PEMBROKE, MA (Dec. 7, 2009)  –  Consumer’s Medical Resource (CMR) www.consumersmedical.com, the pioneering company which created the category title Medical Decision Support with the introduction of the product that bears its name, today announced the availability of its latest version of Medical Decision Support® (MDS), an integrated suite of personalized and easy-to-navigate health resources designed to help patients make informed decisions on any diagnosis or medical topic.

 

The exclusive service, sold direct to Fortune 500 and other large U.S. companies,  provides personalized, evidence-based medical research and information to employees through its web, phone and print-based service --  and is made available to employees as a paid benefit, separate from their health insurance to lower costs and improve quality of care through objective, third-party consultation.

 

MDS is overseen by physician-led research teams affiliated with “Top Five” medical schools that partner with patients to help guide them through the decision-making process.  The new model incorporates critical tools including doctor and hospital selection guides, interactive tutorials on planned surgical procedures, second opinion services, online patient coping resources, condition management support, and research accessible in a highly secure and user-friendly environment.

 

“The Herculean challenge of patients facing serious medical issues is finding high-quality, clinically appropriate information at the point of diagnosis: The Internet has made this process even more confusing,” said David J. Hines, president and founder of CMR.  “CMR has carefully reviewed, selected and aggregated the best and most timely medical information available worldwide to provide an unparalleled “one-stop shopping” solution for employees exactly when they need it.”

 

The new MDS responds comprehensively to patients’ needs for complete information when faced with a diagnosis, said Hines.  It also gives employers a new tool to reduce health care costs and improve quality by expanding the scope of informational services available to engage the full population on expensive and complicated medical issues.

According to CMR, Fortune employers consistently report a 3:1 ROI after installing the service. Furthermore, customer and claims data analysis of MDS confirm:

• One in three patients achieved better medical care or “best practices”
• 56% of patients eliminated or minimized medical side effects
• 24% avoided an unnecessary surgical procedure
• One in four patients switched to a higher-quality doctor or provider
• 94% of patients reported improved quality of care and value

“CMR’s mission is to empower patients to engage the health care system proactively now and in the future,” said Hines.  “We make this happen by recognizing that being educated and having the tools to participate in decision-making results in better outcomes, lower costs, higher productivity and employee satisfaction.”

###

About Consumer’s Medical Resource (CMR)
Consumer's Medical Resource (CMR) is the first company in the U.S. to provide employees of FORTUNE 500 companies and other large organizations, with in-depth, objective, personalized, and timely information on serious and complicated illnesses and treatment options through its Medical Decision Support® (MDS) service. 

 

Unlike any other medical information provider, CMR’s physician-led medical research teams are staffed with doctors affiliated with America’s “Top 5” medical schools. Working with patients on a dedicated team basis, they draw upon the latest advances in medical research and technology to empower patients to be fully informed health care consumers.

Medical Decision Support® is a trademark of CMR in the United States, and is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

 

CMR was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Pembroke, Massachusetts.

 

Contact: Marina Mortimer; Mortimer Communications
Phone: 508-746-5441
Email: marinamortimer@aol.com