RALEIGH, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Axial Exchange, Inc., a pioneer in using mobile apps to deepen the patient’s role in improving outcomes, today announced the results of its North Carolina Patient Engagement Ranking (PER), an index that ranks U.S. hospitals based on an analysis of publicly available data in three categories: personal health management, patient satisfaction and social media engagement. In the North Carolina PER, Rex Hospital, Park Ridge Health and Duke Raleigh Hospital topped the list out of 82 hospitals in the state. This is the second North Carolina PER the company has issued. Rex Hospital also ranked first in last year’s PER announcement, issued in October 2013.
Axial Exchange’s methodology for ranking hospitals’ patient engagement performance is based on analyzing metrics that research has indicated lower costs and improve clinical outcomes. For each state’s PER, Axial Exchange evaluates provider organizations’ personal health management strategies, awarding maximum points to those organizations that not only offer electronic access to patient health records, but also provide resources for ongoing disease management support, including mobile, tablet and desktop tools. Axial Exchange also ranks hospitals according to an annual Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) patient satisfaction survey called the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Health Plans Survey (HCAHPS), a standardized instrument for measuring patients' perspectives on hospital care and is also used to determine reimbursement levels for Medicare patients. Lastly, Axial Exchange analyzes the extent to which hospitals and health systems engage patients via social networking channels.
The highest possible ranking a hospital can receive in the Axial Exchange PER is a score of 100. Rex Hospital in Raleigh ranked highest in this PER with an overall score of 86. Lower ranking hospitals in the North Carolina PER included Nash General Hospital, which received a score of 19, and Davis Regional Medical Center, which received a score of 16.
“We are beginning to see more and more provider organizations make investments to strengthen patient engagement initiatives. Our state-by-state patient engagement ranking recognizes these organizations for the commitment they’ve made to helping patients take a more active role in their health and wellness,” said Joanne Rohde, CEO of Axial Exchange. “Patient engagement is changing the way we manage health, and when done right, it has proven to result in better quality care, improved outcomes, and reduced costs for the entire system.”
Future rankings for other U.S. regions, including South Carolina and the Tri-state area, will debut in the coming months. Detailed methodology of the Patient Engagement Ranking is published here.
About Axial Exchange
Axial Exchange is revolutionizing the way that patients manage their health. With Axial, hospitals are able to keep their patients continuously engaged, resulting in dramatically improved health outcomes and much more satisfied patients. Axial drives engagement by giving patients the information and interactive tools patients need in order to get well -- all delivered securely to the device of the patient's choice. Patients can share their health information with providers and caregivers. Health systems benefit via lower readmissions and improved patient satisfaction scores. For more information, visit: www.axialexchange.com.