ArborMetrix and Physician Resource Management Launch CARET™ Clinical Technology Platform for Oncology Providers and Health Plans

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Feb. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- ArborMetrix, Inc., a leading provider of real-time healthcare analytics, and Physician Resource Management, Inc. (PRM) today announced a collaborative program launch that will integrate PRM's protocol and program management with ArborMetrix's clinical oncology analytics.

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CARET ^TM, a patient care technology tool developed by PRM, will provide point-of-service decision support and ArborMetrix's data analytics for participating oncologists in Michigan.

PRM, a niche oncology management service organization in the U.S., focuses on improving patient outcomes and implementing innovative physician engagement strategies. ArborMetrix's advanced and scientifically rigorous platform uses data acquisition and timely analytics to improve oncology performance and the quality of care for patients.

"CARET is a unique and differentiating tool that enables physicians to select guideline compliant treatment protocols and supportive care regimens with timely measurement feedback," said Gene Eavy, CEO of PRM. "With healthcare reform's emphasis on outcomes-based care, health plans and physicians need actionable intelligence to help them understand how they can improve the quality of care, minimize complications and errors, control costs, and ultimately drive better outcomes."

Under the current system, quality outcome measures are incomplete and do not include important stage, line of therapy, tumor type, and other relevant encounter data sets. There is also limited visibility to real-time costs and other key measures which allow for physicians to more effectively determine the appropriate care to prescribe. This comprehensive approach aligns with health plan's desire to have new processes in place to track the efficacy of program improvement efforts for treatment costs across the continuum of care.

"The CARET launch is another example of how Michigan as a state is leading the nation in providing quality care while also working to reduce avoidable events and the cost of care," said Brett Furst, CEO of ArborMetrix. "Our data analytics, integrated within CARET, track performance, analyze care processes and review outcomes for the complex and highly technical areas in oncology. These actionable analytics are critical to the ability of health plans and oncology practices to improve outcomes while reducing costs."

"CARET will help both oncology providers and payers in delivering timely, efficient, and evidence-based care to patients.  The technology and expertise of both organizations will advance the care we can provide patients, " said Douglas Blayney, M.D., an oncology practice leader who is advising PRM on the project.

Formed in 2009 as a highly specialized healthcare consulting firm, PRM is led by physicians and industry experts passionate about empowering the local physician's office and cancer community. PRM provides business support and economic benefits that practices need to continue to offer high quality, comprehensive care.

ArborMetrix's clinical oncology solution, with its propriety clinical analytics and risk and reliability adjustments, provides healthcare organizations with the transparency necessary to reduce avoidable events, track performance, develop best practices and support continuous quality improvement. To improve patient health and reduce costs, it analyzes the care processes and outcomes for complex and highly technical areas of care such as oncology.

"Oncologists appreciate the importance of evidence-based practice guidelines," said John D. Birkmeyer, M.D., Chief Scientific Officer at ArborMetrix. "What makes CARET unique is its ability to provide real-time clinical decision support that is personalized to the circumstances of each patient. Giving clinicians and patients information about the comparative costs of alternative treatment options also helps ensure a more informed decision is made before proceeding."

About Physician Resource Management (PRM)
PRM is a management service organization that provides business and economic solutions to current issues that physicians face in their daily practice. The PRM value is clearly evident throughout our nationally recognized and innovative GPO contracts, strategic partnerships with the largest pharmaceutical distributors, and our work with payer initiatives. These applied experiences enable PRM to deliver best practice models with optimal outcomes for physicians and their patients. For more information, visit www.prmbiz.com, email [email protected], or call 734-206-1793.

About ArborMetrix
ArborMetrix, Inc., located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, provides a unique, cloud-based platform for performance measurement and clinical intelligence in acute and specialty care. Based on its industry changing econometric research, ArborMetrix solutions deliver rigorous data analysis and actionable business intelligence while incorporating advanced risk and reliability adjustments. With valuable insights grounded in clinical evidence, ArborMetrix clients quickly achieve quality improvements and cost savings. For more information, visit www.arbormetrix.com, email [email protected] or call 734-661-7944, ext. 7008.

Media Contacts:
Amendola Communications for ArborMetrix
Tim Boivin, 224.209.6495
[email protected] 

Physician Resource Management, Inc.             
Siobhan Norman, 734.904.5198
[email protected]

SOURCE ArborMetrix