COMS Interactive Acquires Directed Medical Systems

CLEVELAND, Sept. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- COMS Interactive (also known as Clinical Outcomes Management Systems or COMS), has extended the company's post-acute care offerings with the acquisition of Directed Medical Systems (DMS).  The DMS organization is recognized for subject matter expertise in critical care decision support solutions and specifically, Advance Care Directives.  The acquisition supports the COMS strategy for providing products and services to the entire continuum of care, as the DMS Advance Care Directives functionality will be integrated and interfaced into the company's Daylight IQ™ disease management product suite.

Daylight IQ™ facilitates improving quality of care by closely tracking changes in condition and initiating appropriate clinical interventions.  Key components of the product suite include an Automated Disease Care Guide Library, a Dynamic Nursing Assessment and Compare Module, all of which work in conjunction with each patient's disease profile.  Utilizing Daylight IQ™ reduces 30-day hospital readmissions by 50% and premature mortality by more than 60%.  The Advance Care Directives functionality is a logical extension of the COMS product set.

Many people mistakenly believe that Advance Care Directives are solely an end of life solution.  However, clinical experts agree that care instructions regarding a patient's critical, but not necessarily life-threatening, condition are an integral part of the care process.  A well-defined plan provides definitive information for physicians and family members to follow, and removes the uncertainty of the individual's desired level of care, should communication not be possible due to illness, trauma or disease state.

"We conducted extensive research for a potential industry partner and identified COMS as an organization whose corporate philosophy matched ours," stated John M. Cachat, Chief Executive Officer, Directed Medical Systems.  "The COMS team is driven to provide the best possible care for patients, and an Advance Care Directives product is a natural extension of the COMS offering."

The summary of market statistics regarding the elderly and Advance Care Directives is enlightening.  Notably, 25% of elderly patients will become incapable of making care decisions due to trauma or disease progression.  Additionally, 30% of the aging population do not have Living Wills or Advance Care Directives regarding life-sustaining care measures.  Research shows that 68% of elderly will receive prolonged life-sustaining treatment while only 7% want it and of the individuals who have Advance Care Directives, only 2% desire aggressive care.

"Hospital networks, post-acute care organizations, patients, and families will immediately benefit from having Advance Care Directives, regardless of the patient's age and health profile," noted Edward J. Tromczynski, Chief Executive Officer, COMS Interactive.  "Directed Medical Systems' subject matter expertise regarding current challenges associated with complicated care decisions is unmatched and we are pleased to include the DMS knowledge set as an important component of our offerings."

As disease management experts, COMS works with leading healthcare organizations in over 40 states to reduce unnecessary hospital readmissions.  The US population is aging exponentially, with the number of individuals over age 65 doubling to an estimated 70 million by 2030.   Approximately 10,000 people turn 65 in the US every day, expanding the country's largest growing demographic segment.  This represents a significant elderly population for whom post-acute care and associated Advance Care Directives are required.

About COMS Interactive, LLC

COMS Interactive, LLC partners with 15 state health care associations in deploying processes and systems that stabilize and improve resident health while improving financial outcomes for Skilled Nursing facilities. The Daylight IQ™ Software as a Service (SaaS) product combines business administration, disease management and long-term healthcare knowledge to empower the nursing team, streamline the process, more efficiently address resident healthcare needs and increase facility revenues. This combination of clinical and technical processes can save millions of dollars a year in preventable hospital readmissions.  With customers in 44 states, COMS recently received the 2014 Venture of the Year Award for the State of Ohio. Additional information regarding COMS Interactive and the Daylight IQ™ Product Suite is available at www.comsllc.com or by contacting COMS at 330.650.9900.

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SOURCE COMS Interactive