Initial Results of Two Peoplechart PHR Studies Presented
at National Conferences

April 17, 2008 San Francisco, California

Peoplechart Corporation proudly announces that the results of two studies of the Peoplechart PHR have been accepted for presentations at national conferences. The presentations are based on two independent studies that applied the Peoplechart PHR to enhance care for specific patient populations: Older adults with mental health problems conducted by the Benjamin Rose Institute (Cleveland); and kidney transplant patients conducted by The Transplant Institute of the Pacific (Honolulu).

Founded in 1908, Benjamin Rose Institute, has been an innovator and leader for the past one hundred years in service delivery, research, and as an advocate for the elderly in Northeast Ohio and nationally. The Transplant Institute of the Pacific, a leader in transplantation, is the first in Hawaii to perform many organ transplant operations, including heart, kidney, liver, pancreas, as well as bone marrow and peripheral stem cell transplants for a cancer program. Founder and CEO of Peoplechart, Megan Mok, commented on the progress of the studies that are part of Peoplechart national research projects. "These studies are beginning to confirm what we’ve known all along: Peoplechart’s current PHR technology can bring tremendous value to today’s consumers and health care providers."

Benjamin Rose Institute, Cleveland
On March 28^th 2008, Benjamin Rose Institute presented its findings at the annual Joint Conference of the American Society on Aging and the National Council on Aging (NCOA-ASA) in Washington DC. The study, "Using Electronic Personal Health Records to Enhance Care for Mental Health Clients" evaluated the perspectives and experiences of case managers in their use of the Peoplechart PHR for care of 44 older adults with mental health problems.

Authors of the study, Dr. Linda Noelker, Branka Primetica, and Bert Rahl, wrote in their final report to the study’s funding organizations, Cleveland Foundation and Woodruff Foundation, "This [study] confirms the feasibility of equipping case managers and clients with the new technology to be used on [the] client’s behalf … the principal accomplishment has been the ability for case managers to view client medical record information on-line, such as psychiatry notes, physical examinations, and medication logs. The focus group sessions revealed this information would bridge communication with clients and help them better manage cases, including better knowledge of physical and mental health conditions. This was achieved by following the enrollment protocol, Peoplechart’s persistent request for medical records from providers, and integration of these records within the secure on-line ePHR system."

The Transplant Institute of the Pacific, Honolulu
On April 21-23, 2008, the Transplant Institute of the Pacific presents the results of its study "Personal Health Records: The Hawaii Experience," at the annual UNOS Transplant Management Forum in Dallas. Based on its initial findings, the study is qualified for three award categories: Cost Reduction; Increase in Work Efficiency; and Patient Care Safety Programs.

Authors Dr. Whitney Limm and Rachael Wong wrote, "20 patients have been enrolled into the project to date and the project has been funded through two different sources…Preliminary results [showed that] (1) Recipients and donors have been enthusiastic about the project; (2) level of interest is higher for patients who do not [live] in the same geographic region where the transplant program is located; and (3) decreased duplication of printouts…While it is too early to [fully] ascertain the effectiveness of PHR use in this transplant center, the project has shown that: (1) PHR demonstration projects are fundable; (2) both providers and patients show interest in using PHRs; and (3) the PHR technology is ready to support transplant center needs."

About Benjamin Rose Institute
For the past 100 years, Benjamin Rose Institute (BRI) has worked to raise the standards of care for older adults. Founded in 1908 as a nonsectarian organization through the generosity of Cleveland industrialist Benjamin Rose, BRI has been an innovator in service delivery, a leader in research, and an advocate for the elderly in Northeast Ohio and nationally. With support from an endowment fund, grants, and fees-for-services, BRI assists older people and their families in the Greater Cleveland area through cooperative, community-based efforts. Its service, research, advocacy, and administrative divisions work together and individually to fulfill the mission of raising the standards of care for seniors.

About The Transplant Institute of the Pacific
The Transplant Institute of the Pacific (TIP) incorporates highly skilled physicians and staff with state-of-the-art technology and expertise. TIP is a leader in transplantation and the first in Hawaii to perform many of these operations. It is the only hospital in the State of Hawaii in which heart, kidney, liver, pancreas and multiple organ transplants are performed. In addition to "solid organ" transplants, TIP also provides bone marrow and peripheral stem cell transplants for a cancer program. It has performed over 800 kidney transplants. Transplantation is the treatment of choice for patients with end-stage renal failure, where data indicates that patient’s survival and quality of life is far superior and much more cost effective than dialysis treatment.

About Peoplechart Corporation
Peoplechart’s mission is to improve the quality and coordination of care by providing individuals, family members, and healthcare providers with an integrated solution for managing a lifetime of health information. Peoplechart’s member-level tools enable individuals to communicate and exchange information with others about their health and care. The information, whether collected by Peoplechart, uploaded by the individual, or transmitted by a health provider — in paper or electronic format — is organized in a way most relevant to the situation and accessible anytime day or night. Peoplechart’s program-level tools enable professional teams to work with each other and with the individual to foster a proactive and quality approach to care.