AHA Focus on Patient Flow: Four Exclusive Endorsements Assist with Surgical Scheduling, Bed Management, Emergency Notification and Disaster Preparedness Challenges.

CHICAGO -- AHA Solutions, Inc., a subsidiary of the American Hospital Association (AHA), today announced four exclusive endorsements designed to help hospitals with specific challenges they face with patient flow. These endorsements were selected through market research and deal with surgical scheduling, bed management, emergency notification and disaster preparedness challenges.

Surgical Information Systems (SIS), of Atlanta, Ga., was awarded the endorsement for surgical scheduling. SIS Patient Scheduling offers an automated computer program to improve the scheduling of surgical patients, procedures, supplies, personnel and pre-admission testing, either on-site or remotely via the "SIS Web". It helps hospitals to better manage variables such as surgeon block time availability, procedure time, special supplies that may be needed, procedure codes, surgeon privileges and cases pending. With its graphical view, easy "wizards" and drag-and-drop capabilities, users can enter and read the information needed quickly and easily.

Premise, of Farmington, Conn., was awarded the endorsement for their bed and patient management system that works to improve patient flow by enabling fast, accurate patient placement, transfer and appropriate discharge across the entire continuum of care. The Premise bed management system is interactive and provides real-time results to clinicians. The program also relays needed resource information about the patient to best ensure patients receive the level of care most needed. It is designed to improve patient and bed tracking, expedite patient throughput, facilitate workflow automation and inter-departmental communications.

3n (National Notification Network) of Glendale, Calif. was awarded the exclusive endorsement for their Instacom[TM] emergency notification system. The 3n Instacom[TM] system quickly and efficiently delivers messages to health care personnel. An individual, group or entire organization can be contacted in seconds as the system cycles through multiple voice and text devices until all messages are delivered. One factor in awarding this endorsement is that the 3n Instacom[TM] system resides on the internet, eliminating the need for onsite hardware, software, maintenance and additional phone lines.

LiveProcess of Verona, N.J., was awarded the exclusive endorsement for its disaster readiness and incident command solutions for hospitals. LiveProcess is a centralized, web-based platform that helps a hospital's emergency coordinator manage many aspects of a hospital's disaster preparedness plans and response. LiveProcess has helped health care executives standardize their emergency management program across single or multiple facilities, providing a new level of visibility, incident command, risk management and compliance.

"Hospitals have told us that surgical scheduling, bed management, emergency notification and disaster preparedness are critical challenges affecting patient care," said Anthony Burke, AHA Solutions President and CEO. "These endorsements help hospitals improve the patient care experience at every stage. I believe we are helping to improve patient flow by awarding these endorsements to the SIS, Premise, 3n and LiveProcess products."

In addition to the four endorsements announced today, the Patient Flow platform of AHA Solutions has now awarded endorsements for the AeroScout RFID-Wi-Fi Tracking Systems; the Stockamp Patient Progression Consulting program; Diligent Safe Patient Handling programs; GetWellNetwork Interactive Patient Care products; Versus RFID-IR Tracking Systems and VCM Claims Management, that all solve for hospital challenges.

About AHA

The American Hospital Association (AHA) is a not-for-profit association of health care provider organizations and individuals that are committed to the health improvement of their communities. The AHA is the national advocate for its members, which includes more than 5,000 hospitals, health care systems, networks, and other providers of care, and 37,000 individuals. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends. For more information, visit the AHA Web site at aha.org.

About AHA Solutions

AHA Solutions, Inc. is a resource to hospitals pursuing operational excellence. As an American Hospital Association (AHA) member service, AHA Solutions collaborates with hospital leaders and market consultants to conduct product due diligence and identify solutions to hospital challenges in the areas of finance, human resources, patient flow and technology. AHA Solutions provides related marketplace analytics and education to support product decision-making. As a subsidiary of the AHA, the organization convenes people with like interests for knowledge sharing centered on timely information and research.