News > 2008

Winter Haven Hospital helps patients, families, friends stay connected with new CarePages.com service

CarePages.com facilitates communications and emotional support, which studies show contribute to better patient experiences and outcomes.

Winter Haven Hospital now offers patients, their families and friends direct access to CarePages.com, 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 free, personalized CarePages Web sites, patients and caregivers 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 to support its mission of ensuring that no one goes through a health challenge alone.

With this new service, Winter Haven Hospital is in the forefront of a growing trend among healthcare providers to improve the overall patient experience by recognizing and meeting their emotional needs.

Several clinical studies have concluded that emotional support can have a positive effect on the healing process. For example, 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, the findings indicated that “the lack of social support is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in ischemic heart disease.”

“CarePages helps Winter Haven Hospital move forward on one of our key priorities – increasing patient well-being and overall patient and family satisfaction,” said Mary Jo Schreiber, Chief Nursing Officer. “It’s very easy to use, since we’ve integrated CarePages.com with our own Web site, WinterHavenHospital.org, and other patient services.”

“Winter Haven Hospital recognizes that communication and personal interactions can transform health challenges into more positive experiences for all participants,” said Eric Langshur, CEO, CarePages, Inc. “CarePages has helped millions of patients connect on a deeper level with their families and friends as well as others in similar situations, and we are proud to welcome Winter Haven Hospital into the CarePages community.”

In addition to giving patients and families emotional support, CarePages.com makes it easy for patients and families to recognize Winter Haven Hospital staff members who have provided superior levels of care. The service also gives them the opportunity to support Winter Haven Hospital’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 Winter Haven Hospital

Established in 1926, Winter Haven Hospital serves as the major medical center for east Polk and Highlands counties and the U.S. Highway 27 / Ridge Corridor. The 527-bed hospital is a division of Mid-Florida Medical Services, Inc. a locally owned and operated not-for-profit organization. The hospital is fully accredited by the Joint Commission on accreditation for Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and has more than 300 board-certified physicians on its medical staff representing every major specialty. Winter Haven Hospital is affiliated with the University of Florida College of Medicine/Shands Healthcare. And with more than 2,500 employees, Winter Haven Hospital is the largest private employer in east Polk County. Winter Haven Hospital recently was recognized by Polk Works Workforce 2020 as one of the best places to work in Polk County for the third consecutive year.