DENVER, Nov. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — HealthGrades, the leading provider of information to help consumers make an informed decision about a physician or hospital and CPM, the leading provider of customer relationship management solutions for hospitals today announced a definitive agreement to merge the two companies.

The combination will create a single online company with more than 200 million annual visitors, providing consumers the ability to find, select and connect with physicians and hospitals by accessing its comprehensive information about clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and patient safety.

Together the companies will provide hospitals with an efficient and accountable digital media and relationship management platform with the unique ability to help hospitals differentiate their brands, build their physician practices, grow admissions, and improve the health of their populations.

“With more than 1.5 billion physician appointments and 36 million hospital admissions annually, consumers need objective information to select a doctor or hospital,” said John Hallick, CPM‘s CEO.

“HealthGrades is the brand consumers trust to help them make more informed decisions.”

“Hospitals are under increasing pressure to improve their clinical as well as financial performance,” said Kerry Hicks, HealthGrades’ CEO. “CPM is the relationship management platform hospitals trust to measurably improve the performance of their patient health management and physician alignment initiatives.”

About HealthGrades

HealthGrades, headquartered in Denver, Colorado is a leading provider of comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals. More than 200 million consumers use the HealthGrades websites to research, select, and connect with a physician or hospital, and use its comprehensive information about clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and patient safety to make more informed healthcare decisions. Find more information about our products and services at HealthGrades.com. Follow us on Twitter (@HealthGrades) and Facebook for news and updates.

About CPM

CPM, headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, is a growth and business development partner for healthcare organizations. We fuel hospital growth with smarter strategies in customer relationship management (CRM), physician relations, planning and forecasting, strategic marketing, and population health management. Find more information about our products and services at cpm.com. Follow us on Twitter (@CPM) and Facebook for healthcare news and updates.

SOURCE HealthGrades