New York, NY, Aug. 22, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- How good is your doctor? What does it cost to see him/her? What do their patients think of them? How long will you have to wait before getting in to your appointment? These, and other pre-doctor-visit questions, are asked - and answered by Vitals -- more than 10 million times each month.
As a result, Vitals, has experienced a three-year growth rate of 4,636 percent, ranking it #47 on the 2012 Inc. 500. That makes Vitals the fastest-growing health website on the prestigious, annual list from Inc. Magazine.
More than 120 million people visit Vitals each year to find, compare, and talk about physicians. From background data to patient reviews, Vitals provides the most accurate data on a doctor's education, specialties and practice areas, hospital affiliations, awards, contact information, accepted insurance types, visit cost and more.
Mitch Rothschild, CEO of Vitals, attributes the company's growth to shifts in how people access information, along with changing demographics.
"People are comfortable turning to review sites to compare restaurants, find a movie and purchase electronics," says Rothschild. "Health care has historically lagged in this area. But, more and more, patients are turning to online sites to discover more about a doctor before scheduling an appointment. With Vitals, you can now learn about a doctor in ways that were not readily available in the past".
"At the same time, we also have a population that is aging and facing more health challenges," continues Rothschild. "Taken together, it's no wonder millions of consumers are turning to Vitals to get answers."
Rothschild adds that he expects Vitals' growth trajectory to accelerate with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
"More than 30 million new Americans will be entering the healthcare system as a result of ACA," says Rothschild. "The influx of new users to the health system -a 10 percent increase - will add a large group of people seeking information. And, since they'll be crowding out existing patients, it will be ever more important to know: Who is a good doctor? What will this procedure cost me? How fast can I get an appointment? Will my doctor spend enough time with me?"
The Inc. magazine announcement comes amidst recent strategic additions to the Vitals management team. Vitals named Orlena Yeung Chief Marketing Officer, a key driver in the growth of disruptive brands like Last.fm and Xbox. Doug Boake, SVP of Business Development at Open Table, and Bill Sullivan, a founding member of Oxford Health Plans, have both joined Vitals' Board of Directors.
Methodology
The 2012 Inc. 500|5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue
growth when comparing 2008 to 2011. To qualify, companies must have
been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2008. They had to
be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independent--not
subsidiaries or divisions of other companies--as of December 31,
2011. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone
public or been acquired.) Companies on the Inc. 500 are featured in
Inc.'s September issue. They represent the top tier of the
Inc. 5000, which can be found at www.inc.com/500.
About Vitals
Vitals empowers consumers with the tools and services they need to take charge of their health. Vitals is the only website dedicated to helping patients find doctors that meet their needs, request appointments and prepare for their visit. Used by over 10 million people each month, Vitals makes it easy for patients to find and connect with quality medical care. Visit Vitals on Facebook or connect with Vitals on Twitter.