AOC Aon Corp.

Aon Alliance with Rightfield Solutions Aims to Decrease Malpractice Claims and Improve 'Return on Risk' for Health Care Providers Alliance puts web-based patient education and communication at the forefront of the informed consent process CHICAGO, May 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Poor communication and mismanaged expectations between doctors and patients are chief among the forces behind the rapidly increasing number of medical malpractice lawsuits. In an effort to help health care providers lower the incidence and severity of malpractice claims, Aon has partnered with Rightfield Solutions, LLC, to offer Emmi(TM), a cutting-edge patient education and communication system. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041215/CGW049LOGO ) Emmi, which stands for "Expectation Management and Medical Information," is a patented, unique patient education and risk management tool that combines clinical and legal best practices into a web-based, interactive tool for health care providers and their patients. The goal is to enhance the process of "informed consent" that precedes the visit to the hospital - while at the same time raising the communication level between the doctor and patient. When patients' expectations are appropriately set and they make their decisions on full and complete information, they are far less likely to be dissatisfied. Matt Rice, a vice president with Aon's Healthcare practice, said: "Many health care leaders don't believe that informed consent is an issue at their organization; however, studies estimate that 40 percent to 60 percent of medical malpractice suits allege failure to obtain proper informed consent. Better managing patient expectations regarding a medical procedure and its potential outcomes and risks through an interactive, communicative process, will help lead to a better 'Return on Risk' for health care organizations. Far too many claims come down to a patient suffering an unpleasant, but not unforeseen, complication and later claiming, 'I didn't know this could happen.'" Emmi uses audio, text and simulated graphics to demonstrate the procedure in a language and format patients can understand. It then documents the patient's experience to provide definitive proof that they have been fully informed. "Although Emmi is a powerful risk management tool, it also provides significant benefits to patients and their families by helping them feel more comfortable about the medical procedure they will undergo and ensuring that they are well informed about possible risks and outcomes," says Jordan Dolin, CEO of Rightfield Solutions. "We are proud to be a part of Aon's proactive 'Return on Risk' approach by offering a solution that helps Aon clients improve their current risk position and exposures." Introduced in 2003, Emmi has been provided to more than 36,000 patients with some 400 surgeons and a growing number of leading health care industry associations and malpractice insurance carriers using or endorsing the product. Emmi programs currently cover a wide range of surgical and medical procedures including General surgery (such as hernia), bariatric surgery (gastric bypass), oral surgery, and plastic/cosmetic surgery as well as orthopedic, obstetrics/gynecology and LASIK procedures. All Emmi programs are developed by board certified physicians within their respective fields. About Aon Aon Corporation (NYSE:AOC) ( http://www.aon.com/ ) is a leading provider of risk management services, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, human capital and management consulting, and specialty insurance underwriting. The company employs approximately 48,000 professionals in its 500 offices in more than 120 countries. Backed by broad resources, industry knowledge and technical expertise, Aon professionals help a wide range of clients develop effective risk management and workforce productivity solutions. Aon Healthcare is dedicated to solving business, patient outcome and human capital risk issues for health care. Aon Healthcare coordinates services of its national, regional and local expertise as a seamless team. Comprehensive expertise includes medical professional, managed care, captives, claims and risk control, benefits design and management, compensation consulting, HR, financial risk management, Return on Risk strategies, and change management. About Rightfield Solutions Emmi(TM), Expectation Management and Medical Information, is a powerful risk management and patient satisfaction tool developed by Chicago-based Rightfield Solutions, LLC. Emmi combines clinical and legal best practices into a web-based, interactive tool for healthcare providers who want to manage risk by developing better relationships with patients and by increasing their satisfaction with the care provided. Introduced in 2002, Emmi has been provided to more than 36,000 patients, 400 surgeons and a growing number of hospitals, medical groups, leading healthcare industry associations and malpractice insurance carriers. There are currently, Emmi programs available for a wide range of surgical and medical procedures, including Orthopedic, Cardiovascular, Obstetrics/Gynecology, General Surgery, Bariatric, Plastic/Cosmetic Surgery, as well as many others. All Emmi programs are developed by board certified surgeons in their respective fields. For additional information on Emmi, visit http://www.rightfield.net/ , or contact Jordan Dolin at 312-236-3650, ext. 14. For an Emmi demo, please visit http://www.emmidemo.com/ . This press release contains certain statements related to future results, or states our intentions, beliefs and expectations or predictions for the future which are forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from either historical or anticipated results depending on a variety of factors. Potential factors that could impact results include: general economic conditions in different countries in which we do business around the world, changes in global equity and fixed income markets that could affect the return on invested assets, fluctuations in exchange and interest rates that could influence revenue and expense, rating agency actions that could affect our ability to borrow funds, funding of our various pension plans, changes in the competitive environment, changes in commercial property and casualty markets and commercial premium rates that could impact revenues, changes in revenues and earnings due to the elimination of contingent commissions, other uncertainties surrounding a new compensation model, the impact of regulatory investigations brought by state attorneys general and state insurance regulators related to our compensation arrangements with underwriters and related issues, the impact of class actions and individual lawsuits including derivative actions and claims under ERISA, the cost of resolution of other contingent liabilities and loss contingencies, and the difference in ultimate paid claims in our underwriting companies from actuarial estimates. Further information concerning the Company and its business, including factors that potentially could materially affect the Company's financial results, is contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041215/CGW049LOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Aon Corporation CONTACT: Amy Littleton of KemperLesnik Communications, +1.312.755.2572, , or Thaddeus Woosley of Aon Corporation, +1.312.381.2446, Web site: http://www.aon.com/ http://www.rightfield.net/ http://www.emmidemo.com/

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