Digital Assent

Digital Assent, founded in 2009 by Andrew Ibbotson and Tim Collins, emerged with the objective of eliminating the traditional patient clipboard. The company operated in the healthcare technology sector, providing a software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution tailored for physicians and hospitals. Its business model was centered on improving the patient check-in process and managing the online reputation of healthcare providers.

The core of Digital Assent's offering was the PatientPad, a self-service patient check-in and education solution. This platform allowed patients to register online before their appointment or use a tablet at the point of care to check in, verify insurance, and sign consent forms. Beyond streamlining the administrative workflow, the PatientPad also served as an educational tool, delivering targeted health information to patients in the waiting room. A key feature of their service was a reputation management platform that enabled healthcare facilities to publish verified patient satisfaction ratings online, aiming to increase transparency for patients selecting a doctor.

The company gained early traction and recognition, launching a national sales campaign in early 2011 and securing approximately 1,500 PatientPad sales across 220 customers in 30 states within that year. This growth was supported by venture capital funding, including a Series A round of $2 million in February 2011 and a subsequent Series B round in June 2011. Digital Assent was recognized by Forbes Magazine as a finalist for its “List of America’s Most Promising Companies” and won the “Cool Technology of the Year Award” from TechAmerica and the Technology Association of Georgia. The company's journey culminated in its acquisition by NRC Health on October 28, 2014, for $2.6 million. Keywords: patient check-in, healthcare technology, reputation management, patient satisfaction, SaaS, PatientPad, Andrew Ibbotson, NRC Health, patient registration, insurance eligibility, consent forms, health information, patient ratings, HCAHPS, CGCAHPS, medical practice automation, healthcare administration, point-of-care solutions, patient engagement, medical software