InfoMC aquires peer coaching tool from DBSA

InfoMC, a leading provider of process improvement technology for healthcare organizations, announced today that it has acquired the intellectual property rights to MyRecoveryPlan, a peer support tool developed by the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) in Chicago, Illinois.

MyRecoveryPlanis a consumer-facing portal that will provide InfoMC clients the ability to offer online peer support services to their members. The software offers a range of standardized tools and resources to help inform, educate, engage, and empower consumers.  These are provided in an easy-to-use online environment that enables recovery plan creation and monitoring, social networking, and promotes peer coaching and support.

The program is based on the premise that mental health recovery means finding hope that life can change for the better by setting and accomplishing goals, overcoming stigma, learning to minimize the negative effects of illness, and being a full partner in medical or mental health treatment. It was developed collaboratively by DBSA and researchers at the Group Health Research Institute in Seattle and supported by a research grant from the US National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

DBSA President Allen Doederlein says, "We are delighted to join forces with InfoMC and get this tool out to a broad user base. InfoMC is an organization with a real commitment to the health and well-being of the individuals their clients serve. With InfoMC as a partner, DBSA looks forward to expanding the reach of critical services and resources to the millions of people seeking mental health and overall wellness."

A number of services and tools are embedded in MyRecoveryPlan. These include, but are not limited to, interactive educational information (text, slide shows, video testimonials) about the concept of recovery and creation of a recovery plan; tools to create, store, and update a personal recovery plan; tools to support self-monitoring of recovery progress and warning signs; and community discussions using chat rooms and discussion groups. Personal online coaching from a certified peer specialist will also be available.

Kathy McAleer, Vice President of Product Strategy for InfoMC, is excited about the new product and the extended capabilities it will bring to their clients. "We believe that online peer coaching and support has the potential to increase both the effectiveness and efficiency of the peer coaching process. There is evidence to support increased engagement when peer coaching is complemented with a standardized online tool set. MyRecoveryPlan will be deployed through the InfoMC platform and can be customized to fit a full range of coaching models and organizations," she says.

For organizations that are new to peer support services and coaching, InfoMC can help them develop training and certification for their coaches. InfoMC looks forward to helping managed care plans, commercial health plans, integrated delivery systems, inpatient hospital facilities, employee assistance programs, and consumer-run organizations make this important and valuable recovery tool available to their respective constituencies.