Priority Health Launches Comprehensive Web-Based Initiative Based on WellMed's Award Winning Health Communication Platform
Priority Health Managed Benefits of Grand Rapids, Michigan (Priority Health) and health communication leader WellMed, Inc. announced the launch of an extensive Web-based initiative to provide health resources and online communication capabilities for 340,000 Priority Health members and their families.
(PRWEB) January 30, 2002
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. and PORTLAND, Ore., --
Priority Health Managed Benefits of Grand Rapids, Michigan (Priority Health) and health communication leader WellMed, Inc. announced the launch of an extensive Web-based initiative to provide health resources and online communication capabilities for 340,000 Priority Health members and their families.
"One of the basic tenets of the Priority Health mission statement is to always try to do more for members by providing access to excellent and affordable health care," says James Byrne, MD, chief medical officer for Priority Health. "Making the investment to provide a communication platform that helps our members and their families better manage their health further illustrates the breadth of that commitment."
Called "myhealth" on the Priority Health Web site, this comprehensive offering of online resources enables members to identify their health risks, track personal health information, import clinical data such as test results and health records, access interactive health improvement programs and participate in personalized care plans. In addition, Priority Health will be the first organization to provide Personal Health Connect, WellMed's patient-to-provider communication capability that allows members to contact their providers online regarding questions and concerns about their health.
"We looked for a solution that would enable us to offer our members with the best health resources and capabilities on the Internet," Byrne adds. "With the WellMed Health Communication Platform as the foundation for clinical and current information, as well as privacy and security protection, we are moving toward our goal of being a trusted resource for online health information for our members."
Priority Health has received "excellent status" from National Committee on Quality Assurance (NCQA) and has been recognized as one of the top HMOs in the United States by Newsweek and US News and World Report. The Detroit Free Press also honored Priority Health as one of the best Michigan health plans by rating the plan with an A+.
"Priority Health has extended their nationally recognized services into comprehensive Web-based resources for its members," said Craig Froude, chairman and CEO of WellMed, Inc. "It has been rewarding to work with such an exemplary and progressive health care network that is truly committed to improving the way members approach their health and health care."
Priority Health took a methodical approach to developing a Web-based program that is aligned with its member needs. Following the completion of testing the WellMed Health Communication Platform on Priority Health employees and selected members, the Platform will be available to all members this February. WellMed worked with Priority Health to create health promotion campaigns that will rollout in print, television and email next month.
The WellMed Health Communication Platform was developed to help clients increase the quality of care and services they provide while controlling escalating health care costs. Equipped with enhanced communications and aggregate data, WellMed's clients can modify their existing health programs to more effectively meet member needs and bring about positive behavioral change within an organization's population.
WellMed's proprietary health management applications empower individuals to make informed decisions about their health while streamlining communications between clients and the individuals in their organizations. The WellMed Health Communication
Platform includes:
-- Personal Health Manager -- more than 60 online health management
resources for individuals
-- Personal Health Insight -- client administration applications for
platform utilization analysis and messaging
-- Personal Health Connect -- a secure communication tool between
physicians and patients
About Priority Health
Priority Health is one of the largest managed care organizations in Michigan over 340,000 members and over 5,000 employers throughout Western and Northern Michigan. Its 27-county service area includes a network of 2,200 physicians and 28 hospitals. Priority Health is owned by Spectrum Health of Grand Rapids, Holland Community Hospital of Holland, Munson Healthcare of Traverse City and Healthshare, Inc. of Petoskey. The health plan enjoys "Excellent" accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance, an independent organization that reviews the quality of health plans nationwide.
About WellMed
WellMed, Inc. provides a secure online health communication platform that aggregates self-reported health information, integrates it with client systems and, following proprietary analysis, communicates with clients and individuals to guide them in achieving their health-related objectives. The platform enables clients to deliver personalized and vital health information to individuals who visit their Web site or intranet. With better-informed individuals in their organizations, clients may attain reduced health care costs and increased revenue. Physician-founded and clinically based, WellMed is a privately held company located in Portland, Oregon.
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Jerry Schranz
CPRi Communications, Inc.
370 North Street
Teterboro, NJ 07608
201-641-1911 Phone ext.14
Jschranz@cpronline. com
