 |
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
1. Why was wired.MD™ formed?
wired.MD was formed to empower healthcare professionals to improve patients' healthcare experience and reduce healthcare organization’s costs by making patient education more engaging, effective, and efficient to deliver. wired.MD was also set forth to create content applicable to the masses, or the diversified patient population, regardless of literacy levels, educational levels, native language or technology accessibility.
2. How long has wired.MD been in business?
wired.MD is in its sixth year of operations. Since the company’s inception our sole focus has been the creation of more effective and engaging patient education content and unique delivery mechanisms for that content. wired.MD is privately held and well funded by accredited investors.
3. What is streaMed™?
wired.MD's streaMed Patient Education Solution provides computer-based "new media" patient education videos and associated text handouts at the point of care and beyond. streaMed delivers provider-directed, “new media” videos and text handouts for the most common diagnoses, treatment plans and procedures. streaMed may be used within a patient education resource center, a medical library, an exam room, a nursing station, a waiting room, and a patient’s home.
4. What type of organization might be interested in using streaMed?
Patient Education Resource Centers, Medical Libraries, Medical Practices, Clinics, IDNs, Hospitals, or any other healthcare organization wishing to improve the way they provide patient education to their patients.
5. What are the key benefits of streaMed?
The key benefits to streaMed include increased patient satisfaction, increased patient compliance, streamlined clinical workflow and time savings.
Increased Patient Satisfaction - Patients consistently comment that with streaMed they feel as though they are receiving a premium level of service. They perceive that their healthcare provider is proactively working on their behalf to seek out the best possible care options for them.
Increased Compliance - Studies and clinical trials have shown that video learning conventions can increase retention by up to 16 times over that of text alone. This has been shown to significantly increase compliance among patients, producing more positive healthcare outcomes.
Streamlined Clinical Workflow - Providers that have used streaMed find that it offers them the opportunity to provide pertinent patient education even while they are out of the patient education resource center, library or exam room allowing them to work on other reimbursable tasks or with other patients.
Time Savings - Providers whom have used streaMed find that they are relieved of basic and repetitive educational explanations making their one-on-one consultations more productive and more focused on the patient's specific questions and concerns.
6. What makes streaMed better than other forms of patient education?
streaMed is more effective and efficient than other forms of patient education because it is the first full-circle patient education solution in which patients can be directed by their provider to retention-based "new media" healthcare information before, during and after the visit.
Initially, streaMed helps prepare patients for a visit with information that is preventive or specific to their diagnosis, treatment plan or procedure. Patients can watch preparatory videos from home, in the waiting room, patient education resource center, medical library or in the exam room prior to ever seeing their provider.
streaMed then allows for providers to supplement their one-on-one consultations at the point of care by allowing them to show videos as they explain conditions or procedures.
streaMed then carries the healthcare organization’s brand and educational message home with the patient in the form of text handouts, Information Prescriptions™ and a customized website. This further enhances the relationship between the provider and patient.
Lastly, streaMed allows patients direct access to provider-directed new media videos and associated text handouts from their personal computer or from any Internet-connected computer following a visit. It even allows patients to complete customized feedback questionnaires and to email questions to their providers (optional).
7. How is streaMed different than videotapes?
The streaMed "new media" videos are different than videotapes in their granularity (i.e., narrow focus on a specific condition), structure, capabilities and availability. Videotapes traditionally cover large areas of information on conditions such as Hepatitis (including Hepatitis A through Hepatitis E) and are 15 to 60 minutes in length. streaMed breaks down a topic such as Hepatitis into a series of shorter, more concise videos covering the differing forms of Hepatitis.
The structure of the streaMed videos are specifically designed to be shown in the patient education resource center, library, waiting room or exam room. They average 6 minutes and 30 seconds in length allowing the patient to view 1 to 3 videos on any given visit without disrupting the clinical workflow.
The capabilities of the streaMed videos include real-time updating and package customization reinforcing the branding of your practice or healthcare organization.
Lastly, since streaMed is a web-enabled or completely web-based solution, the "new media" videos are always available wherever the healthcare provider delivers care as well as from the patient's personal computer or from any Internet-connected computer. With videotapes you can educate one patient in one room at one single time, whereas with streaMed videos you can educate hundreds of patients in hundreds of rooms at one single time.
8. Does streaMed come in CCTV, DVD or VHS formats as an alternative?
Yes, streaMed is available for your closed-circuit television system (CCTV) and is also available in DVD and VHS formats for any healthcare organization. Though streaMed was originally designed as a web-based streaming video solution the video content within streaMed has always been created in digital formats, which makes the content immediately applicable to CCTV, DVD and VHS formats. The fact that the native streaMed video content format is digital actually works to healthcare organization's advantage for their closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems as the content received from wired.MD can be provided immediately in ideal formats such as MPEG1, MPEG2 or MPEG4. Also, the streaMed CCTV-ready video content is a first generation compression vs. a second or third generation compression.
9. What does "new media" mean?
"New media" is revolutionizing healthcare content. It integrates the proven retention-based elements of text, medical illustrations, pictographs and videotapes into a "new media" that significantly increases patient information retention and improves compliance. "New media" content is designed to meet the time constraints of the patient education resource center, library, waiting room and exam room as to streamline the workflow vs. to impede the workflow. Also, for the first time ever it also makes preventive patient education more accessible to the masses by presenting comprehensible video content in seven languages (English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Japanese, Mandarin, Cantonese and Russian).
10. Where does wired.MD get its content for the streaMed videos?
wired.MD has formed a strategic alliance with Mosby™ Publishing, the parent company of Harcourt Health Sciences™, and Ferri's™ Patient Teaching Guide. Mosby is considered one of the top text content providers in the world. Mosby's text content is the foundation from which wired.MD derives the majority of its streaMed "new media" videos. In addition, wired.MD works closely with expert physicians in various specialties to create text content. All content is written and reviewed by physicians, but designed to be comprehended by the vast majority of patients.
11. Is it possible to change the content in the videos or text handouts?
streaMed is specifically designed with content credibility and provider acceptance as the standard. The Mosby text content, which serves as the foundation for the majority of the streaMed "new media" videos, is widely accepted as a staple in patient education. streaMed’s content developed by physician experts also adheres to the same standards before entering the market. streaMed's content therefore is a reliable supplementary form of patient education that rarely needs modification. In the event that a video or a text handout requires modification to better serve a customer or a specific specialty, wired.MD will take steps to develop and release a revised version of that video or that text handout.
12. What if our healthcare organization wants additional videos for our specialty?
wired.MD offers a "Content Contribution Program" enabling interested healthcare organizations to work with wired.MD to create additional videos by specialty. In most cases wired.MD already has text content to serve as the foundation for the new videos. If a desired video is unique, or obscure in nature, then our physician staff, our copywriters and the customer's staff can create the text content together. wired.MD underwrites the development of these videos at no cost to the customer.
13. What specialty videos are available now?
streaMed now offers "new media" videos for the following specialties: Allergy, Cardiology, Dermatology, Eyes, Ear, Nose, Throat, Emergency Medicine, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Genitourinary/Renal, Geriatrics, Hematology/Oncology, Neurology, Orthopedics/Rheumatology, Pediatrics, Psychology, Pulmonology and Women's Healthcare. streaMed also includes a package that is not specialty specific called our Multilingual package, which includes videos in 8 of the most prevalent languages in the United States.
14. What specialty videos are in development and when will they be available?
Specialty videos are constantly in development at wired.MD. The development schedule and content is driven by customers and their needs.
15. Can streaMed help with JCAHO compliance?
Yes. streaMed's content is written and developed with the patient in mind in order to meet PF standards of JCAHO regulations. The streaMed text content also assists in charting and file management. With proper use, streaMed can improve continuity of care within your practice or healthcare organization and ease preparation for a JCAHO audit.
16. Is streaMed HIPAA compliant?
wired.MD works to always keep the streaMed Solution, and all of the streaMed derivative products (e.g. streaMed Handheld), HIPAA compliant. wired.MD takes patient security to the highest degree by leaving the patient completely anonymous throughout every process of the streaMed educational cycle. No identifiable patient information is transmitted or saved, nor is any medical coding utilized. wired.MD continues to monitor the pending HIPAA regulations and fully intends to comply with the final regulations as they pertain to patient privacy and confidentiality.
17. How does the healthcare provider use streaMed in the healthcare organization?
The healthcare provider uses streaMed by allowing patients to view videos before, during or after their consultation dependent on the ideal workflow solution. streaMed's "new media" videos are selected by the provider and then played either in the patient education resource center, library, waiting room or exam room on a computer.
The videos shown can be based on preventive care, seasonal care, chronic disease care and active disease state care. After the provider has shown a video or multiple videos to the patient they can then provide them with an associated text handout or an Information Prescription. These streaMed content tools allow for the patient to have the information reiterated to them at least one additional time and to get access to the video and text content from their personal home computer or from any Internet-connected computer.
The healthcare provider also uses streaMed following patient visits to track the healthcare organization’s usage of the videos at the point of care and beyond, to view feedback questionnaire responses by patients and to communicate with patients via email (optional).
18. How do patients access the streaMed videos from home?
Patients access videos from their personal computer by connecting to the Internet and going to www.patients.wired.md. Then they simply enter an 8-digit Information Prescription code provided to them by their provider via a text handout or via an Information Prescription. It is that simple.
The web address www.patients.wired.md is printed clearly on text handouts and it is written on the Information Prescription. Practices and healthcare organizations can have their Patient Site imbedded within, or accessible through, a link on their current practice or corporate website if they wish. In these cases both the text handouts and the Information Prescriptions are customized with your specific URL (e.g. www.yoursite.com/education) as to send patients to your site to further build upon your web presence.
19. Can we try streaMed before we decide whether to buy it?
Yes. Simply contact sales@wired.md or call toll free at 866-WIRED-MD (866-947-3363) to receive more information about how your healthcare organization can take advantage of any promotional streaMed offerings currently in effect.
20. How does wired.MD charge for streaMed and how much does it cost?
For patient education resource centers, libraries and hospitals streaMed is licensed based on the number of computer monitors or screens on which it will be used. Prices start as low as $780 per screen per year with discounts available for multiple screens.
For clinics and medical practices, streaMed is licensed based on the Specialty Package(s) desired (Primary Care, Gastroenterology, etc.), how streaMed will be used in the practice (patient education room and/or exam rooms) and the number of full-time equivalent physicians in the practice. Prices start as low as $720 per full-time equivalent physician per year with discounts available for larger clinics and practices.
A wired.MD Account Executive (sales@wired.md or 866-WIRED-MD) will be happy to prepare a custom price quote for your healthcare organization.
21. How do installation, training and support work?
Installation and training are as simple as streaMed itself. The intuitive nature of streaMed and its Single Page User Interface technology allows providers to begin using it immediately. Since streaMed is a web-enabled or completely web-based application, customers need only to have Internet connected computer with Microsoft Internet Explorer and QuickTime 6, RealPlayer 7 or Macromedia Flash 7.
When streaMed is provided as a completely web-based solution there is no need to load any streaMed software as wired.MD will enable you organization to play streaMed videos-on-demand and to print streaMed text-on-demand from your network through an Internet connection.
In a web-enabled solution environment you will load client side streaMed software onto each computer or onto a centralized server to allow streaMed to play videos-on-demand. To allow streaMed to print text-on-demand you will still need to have an Internet connection.
Following installation wired.MD provides free “Phone Training Sessions” or “Onsite Training Sessions” dependent on the location of your healthcare organization. Multiple training sessions can be held for larger organizations and average sessions usually last from 60 – 120 minutes. Training sessions are available during the evenings and on weekends to ensure that streaMed is up and running in your organization in a timely manner.
22. What are the hardware and software requirements for using streaMed?
streaMed was designed to be easy to use and easy to install on any system. As long as the computer being utilized has an Internet connection and is running a Pentium 3 or faster (for streaMed) or a Pentium 4 (for streaMed Patient Portal) processor, a standard video card and a standard sound card that computer will be able to run streaMed. The only software you need is Microsoft Internet Explorer and QuickTime 6, RealPlayer 7 or Macromedia Flash 7. In a web-enabled solution environment your network administrator will need to install the streaMed client side software provided onto your computer hard drive or onto a local file server on your network.
23. Do we need to have computers in the exam room to use streaMed?
No. streaMed works in any environment. As long as your healthcare organization has a single Internet connected computer you can uses streaMed. streaMed is utilized by our customers in patient education resource centers, medical libraries, waiting rooms, exam rooms, in provider’s personal offices as well as in the patient’s home. streaMed will allow your healthcare organization to customize the manner in which you provide patient education so that it meets your technology infrastructure and your clinical workflow needs.
Whether you want to provide your Spanish speaking patients in your library with branded text handouts after visits or if you want to show want to show demographic-based preventive care videos in your exam rooms, streaMed will provide with those abilities. Your Account Manager will assist you in determining the ideal utilization of streaMed in your environment.
24. What are the issues associated with streaming video quality?
When streaMed is used as a complete web-based solution all of the “new media” videos are streamed across the Internet. This solution is used when the healthcare organization has a High-bandwidth connection (DSL, Cable, T1 or T3) and has consistent levels of Internet connectivity.
When streaMed is utilized as a web-enabled solution all of the "new media" video content is stored locally on the internal server system or computer hard drive. This solution is used when the healthcare organization has a Low-bandwidth connection (Dial Up). Either solution brings consistent high quality video viewing at large frame sizes into your healthcare organization.
Patients can access the streaMed content from their personal computer at both High-bandwidth (DSL, Cable) and Low-bandwidth (Dial Up) connections speeds using only leading streaming video player technology. streaMed videos do stream at connection speeds as low as 45 Kbps, though wired.MD recommends that your patients have at least a 56 Kbps connection.
25. What security protection is there in using streaMed?
Because streaMed only uses standard Internet connections (http, port 80), there is no additional risk to using the streaMed product. streaMed is designed to have the content reside locally or to stream off of the Internet, therefore there are no executables which could interfere with other applications on your server. Lastly, all patient information is kept anonymous, so there is no risk of any patient confidentiality being breached at anytime.
26. What is the technical architecture of streaMed?
streaMed is offered either as a completely web-based or as a web-enabled content and software solution. This means that streaMed uses the Internet to deliver and update information for both the practice or healthcare organization and the patient.
streaMed is unique in that the healthcare organizations owns a customized Patient Site and can direct patients to view specific "new media" videos before or after a visit from their personal computer or from any Internet-connected computer. This Patient Site brings valuable “new media” content and communication tools to the healthcare organization, while at the same time it also helps further brand the healthcare organizations.
27. How much storage space does streaMed require?
Each streaMed video is approximately 20 megabytes. The streaMed Complete Package requires 7.5 Gigabytes of space and the streaMed Primary Care Package requires 3.0 Gigabytes of space.
|
|
   |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
