The Wellness Network Debuts Animated Speak Up™ Series Produced by The Joint Commission

NEW YORK, July 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Wellness Network, parent company of The Patient Channel and The Newborn Channel, today announced a new animated series produced by The Joint Commission to be featured on the network. The videos, titled "Speak Up: Take medication safely" and "Speak Up: Prevent errors in your care," will encourage millions of patients in hospitals across the country to speak up and be active participants in their health care. 

"These fun videos have a serious purpose -- letting patients of all literacy levels know it is okay and expected that they ask questions about their care," said Dave Ross, chief operating officer for The Wellness Network. "We are dedicated to arming patients with empowering and life-saving information at every opportunity, and distributing these safety messages over our TV channels helps hospitals get the messages right to the bedside when patients should be thinking about these things."

Produced by The Joint Commission, the Speak Up series features entertaining 60-second videos intended as public service announcements. The first videos in the series debuted in March 2011, and in addition to The Wellness Network's group of more than 2,500 hospitals nationwide, they also air on The Joint Commission's YouTube Channel, and are accessible to accredited organizations and other interested stakeholders that want to promote the Speak Up message.

"The Joint Commission's Speak Up campaigns strongly encourage patients to be active participants in their health care.  The Speak Up videos offer helpful tips and provide important guidance on how patients should get involved," says Cathy Barry-Ipema, chief communications officer, The Joint Commission.  "Our goal is to help patients understand they are a valuable and key member of the health care team and should never be intimidated to 'Speak Up' on their own behalf or that of a loved one."

The Joint Commission's award winning Speak Up program features brochures, posters and buttons on a variety of patient safety topics. The national program urges patients to take a role in preventing health care errors by becoming active, involved and informed participants on the health care team. Since its launch in 2002, the Speak Up program has grown to include 17 campaign brochures and three posters, as well as Spanish language versions of all brochures. Free downloadable files of all Speak Up videos, brochures and posters (including Spanish language versions of the brochures) are available on The Joint Commission website at http://www.jointcommission.org/speakup.aspx. Speak Up brochures and posters also are available for purchase through Joint Commission Resources at (877) 223-6866 or online at www.jcrinc.com.

The Patient Channel and The Newborn Channel represent the largest out-of-home health and wellness media network in the United States, annually reaching 20 million patients and their caregivers and 3.1 million new moms, respectively. The Channels are valuable educational tools for health care professionals to empower patients and their families with information about their conditions and general wellness concerns during a hospital stay. Additional information about The Wellness Network and details about programming, sponsorship opportunities and more can be found at visit www.thewellnessnetwork.tv.

About The Wellness Network

The Wellness Network owns The Patient Channel and The Newborn Channel, the most comprehensive in-hospital TV networks. Delivered directly to patient rooms and waiting areas, the Channels provide viewers with original, award-winning health programs and advertisers with the unique ability to integrate brand messaging with content that is compelling and endorsed by health care professionals. The Newborn Channel broadcasts round-the-clock baby care and postpartum programming for new moms. The Patient Channel features both condition-specific and preventative health programming to empower and inform patients. The Channels are available in more than 2,500 hospitals nationwide. The Wellness Network is also a partner in the Joint Commission Resources Quality and Safety Network, a continuing medical education series for health care professionals produced by Joint Commission Resources and distributed by The Wellness Network. For more information, visit www.thewellnessnetwork.tv

About The Joint Commission

Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits more than 19,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, including more than 10,300 hospitals and home care organizations, and more than 6,500 other health care organizations that provide long term care, behavioral health care, laboratory and ambulatory care services. The Joint Commission also provides certification of more than 2,000 disease-specific care programs, primary stroke centers, and health care staffing services. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org.

Media contact:
Jessie Barrett
Ricochet PR for The Wellness Network
t. (212) 679-3300 x125
[email protected]

SOURCE The Wellness Network