinical officer for GetWellNetwork.

"We know based on 14 years of experience that health care transformation occurs at the intersection of clinical practice, patient involvement and information technology. These elements are critical to revolutionizing the delivery of care worldwide," said Drenkard. "The O'Neil Center's work will honor our unique, profoundly patient-centric commitment while fulfilling a need for evidence-based research and resources to aid health leaders in advancing patient and family engagement. It is a privilege to lead this effort."

Drenkard continued, "We are fortunate to have one of the best minds in health information technology, David Muntz, former Principal Deputy National Coordinator and Chief of Staff at ONC, to support our mission with a technology framework that is dynamic, scalable and fully interoperable." 

The Center is structured around three core elements including thought leadership councils, research and analytics, and a translational resource center to help implement theory into clinical practice. The Center's priorities and focus will be guided by three advisory councils to ensure it is meeting the health care industry's needs. More than 30 recognized health care leaders have come together to serve on clinical, IT and finance/operations advisory councils.

"The O'Neil Center fulfills a critical need facing health care providers by sharing scientific data and proven methods for activating patients across all care settings," said Mark Montoney, M.D., chief medical officer at Tenet Healthcare Corporation.

The O'Neil Center is staffed with industry experts, clinical researchers, analysts and change management consultants who will boost provider efforts to meet the Triple Aim by improving the patient experience and managing the health of their populations at a lower cost.

"Nursing theories have long included patient-centered care as a core element to improve health outcomes, and nurses lead the way in recognizing the importance of activating patients in their care," said Jean Johnson, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, dean of the George Washington University School of Nursing. "The O'Neil Center serves as a valuable resource for helping clinicians move more rapidly into the role of collaborator with patients and families."

"The O'Neil Center is among the most important initiatives we have undertaken since our beginning," said Michael O'Neil, GetWellNetwork founder and chief executive officer. "Patient engagement needs a center of gravity for providers worldwide. We are thrilled to have Dr. Karen Drenkard lead the O'Neil Center with her strong commitment to patient and family engagement, ability to translate research into practice and her global impact on nursing and patient care."

For more information about the O'Neil Center, please visit www.getwellnetwork.com/oneil-center.

About GetWellNetwork

GetWellNetwork®, Inc. provides patient engagement solutions that help health care providers engage, educate and empower patients along the care continuum. Our patient-centered platform, delivered across multiple technology platforms including mobile devices, computers and televisions, enables providers to implement a revolutionary care delivery model called Interactive Patient Care™ to improve performance and patient outcomes. The company further extends the value of existing IT investments by integrating seamlessly with electronic medical record and patient portal applications.

GetWellNetwork is recognized by KLAS® as the leader in the Interactive Patient Systems category and exclusively endorsed by the American Hospital Association. Learn more at www.GetWellNetwork.com.