Healthways COO Tom Cox has been named to the board of a young company making waves with its appointment scheduling exchange.

MyHealthDIRECT was launched two years ago to build a software platform that lets patients search for, book and confirm their doctor appointments. The company is being backed by Chrysalis Ventures, which also has invested in Middle Tennessee companies Cybera and HealthTeacher, among others. Cox's appointment was announced at the same time as that of Jacque Sokolov, chairman and senior partner at SSB Solutions, a national health care management consulting, project development and investment firm.

"MyHealthDIRECT has rapidly established as the leading web-based scheduling exchange in the industry," Cox said. "I'm excited to be joining the Board of such a forward-thinking company and I look forward to contributing to its continued success."

Cox, 47, has been Healthways' operations chief since early last year and with the company since 2006. He came to the Franklin-based company after being president of Concentra Network Services.