Vocantas CallAssure provides hospitals with automated solution for post-discharge patient...( Just released trial data show high ac...),Health

Just released trial data show high acceptance of interactive voice response

system, two-thirds of patients prefer automated system

OTTAWA, ON, CANADA, Oct. 11 /PRNewswire/ - Vocantas Inc., a developer of advanced interactive voice response (IVR) solutions, today announced the general availability of Vocantas CallAssure, an IVR system (IVRS) optimized for use in the healthcare environment. CallAssure uses advanced computer telephony and speech technology to enable clinics and hospitals to more easily monitor patients in the hopes of mitigating adverse effects that are common in recently discharged patients.

Studies have shown that as many as 20% of patients experience adverse events upon release from the hospital. One third of these adverse events lead to at least temporary disability and three percent lead to death. One third of adverse events are preventable and healthcare facilities can play a role in this prevention with comprehensive patient follow-up.

CallAssure has recently completed clinical trials in North American hospital environments with favourable results. The results of the most recent trials were released today in Ottawa as part of the Halifax 7, Canadian Healthcare Symposium, with Dr. Alan Forster of the Ottawa Health Research Institute presenting his findings.

Dr. Forster's study, conducted in Edmonton, Alberta through Capital Health, concluded that by using CallAssure, 88 per cent of the post-discharge work related to telephone monitoring of patients was eliminated, with nurses having to contact only those few patients who required their intervention.

"Patients were keen to participate in the study and were advised in advance of what to expect," says Rinda LaBranche, Clinical Quality Consultant from Capital Health in Edmonton, where Dr. Forster's research took place. "Several carefully designed questions determined if they were having any adverse events and if so, the patient could transfer directly to
'/>"/>