Inova Health System Helps Patients, Families and Friends Stay Connected With New CarePages Services

CarePages.com Provides Support, Online Community

Falls Church, VA – (December 8, 2008) – Inova Health System is pleased to offer patients, their families and friends direct access to CarePages.com, an online community that brings patients together to share the challenges, hopes and triumphs of facing a life-changing health event. Direct links to the CarePages site can be found in the Patient and Visitor Information section of www.inova.org.

Through free, personalized CarePages Web sites, patients and caregivers can relate their stories, post photos and keep friends and family updated on their care. Loved ones can send messages of hope and encouragement, and even virtual “gifts.” CarePages.com offers a variety of resources and tools, such as discussion forums, blogs and articles, to support its mission of ensuring that no one goes through a health challenge alone.

“By offering CarePages we’re able to help patients share their experiences and stay connected to their family and friends while they’re in the hospital and long afterwards,” said Mark Stauder, COO, Inova Health System. “This is one more expression of our commitment to increase overall patient and family satisfaction, as well as patient well-being.”

Several clinical studies have concluded that emotional support can have a positive effect on the healing process. An article in the Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Safety (December 2003) reported that emotional well-being has been shown to be predictive of survival and functional independence among older patients. Additionally, in two separate studies published in the American Journal of Cardiology, findings indicated that a “lack of social support is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in ischemic heart disease.”

In addition to giving patients and families emotional support, CarePages.com makes it easy for patients and families to recognize Inova staff members who have provided high-quality care. The service also gives users the opportunity to support Inova’s foundation and volunteer efforts.

CarePages.com ensures that patients, families and healthcare providers are protected online through strict privacy policies, password-protection and visitor management tools for CarePages Web site managers.

About CarePages, Inc.
CarePages.com is an online community of millions of people coming together to share the challenges, hopes and triumphs of anyone facing a life-changing health event. Through personalized Web sites, members can relate their stories, post photos and update friends and family instantly. In turn, people who care send messages of love and encouragement. CarePages.com also offers a variety of resources and support tools for living a more compassionate life. For more information, please visit www.carepages.com.

Inova Health System is a not-for-profit health care system based in Northern Virginia that consists of hospitals and other health services, including emergency and urgent care centers, home care, nursing homes, mental health and blood donor services, and wellness classes. Governed by a voluntary board of community members, Inova’s mission is to improve the health of the diverse community it serves through excellence in patient care, education and research. Inova provides a healthy environment for its patients, families, visitors, staff and physicians by prohibiting tobacco use on its campuses.