"Verras Watson is the first tool that physicians can use to get specifics and make rationale decisions about changing their practice patterns at a granular level," said Kelly E. Styles, President. "This will help reduce physician variation, leading to improved clinical quality, reduced costs, and greater patient satisfaction."

William Mohlenbrock, Verras Chief Medical Officer, said Verras Watson is a natural extension to Verras Sherlock™, which examines a hospital's own data to identify internal best practices. "Sherlock helps physicians understand the magnitude and where clinical variation exists," Dr. Mohlenbrock said. "Watson goes one step further and performs a 'deep dive' to understand the specific clinical and operational causes for the variation. That 'deep dive' can include analysis of patient bills, charts, order sets, case management reports and other resources."

Verras Watson combines the use of this data with one on one conversations with physicians to look at their own "best practices" and how to reduce variation between their best and less efficient management of patients. "Then, we will help facilitate voluntary quality improvement through which physicians can modify their practice patterns and maximize the hospital's quality and financial performance," Dr. Styles said.

Dr. Mohlenbrock noted that this will impact not only how physicians treat patients, but can improve hospital processes such as throughput, hospitalists' effectiveness, vendor management, CPOE, and documentation.

Verras is launching Verras Watson after using it to examine more than 2,000 charts. Dr. Styles said Verras has been able to identify improvements including changing how order sets are created, eliminating redundancy in certain tests, and improved protocols for caring for patients over the weekend.

"This also saves an incredible amount of time for a hospital's clinical leaders," Dr. Styles noted. "There is not a Chief Medical Officer out there that has time to do this."

About Verras Ltd.

Established in 1983, Verras is the only company that helps hospitals reduce clinical costs by both identifying physician best practices at a granular level and then facilitating physician-directed implementation of those practices by working one on one with physicians in a collaborative style. The results: reduced clinical costs; improved clinical outcomes; reduced physician practice variability; ability to allocate bundled payments; improved physician/management relations; enhanced physician and patient satisfaction; and a healthier community. Verras, Ltd. is a member of Verras Healthcare International. More information is available at www.verras.com

About Verras Healthcare International

Verras Healthcare International is an association of firms creating a culture of clinical excellence. These best in class firms are led by senior-level healthcare executives, and are proficient in regional market strategies, clinical quality improvements, and managing hospital operations and physician practices.