Ai and CarePilot.com Launch First Vertical Search Engine To Compare Home Health Agencies

CarePilot.com Partners with Alexander Interactive to create interactive marketplace for patients and health care providers to connect online

April 4, 2007

CarePilot Inc. today announced the launch of the public beta version of CarePilot.com, the first vertical search engine for comparing home health care providers in communities throughout the U.S.

Helping select the right care option for an aging relative or friend is a daunting task and a major decision. With one out of every two people in the United States 65 and older expected to ultimately need long-term care, CarePilot enables individuals to search for, compare, and select from more than 8,000 Medicare-certified home health care agencies.

"CarePilot represents a new direction in Internet-based, consumer health services," said David Restrepo, CarePilot's founder and CEO. "While there are numerous Web sites that provide quality educational health care information, there are very few online resources that provide detailed information on the health care providers themselves - the companies, organizations, institutions, and people who actually provide the "care" in health care. With consumers increasingly making their own health care spending decisions, CarePilot's easy-to-use comparison tool for home health care services in communities throughout the U.S. is a first step toward providing people with the information necessary to make more informed choices."

Search Results That Go Beyond "Links"

"In terms of technology, CarePilot represents a unique opportunity to apply the best of Web 2.0 applications to a service that assists individuals facing a critical life decision," said Alex Schmelkin, President of Alexander Interactive. "Using open source software we have been able to create a platform where CarePilot users can retrieve, collaborate and share information amongst themselves and with home health agencies in an intuitive, safe, and secure manner."

Search results on CarePilot return detailed, side-by-side comparisons of home health agencies. Individual agency profiles are based on more than twenty, relevant data points, including service area, services offered, e.g. skilled nursing, physical therapy, government quality of care information, accreditation information, payment options, and user feedback. Users can save completed searches, share search results via email, contact agencies online, and create patient profiles to be sent to prospective providers.

Members can also quickly and safely share questions, insights and advice via CarePilot Connections TM, a free, online community for individuals throughout the country facing care taking challenges.

For Home Health Agencies

With eight in ten Internet users, or more than 110 million adults, going online for health information, CarePilot represents a new way for individuals to connect with local health services. Just as "Baby Boomers" have used the Internet to manage their communication, financial, shopping, entertainment, and travel-related activities, CarePilot believes that they will also turn to the Internet to research, select, and connect with home health providers.

Home health agencies are invited to create accounts and update their profiles on CarePilot.com. Agencies can create "Enhanced Listings" with personalized descriptions of their services and secure prominent placement within CarePilot's search results. CarePilot's "Patient Access Program" allows agencies to safely and securely receive detailed patient requests online and communicate with caretakers.

"CarePilot is an excellent resource for individuals as they begin to research their home health options," said Steven Nerayoff, President of New Jersey-based Freedom Eldercare, one of the largest private comprehensive geriatric care companies in the country. "By delivering relevant information in a user-friendly manner, CarePilot will help people make more informed decisions regarding home care."

Together, CarePilot and Alexander Interactive have created an intuitive, easy-to-use comparison tool that makes the process of choosing a home health agency for a loved one easier, quicker, and more transparent, in the process benefiting patients, caretakers, and home health agencies.

CarePilot.com is an online comparison guide to local home health care providers in communities throughout the U.S. Helping select the right care option for an aging relative or friend is a daunting task and a major decision. With one out of every two people in the United States 65 and older expected to ultimately need long-term care, CarePilot enables individuals to search for, compare, and select from more than 8,000 Medicare-certified home health care agencies. CarePilot will be adding additional health care service providers, such as assisted living facilities, nursing homes, hospice providers, hospitals and more in the coming months. CarePilot is headquartered in New York City and is backed by private investors. For more information, visit http://www.carepilot.com

Alexander Interactive is a leader in ecommerce strategy, design, and development. Passionate about design and engineers at heart, Alexander Interactive focuses on creating rich Web experiences tailored to the needs of its clients' businesses. Ai builds award-winning sites and fulfillment systems for clients including Pepperidge Farm, Campbell Soup, FragranceNet.com, Steiner Sports, Action Envelope and Caché.