Cloud-based patient engagement technology platform ZOTT named Brian Hodous president. He joined the company after serving as president of EAT Club Inc., a virtual cafeteria that delivers personalized meals to companies.
ZOTT features content, such as exclusive live-stream programming, educational materials, a custom and private Minecraft virtual playground, live-chat messaging, and other gaming options. It’s designed to improve patient experience, something that’s increasingly important in today’s healthcare environment, because not only can patients take their business elsewhere if they’re unhappy, the metric also affects Medicare reimbursement.
“Data collection and customer feedback is critical to the work that we’re doing,” said a company spokeswoman. She added that the company has been running pilot tests for the past nine months at eight hospitals, including Children’s Hospital Colorado, UCSF Medical Center, C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital of University of Michigan, and Methodist Hospital San Antonio. It just launched commercially.
Hodous is responsible for all operations, including sales and marketing. He reports directly to founder and Chief Executive Jim Carol.
“We know firsthand how difficult and isolating the hospital experience can be,” said Carol, whose son waged a five-year battle with leukemia.
“Our focus is to provide exciting, educational and personalized content that connects people during their stay so they can spend more time focused on healing.”
In 2007, Carol founded GameChanger Charity, a nonprofit organization that uses gaming and technology to help patients play, learn and socialize. ZOTT, founded in August, is a for-profit subsidiary majority-owned by the nonprofit. It’s based in Dana Point and employs 10 people.
