Affinity offers patient support network through Web site
09 / 26 / 2007
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Maria Nelson, Media Relations
Affinity Health System
(920) 720-1752
(920) 554-0686 (pager)
MENASHA, Wis.- May 29 was a joyous and hectic day for Bill and Mandy Moeller. They had just delivered a set of triplets who was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at
And as any parent knows, a new baby means a lot of phone calls. “We have a lot of family outside of Wisconsin, and with having triplets everyone wanted to know how they were doing,” says Mandy.
To better assist patients and parents communicate with family about medical situations, Affinity Health System offers CarePages, an online tool that allows patients to keep loved ones up-to-date about a patient’s prognosis and recovery. Patients can find support groups and other patients who are dealing with similar medical situations, insert journal entries, and upload photos.
“CarePages helped alleviate a lot of the phone calls and e-mails from the family. We would post an update and send out a link,” Mandy says. “My family loves the photos and if we forget to contact someone, another family member will forward the link.”
Although the triplets are no longer in the hospital, the Moellers continue to use CarePages to keep everyone updated on improvements and family happenings. Currently, friends of the Moellers are using CarePages to organize a benefit for the family.
Mandy advises other parents to use an online tool, like CarePages. “It’s not just a communication tool because all the online resources are really helpful.”
Danielle Steffens, spokesperson for CarePages agrees, “We designed the Web site as a way to get information. The new features, such as About Me and the directory, allow patients to give and receive information and communicate with others experiencing similar illnesses or medical situations.”
Affinity Health System has had CarePages since 2005. Because of the success of the tool, more features such as the “About Me” section and a support group directory have been included. It was introduced to Affinity by a nurse who had used a similar program when her family member was in the hospital.
For more information about CarePages, go to affintyhealth.org and click on CarePages.
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For the Editor:
Affinity Health System, a faith-based regional health care network, is the Fox Valley’s second-largest employer, according to the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce & Industry. For the fourth consecutive year, Affinity has been named one of the nation’s top 64 health systems based on clinical performance according to Thomson Reuters, a leading provider of information and solutions to improve the cost and quality of health care. For ten consecutive years, Affinity Health System has been named to the SDI (formerly Verispan) Integrated Health Network Top 100, an annual assessment of the 100 most highly integrated health care networks in the nation. Both St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton and Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh rank among the top 1 percent of hospitals nationwide in terms of quality and efficiency, as determined by the 2007 Premier | CareScience Select practice National Quality Award. Members of Affinity include Mercy Medical Center and Mercy Health Foundation, Oshkosh; St. Elizabeth Hospital and the St. Elizabeth Hospital Foundation, Appleton; Affinity Medical Group, a regional network of 25 family practice and specialty clinics – 22 of which are recognized as NCQA Level III medical homes, the highest level of recognition – in 14 communities; Calumet Medical Center, Chilton; and Affinity Occupational Health.