Welcome to our newsletter!

While the autumn colors and falling leaves are painting the landscape, VitalHealth continues to blossom and grow. A perfect example of this is the availability of the first version of the Rehabilitation EMR, a unique and major milestone in the Dutch rehabilitation healthcare sector. Another is the growing adoption of VitalHealth software at the Mayo Clinic with currently more than 1200 users, with expanding functionality and an impressive number of patients served. Our product portfolio is growing as well, with the addition of the new “Vital for Weight Management” solution. Also, in this newsletter we will introduce you to one of our new customers - ReventaCare - that will adopt a solution based on the VitalHealth Platform, developed by our partner COAS.

Read on for more details!

The VitalHealth Team
Ede, oktober 2008

Rehabilitation EMR ready for pilot implementations
Breaking the world record for EMR development?

	Jaco Haverhals (VitalHealth), Hans Slootman (Heliomare) and Birgit Wilms (VIR e-Care) presented the basic version of the Rehabilitation EMR on September 18 in Utrecht. (photography: Isja Nederbragt)

On September 18, 2008, VitalHealth Software hosted a preview event for the upcoming Rehabilitation EMR. More than 250 interested users visited the event for a sneak peek at the solution, which was developed using the VitalHealth Platform. The Rehabilitation EMR will be implemented in the entire rehabilitation sector in the Netherlands, a first in the Dutch healthcare market. All 24 rehabilitation centers will be using the new solution early 2009.

The preview event started with a presentation session that outlined the requirements for the solution. Jos Buijs (chairman of the Rehabilitation EMR committee), project manager Robert van Schijndel and Monique van Kerkwerk (ergotherapist at Heliomare) addressed the process that led to the development of the Rehabilitation EMR, as well as the benefits offered to the users.

After a brief intermission, Birgit Wilms, Jaco Haverhals (both members of the project team) and Hans Slootman (rehabilitation physician at Heliomare) presented the base version of the Rehabilitation EMR, resulting in enthusiastic applause from the audience. The morning session was concluded with a pointed remark by Gert-Jan van Boven, director of the National ICT Institute (Nictiz):

‘There has been a lot of discussion about electronic health records in our country. The rehabilitation sector made it happen… hats off to that!’

During the afternoon session all participants had a chance to get some hands-on experience with the solution from their individual laptops. The project team members were present to answer questions…. and to receive many congratulations from the users.

Source: Revalidatie Nederland.

Continued adoption of VitalHealth at Mayo
Impressive growth in functionality and number of users

The ‘GDMS’ point of care solution at the Mayo Clinic continues to grow in functionality and number of users. In the recent months GDMS has been expanded with point of care information and recommended actions related to Asthma, Depression and Geriatrics. In the coming months, this expansion will continue with CAD, Chronic Kidney Disease and Pediatrics, providing caregivers with a compact overview of multiple and co-morbid chronic diseases. Along with these incremental functionality enhancements, the number of registered GDMS users has grown to more than 1200 caregivers.

Besides direct point of care support, GDMS is also used as a source for indirect care via a patient portal project at Mayo, currently deployed for a subset of Mayo’s own employee base. The portal provides background information on chronic diseases and the need for preventive services, pulling the recommendations for current and future preventive services due directly from GDMS. We will keep you informed of further exciting developments at Mayo!

New! Vital for Weight Management
Second lifestyle management solution in our portfolio

Within a relatively short time span, VitalHealth has added yet another solution to the portfolio of VitalHealth Platform based applications: “Vital for Weight Management”. Next to the already existing “Vital to Quit Smoking”, this is our second solution for lifestyle management, this time focused on managing a healthier lifestyle through a structured approach in the battle against obesity. A perfect fit with our existing solutions and a further expansion on the theme of “health management” solutions.

Vital for Weight Management provides optimal support to the caregiver in coaching a patient that suffers from obesity and wants to adopt a healthier lifestyle. The solution includes:

• Early intervention and prevention
• Focus and weight loss and lifestyle
• Questionnaires about eating and lifestyle habits
• Patient specific motivation
• Structured diagnostics process
• Recognition of causes leading to obesity
• Intelligent suggestions for referral choices
• Integral approach and coordination within care network

This new solution marks an important step forward in offering integral care to patients suffering from obesity. It is a must-have for family medicine physicians, physician groups, dieticians and obesity specialists working towards a healthier future for this high-risk population.