DENVER, Dec 19, 2001 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --
Partnering With Industry Leaders to Advance Healthcare Quality & Patient Safety
TeleTech Holdings, Inc.
(Nasdaq: TTEC), a leading global provider of customer relationship management
(CRM) services and solutions, today announced that TeleTech has become a Core
Founding Partner of the Patient Safety Institute (PSI). As a Core Founding
Partner, TeleTech will provide CRM process design, operational implementation
and related consulting services to PSI, which was recently formed to improve
patient safety and healthcare quality in the United States.
PSI is a non-profit, voluntary initiative that will use existing technology to
provide real-time, secure, patient-centric information to the healthcare
community. In the United States, medical errors are a leading cause of death and
disability, causing more fatalities each year than AIDS, breast cancer and motor
vehicle accidents combined. PSI's vision is to bring patients, physicians,
hospitals and technology providers together as partners working together to
reduce medical errors, improve quality and protect patient privacy.
To do this, the patient, physician, and hospital must agree to be part of the
system. The patient identifies physicians who are approved to view their PSI
clinical data. Using the tool of his or her choice, such as a handheld computer,
the approved physician can obtain the patient's most up-to-date clinical
information from any location, which is then authenticated and provided in real
time via an encrypted transmission. The information relates to five key areas --
allergies, diagnoses, immunizations, laboratory results and medications -- which
physicians agree are critical to delivering quality healthcare. Clinical data
will be updated every time a patient sees a physician at a participating clinic
or hospital. By improving the accessibility, timeliness and accuracy of the
information, PSI believes patient safety and privacy will improve and healthcare
quality will be enhanced.
TeleTech will provide the human interface between the patients, physicians and
healthcare facilities. TeleTech's solution will include handling patient
inquiries to access their medical records, account maintenance services, and
medical information assistance when patients travel outside their coverage area.
In addition, TeleTech will also provide help desk support for physicians using
personal digital assistants or requiring web access.
"We are proud to be one of the founding partners of PSI to contribute to
improved patient safety and privacy in the United States," said Kenneth Tuchman,
TeleTech Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "The time is right for a major
shift in the accessibility and utilization of patient-centric information in the
healthcare industry. TeleTech is partnering with industry leaders to develop
technology-based, lasting changes that will transform the way patients and their
providers interact."
Other Core Founding Partners include such respected and trusted names as Avaya,
Cingular, First Consulting Group, Hewlett-Packard Company, Netegrity, SeeBeyond
and Williams Communications.
PSI is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Jack Lewin, MD, CEO of the
California Medical Association. Other directors include Don C. Black, president,
Child Health Corporation of America; Twila Brase, RN, PHN, president Citizens'
Council on Health Care; Jane Delgado, Ph.D., president & CEO, National Alliance
for Hispanic Health; Karin Dufault, SP, Ph.D., RN, chairperson of the board of
directors of the Providence Health System and member of the Board of Trustees of
the Catholic Health Association; Linda F. Golodner, president and CEO, National
Consumers League; William F. Jessee, MD, CMPE, president & CEO, Medical Group
Management Association; and Daniel H. Winship, MD, vice chancellor of health
affairs and CEO, University of Missouri-Columbia Health System, and member,
Executive Committee of the University Healthsystem Consortium.
TELETECH PROFILE
Founded in 1982, TeleTech is a leading provider of integrated CRM services and
solutions for global organizations predominantly in the communications,
financial services, government, technology and transportation industries.
TeleTech has operations in twelve countries which include Argentina, Australia,
Brazil, Canada, China, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, Scotland, Singapore, Spain
and the U.S. TeleTech's CRM capabilities including B2B electronic channel
management and database management, help companies inform, acquire, serve, grow
and retain their customers throughout the entire relationship lifecycle.
TeleTech integrates a full spectrum of voice and Internet communications,
including e-mail response, "chat" and extensive Web co-browsing capabilities.
Information regarding TeleTech Holdings can be found on the Worldwide Web at
http://www.teletech.com .
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
All statements not based on historical fact are forward-looking statements that
involve substantial risks and uncertainties. In accordance with the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, following are important factors that
could cause TeleTech's actual results to differ materially from those expressed
or implied by such forward-looking statements: including TeleTech's ability to
predict future revenue and associated costs, lower than anticipated customer
interaction center capacity utilization; the loss or delay in implementation of
a customer management program; TeleTech's ability to build-out facilities in a
timely and economic manner; greater than anticipated competition from new
entrants into the customer care market, causing increased price competition or
loss of clients; the loss of one or more significant clients; higher than
anticipated start-up costs associated with new business opportunities and
ventures; as well as the potential volume or profitability of any future
technology or consulting sales; TeleTech's agreements with clients may be
canceled on relatively short notice; and TeleTech's ability to generate a
specific level of revenue is dependent upon customer interest in and use of the
products and services of TeleTech's clients. Readers are encouraged to review
TeleTech's 2000 Annual Report on Form 10-K, first, second and third quarter 2001
Form 10-Qs, and other publicly filed documents which describe other important
factors that may impact TeleTech's business, results of operations and financial
condition. TeleTech undertakes no obligation to update its forward-looking
statements after the date of this release.
SOURCE TeleTech Holdings, Inc.
CONTACT: Investor Relations, Karen Breen, +1-303-397-8592,
Karen.breen@teletech.com, or Dan Campbell, +1-303-397-8634,
Dan.campbell@teletech.com, both of TeleTech Holdings, Inc.
