MyHealthDIRECT Receives $100,000 to Provide Healthcare Access to Patients in Need at Connecticut Hospital

BROOKFIELD, Wis., March 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- MyHealthDIRECT today announced they have received a pledge of $100,000 from The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation to advance the accessibility of healthcare for patients of The William W. Backus Hospital in Norwich, Connecticut.

MyHealthDIRECT is a web-based software application that connects, in real time, patients to healthcare providers at the most appropriate level of care; allowing its users to search and organize open and available healthcare appointments in the community into a schedulable inventory of healthcare services.

Backus Hospital has used MyHealthDIRECT since 2009 to provide more timely and ongoing care for patients, and reduce visits to the emergency room. Kathryn Lord, director of The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation, presented the first of two $50,000 checks to Backus on February 15th as part of a two-year pledge to support the hospital's MyHealthDIRECT program. "We are excited to support the MyHealthDIRECT program, as we believe that this is a great positive and forward-thinking move in helping members of our community better their health and their lives," Ms. Lord said.

MyHealthDIRECT's proprietary web-based software solution helps healthcare organizations increase access to care, facilitate care management and improve quality measures. Whether it is a patient arriving in the emergency room for non-emergency treatment, a health plan member calling for a physician referral, or a patient in need of chronic disease management, MyHealthDIRECT ensures that patients connect with the most available–and appropriate–care provider for their specific health concern.

"It is our mission is to transform the delivery of healthcare by seamlessly and directly connecting members and patients with the provider they need at every point along the care continuum," said Jay Mason, president and co-founder of MyHealthDIRECT. "We are grateful to have supporters such as the Lord Foundation, who understand our quest to serve all members and patients, including the underserved, treating them with respect and dignity."

Since the inception of MyHealthDIRECT at Backus two years ago, the hospital has made over 600 referral appointments. The generous gift of the Lord Family will be help to improve the immediate welfare of local patients in Norwich, Connecticut, and have a positive impact on their future health.

For more information, visit www.myhealthdirect.com.

About MyHealthDIRECT

MyHealthDIRECT is a national health services solutions company that connects hospitals, care management organizations, public agencies and community collaboratives for the purpose of scheduling and booking timely and appropriate healthcare appointments on behalf of individuals. Founded in 2006, MyHealthDIRECT offers a web-based solution that organizes open and available healthcare appointments in the community into a searchable and schedulable inventory of healthcare services. The MyHealthDIRECT solution promotes continuity of care, reduces unnecessary cost and utilization and ensures that patients are matched with appointments that best fit their needs and preferences. For more information on MyHealthDIRECT please visit www.myhealthdirect.com.

About The William W. Backus Hospital

For more than 117 years, Backus Hospital has provided quality healthcare to the residents of eastern Connecticut.  The 213-bed, not-for-profit, acute care community hospital is the primary source of health services for nearly a quarter-million people. Since its founding in 1893, Backus has continually provided programs and services, and formed strategic alliances with other healthcare organizations and providers to meet the healthcare needs of the region. For more information about Backus and its services, please visit www.backushospital.org

SOURCE MyHealthDIRECT