8x8 Cloud Telephony and Unified Communications
Services Securely Connect All Locations to Help Enhance Patient
Care While Saving Millions in Capex and Opex
8x8, Inc. (NASDAQ:EGHT), a provider of cloud-based unified
communications, contact center and collaboration services, today
announced that ChenMed, a family-owned, physician-led organization
with an innovative, industry-recognized primary care model for
seniors, has deployed 8x8 Virtual Office services at 36 Chen and
JenCare Neighborhood Medical Centers and two corporate offices in
six U.S. states.
Based in South Florida, the ChenMed family of companies provides
integrated healthcare to at-risk seniors, many of whom are low to
moderate income. ChenMed’s unique, outcome-based healthcare model
significantly increases patient face-to-face time with both primary
care and specialist doctors, and allows for same-day walk-up
appointments when needed. ChenMed also strategically leverages
end-to-end technologies to continually improve health outcomes and
the patient experience.
“Our primary focus is on improving patient health outcomes, but
we are keenly focused on improving the patient experience,” said
Christopher Chen, MD, ChenMed Chief Executive Officer. “Our
physicians typically see 350 to 450 patients a year – a fraction of
the national average of 2,300 patients per doctor – so Chen and
JenCare Neighborhood Medical Center doctors really get to know
their patients. Our doctors build strong relationships with each of
the seniors they serve.”
The results of ChenMed’s innovative approach continue to attract
national and international attention. On average, ChenMed patients
annually spend nearly 40% fewer days in the hospital, and patient
satisfaction, as measured by Net Promoter Scores, is
extraordinarily high. Chen and JenCare Neighborhood Medical Centers
enjoy Net Promoter Scores in the low- to mid-90s.
Phenomenal Growth Drives Need for Rapid Deployment and Nimble
Technology
Over the past five years, ChenMed has experienced annual growth
exceeding 60%, as new neighborhood centers have opened. Prior to
deploying 8x8 cloud communications, ChenMed had a centralized
premises-based PBX phone system that routed all company calls
through Miami and then back out to geographically dispersed
neighborhood centers.
Tasked with upgrading telephony companywide for a rapidly
growing medical practice, ChenMed CIO Oliver Degnan, concluded that
it would be significantly more reliable and less expensive to move
ChenMed’s communications to the cloud, an IT infrastructure he
understands very well.
“As a fast growing family of companies, we needed the elasticity
and scalability of a cloud solution,” said Degnan. “With 8x8’s
rapid deployment model, we were fully functional on one seamless
solution across 38 sites and more than 1,400 users in five weeks,
and we can quickly deploy new locations as we grow. This would be
virtually impossible with any premises-based system.”
Only 8x8 Provides a Business Associate Agreement to Ensure
HIPAA Compliance
At the same time, Degnan recognized that a cloud solution would
have to comply with the federal government’s stringent HIPAA
requirements in order to support ChenMed and its mission.
“Phones are an essential asset for us. They are the primary way
we communicate with patients around frequent face-to-face
appointments with their doctors,” he explained. “As such, our phone
system is an integral part of our integrated healthcare delivery
model. But as a healthcare provider, we must also ensure our
patients’ confidential medical information is secure no matter how
it is transmitted or electronically stored.” After evaluating
several cloud-based systems, Degnan found that 8x8 was the only
provider that offers the Business Associate Agreement mandated by
federal HIPAA regulations.
8x8 Cloud Services Save ChenMed Millions
Another important benefit of 8x8 service is that ChenMed can now
anticipate its communication costs and budget accordingly. 8x8
provides unlimited local and long distance service for a flat
monthly fee, eliminating charges for individual calls. “8x8 will
save us millions of dollars over the next few years,” said Degnan.
“We no longer have to worry about our phone bills because we know
exactly what the charges will be.”
As new employees join ChenMed, 8x8 can activate their phone
service typically within an hour, accelerating the onboarding
process. Similarly, 8x8 has helped ChenMed configure complex,
customized call routing rules to align with the company’s workflow
and ensure patients get the help they need, even if they call after
hours.
“We are proud to be supporting ChenMed’s innovative healthcare
strategy and exceptional growth with our industry-leading cloud
communications services,” said 8x8 CEO Vik Verma. “HIPAA compliance
has become a non-negotiable requirement for business
communications, not just for healthcare organizations like ChenMed
that deal directly with patients, but also for subcontractors who
have exposure to sensitive patient data. With 8x8’s services,
ChenMed can be confident that their patient communications are
secure and that the cost savings they are realizing can be applied
to fulfilling their healthcare mission.”
Leveraging Technology to Reduce Risk and Improve Patient
Care
Degnan believes that other healthcare providers should not be
afraid to embrace new cloud-based technologies that can improve
patient care. “We deal with high-risk patients, so we need to
reduce our risk on the IT side,” said Degnan. “Moving
communications to the cloud is not risky if you work with a highly
reliable, HIPAA-compliant partner like 8x8. By deploying the best
possible communication system in our neighborhood centers, we
enable our physicians to deliver the best possible patient
care.”
About 8x8, Inc.
8x8, Inc. (NASDAQ:EGHT) is the trusted provider of secure and
reliable cloud-based unified
communications and virtual contact center solutions to
more than 40,000 small, midsize and distributed enterprise
organizations operating in over 40 countries across six continents.
8x8's out-of-the-box cloud solutions replace traditional on-premise
PBX hardware and software-based systems with a flexible and
scalable Software as a Service (SaaS) alternative, encompassing
cloud business phone service, contact center solutions, and web
conferencing. For additional information,
visit www.8x8.com, or www.8x8.com/UK or connect with
8x8
on Google+, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
About ChenMed, Chen and JenCare
Neighborhood Medical Centers:
ChenMed is a privately-owned healthcare organization working to
positively change American healthcare through primary care
innovation. Based in Miami Gardens, ChenMed operating units include
Chen Neighborhood Medical Centers, bringing better healthcare to
Florida seniors; JenCare Neighborhood Medical Centers, bringing
better healthcare to seniors in Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky,
Louisiana and Virginia (Richmond and Tidewater); ChenTech, and
Primary Management Resources (PMR), delivering outstanding
technology systems and management consulting services to improve
operations and patient experiences at diverse medical practices
nationwide.
In late September 2014, The Economist featured the integrated
medical practice, with lead noting that: “ChenMed is devoted to
poor elderly people who may have half a dozen chronic conditions.
It profits when they are kept well and their health-care costs are
kept low.” The Economist concluded its profile by reporting:
“Medicare patients at ChenMed spent nearly 40% fewer days in
hospital than the national average.”
8x8, Inc:Tim Polakowski,
408-883-8434tim.polakowski@8x8.comorChenMed:James Brown,
305-831-4679James.Brown@ChenMed.com
8x8 (NYSE:EGHT)
Historical Stock Chart
From Aug 2024 to Sep 2024
8x8 (NYSE:EGHT)
Historical Stock Chart
From Sep 2023 to Sep 2024