Qualcomm Life, VRI and Tri-City Medical Center Collaborate to Reduce Hospital Readmissions

FRANKLIN, Ohio, OCEANSIDE, Calif. and SAN DIEGO, Dec. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) today announced that its subsidiary, Qualcomm Life, Inc. and Valued Relationships, Inc. ("VRI") and Tri-City Medical Center ("TCMC") have signed an agreement to leverage Qualcomm Life's 2net^™ Hub to help further reduce hospital readmissions. The project, spurred by TCMC's focus on delivering high-quality, coordinated care to its community, will provide Qualcomm Life's 2net Platform and Hub to patients in their homes within 48 hours of discharge.

"The ability to track a patient's vital signs via the 2net Hub post hospital discharge provides care centers the opportunity to drastically cut costs and improve overall outcomes associated with readmissions," said Rick Valencia, vice president and general manager of Qualcomm Life. "The plug and play nature of the 2net Hub pairs well with TCMC's and VRI's commitment to remote monitoring, and given the fact that the Medicare 30-Day Readmission Rule is now in effect across the U.S., this effort could not be timelier."

Tri-City Medical Center is number 1 in San Diego County and among the top 1 percent in the nation for reducing readmissions for heart failure and heart attacks.

This new offering at TCMC will consist of hospital representatives spending time with patients post-discharge to ensure they are accustomed to operating the devices and tracking their vitals. In parallel, TCMC will work with a third party, VRI, to monitor the data output so the project is not taxing on the patient or existing clinical personnel.

"Several administrators at hospitals across the country are struggling to figure out how to provide services in the home to reduce readmissions. Tri-City Medical Center has thought about it differently by deciding to send a trained technician to the patient's house to install Qualcomm Life's easy-to-use 2net Hub and peripherals," said Andy Schoonover, Executive Chairman of VRI. "We are proud to have been chosen to work as a technology collaborator with TCMC and Qualcomm Life to deliver this innovative service." 

TCMC will leverage VRI's telehealth services as part of a broader disease management initiative for newly discharged patients with chronic conditions such as Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), diabetes and Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI). Once installed, the weight scales, blood pressure cuffs, pulse oximeters and glucose meters will enable caregivers to monitor the progress of patients along their care plans, as well as respond to actionable alerts. Family members in different locations can also be more involved in the care of their loved ones by reviewing their health progress via a web-based portal.

"Advancing patient care with innovative technologies is one of our core values," said Larry Anderson, chief executive officer at Tri-City Medical Center. "This collaboration will enable us to further reduce our hospital readmission rates that are already some of the best in the country. By better coordinating care for our patients, we're better able to keep them going about their daily activities from the comfort of their own homes."

The program is slated to start in January 2013.

About Qualcomm Incorporated
Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) is the world leader in 3G, 4G and next-generation wireless technologies. Qualcomm Incorporated includes Qualcomm's licensing business, QTL, and the vast majority of its patent portfolio. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, operates, along with its subsidiaries, substantially all of Qualcomm's engineering, research and development functions, and substantially all of its products and services businesses, including its semiconductor business, QCT. For more than 25 years, Qualcomm ideas and inventions have driven the evolution of digital communications, linking people everywhere more closely to information, entertainment and each other. For more information, visit Qualcomm's website, OnQ blog, Twitter and Facebook pages.

About VRI
With over 20 years of experience, VRI is one of the largest providers of telehealth monitoring, monitored medication dispensing and adherence solutions, and medical alert systems in the country. VRI's services support patient self-management and health plan Care Management operations that enable seniors, the chronically ill, and those with disabilities to maintain their independence and avoid long-term care facilities, and avoid preventable ER use, hospitalization and hospital readmission. The company currently serves approximately 90,000 active clients across the United States through commercial and government-funded health benefit programs administered by national health plans, regional BCBS organizations, and other Managed Care Organizations. For more information, or to view the full range of VRI services and products, please visit http://www.monitoringcare.com.  

About Tri-City Medical Center
Tri-City Medical Center is a Gold Seal-approved, full-service, acute-care hospital with two advanced clinical institutes and physicians practicing in 60 specialties. The hospital, a leader in robotics and minimally invasive technologies, has served the community for more than a half-century. It is administered by the Tri-City Healthcare District, which includes parts or all of Oceanside, Vista, Carlsbad and San Marcos. For more information about Tri-City Medical Center, please visit www.tricitymed.org.

Qualcomm is a trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated, registered in the United States and other countries. 2net and Qualcomm Life are trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated. All Qualcomm Incorporated trademarks are used with permission. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Qualcomm Contacts:
Emily Kilpatrick, Corporate Communications
Phone: 1-858-845-5959
Email: [email protected]

Jamie Eisinger, Qualcomm Life
Phone: 1-858-845-1033
Email: [email protected]

Warren Kneeshaw, Investor Relations
Phone: 1-858-658-4813
Email: [email protected]

Tri-City Medical Center Contact:
Tarcy Connors, Media Relations Director
Phone: 1-760-940-5794
Email: [email protected]

Valued Relationships, Inc. Contact:
Brian Botos, Marketing and Sales
Phone: 1-931-743-6552 x 12137
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Qualcomm Incorporated; VRI; Tri-City Medical Center