Kansas Health Information Network Launches Direct Capabilities with More Than 2,000 Users

Tue, Jul 17, 2012, 9:19 AM EDT - U.S. Markets open in 11 mins.

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National Health Partners Successfully Launches New Marketing Initiative

HORSHAM, Pa., July 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- National Health Partners, Inc. (National Health) (OTCBB: NHPR), a leading provider of discount healthcare membership programs, announced today that it has successfully launched a new marketing initiative during the 2nd quarter. As a result of this new marketing approach the Company has seen strong monthly growth in both sales and cash flow. The Company also expects to continue adding more partners under this new program.

"The Company embarked on a bold new initiative at the beginning of the 2nd quarter and the results have been extremely positive," stated David M. Daniels, National Health Partners' President and CEO. "It's important to understand this new approach is a radical departure from how we previously compensated our partners. Historically we have paid residual commissions for the life of each membership; however, under the new program, the Company pays a one-time fee for each sale generated by a partner. The net effect is we own the memberships outright and therefore have no further obligations for the life of that member. As a result, the profit margin for retained memberships is almost triple what we would make under our previous residual payout structure."

Mr. Daniels further states, "This new program is having a profound impact on both revenues and cash flow. The Company expects to deliver positive cash flow from operations and we anticipate substantial gains in our overall cash flow for the remainder of the year. Another benefit from this payout program is the number of new partners who have signed up with us which will further drive sales going forward. As we continue to gain more traction under this new program we will be able to provide a more detailed forecast for both the 3rd quarter and 4th quarter. One thing is for certain, we are very excited about where we are now and where we expect to be by year-end."

National Health Partners, Inc.

National Health Partners, Inc. is a national healthcare savings organization that provides discount healthcare membership programs to uninsured and underinsured people through a national healthcare savings network called "CARExpress."  CARExpress is one of the largest networks of hospitals, doctors, dentists, pharmacists and other healthcare providers in the country and is comprised of over 1,000,000 medical professionals that belong to such PPOs as CareMark and Aetna.  The company's primary target customer group is the 47 million Americans who have no health insurance of any kind.  The company's secondary target customer group includes the millions of Americans who lack complete health insurance coverage.  The company is headquartered in Horsham, Pennsylvania.  For more information on the company, please visit its website at www.nationalhealthpartners.com.

Safe Harbor Provision

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  All statements other than statements of historical fact contained herein, including, without limitation, statements regarding the company's future financial position, business strategy, budgets, projected revenues and costs, and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "expects," "intends," "plans," "projects," "estimates," "anticipates," or "believes" or the negative thereof or any variation thereon or similar terminology or expressions.  Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from results proposed in such statements.  Although the company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can provide no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct.  Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the company's expectations include, but are not limited to, its ability to fund future growth and implement its business strategy, its ability to develop and expand the market for its CARExpress membership programs, demand for and acceptance of its CARExpress membership programs, its dependence on a limited number of preferred provider organizations and other provider networks for healthcare providers, as well as those factors set forth in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and its other filings and submissions with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made.  Except as required by law, the company assumes no obligation to update or revise any of the information contained in this press release.

Contact

National Health Partners, Inc.
David Daniels
President/CEO
(941) 729-1766
info@nationalhealthpartners.com

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Outcomes Health Information Solutions Launches MA365™, New Care Management Tool

Wed, Jun 20, 2012, 11:35 AM EDT - U.S. Markets close in 4 hrs 25 mins

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Health Net Federal Services Launches Veteran and Military Spouse Employment Initiative

Fri, Jun 15, 2012, 8:07 AM EDT - U.S. Markets open in 1 hr 23 mins

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Priority Health Launches MyGo Points Facebook App to Motivate Healthy Lifestyles, Encourage Tourism

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Priority Health has developed a Facebook app, called MyGo Points, in an effort to promote health and wellness among Michigan residents, as well as support local tourism. The app, which launched May 1, gives people the opportunity to earn points to win prizes by participating in activity-based events and Facebook challenges.

“Priority Health is always looking for creative ways to motivate people to lead a more active and healthy lifestyle,” said Joan Budden, chief marketing officer of Priority Health. “MyGo Points uses incentives from local businesses to get the community moving. Who doesn’t like to be rewarded for their efforts?”

Events eligible for points range from walks to park parties, while Facebook challenges can be as simple as tagging Priority Health in an activity-related photo. The app is available on the Priority Health Facebook page. Those who download the app will automatically begin to track points. At each event, a unique QR code for smartphone scanning and a promotional code for online use will be given to participants to track points throughout the year. Every point earned enters participants into a monthly prize drawing, with the opportunity to win the grand prize — a Pure Michigan Ultimate Adventure Package to Crystal Mountain.

“MyGo Points is a creative way to showcase Michigan’s superb natural and recreational assets, while encouraging health and wellness among its residents,” said Christina MacInnes, COO of Crystal Enterprises Inc. “Crystal Mountain and Pure Michigan are thrilled to be part of the program, realizing that its incentives are powerful tools in our collective efforts to inspire and sustain positive lifestyle changes in communities across the state.”

MyGo Points launched just in time for the Fifth Third River Bank Run on May 12. Other MyGo Points events include the Arts, Beats & Eats Arts in Motion 5K, Royal Oak; Grand Rapids Triathlon; Bike Benzie Tour, Thompsonville; Priority Health Rockford Criterium; Traverse City Cherry Festival Kids Event; and Maranda Park Parties at locations across the state. Additional events will be added throughout the year. Participants can submit their health-related activities or events to be considered for MyGo Points by sending an email to teamph@priorityhealth.com.

Prizes include tickets to the Detroit Zoo, West Michigan Whitecaps baseball games and Holland Aquatic Center. The Crystal Mountain grand prize is a weekend getaway for four, valued at $2,500. For more details or to sign up for Priority Health’s MyGo Points, visit facebook.com/priorityhealth.

About Priority Health

Priority Health is an award-winning health plan nationally recognized for creating innovative solutions that impact health care costs while maximizing customer experience. It offers a broad portfolio of products for employer groups and individuals, including Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. As a nonprofit company, Priority Health serves more than 600,000 people and continues to be rated among the best health plans in the nation by the National Committee for Quality Assurance.

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Mental Health and Bullying: Magellan Health Services Launches Second Annual “Take Mental Health to Heart” Campaign

Tue, May 1, 2012, 11:04 AM EDT - U.S. Markets close in 4 hrs 56 mins

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Allina Health launches Neighborhood Health Connection Program™

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Can a neighborhood work together to improve the health of individuals and families? That is a question Allina Health is intent on answering as it launches a broad-based neighborhood health program across Minnesota and western Wisconsin. This grass roots program is designed to support wellness and promote healthy lifestyles – one neighborhood at a time. Neighborhood Health Connection™ will provide tools and resources to help people join with their neighbors to improve health for themselves and their communities.

“This kind of approach is exactly what is needed to improve the health of individuals and populations while lowering the cost of care,” said Dr. John R. Finnegan, Dean of the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota. “A large body of research clearly shows that social networks and social supports play a huge role in achieving better health. In many ways, communities are the means by which better health is created.”

Neighborhood Health Connection will give community members the tools to become champions of health in their neighborhoods. Neighborhood group leaders will have access to support and materials to start various healthy neighborhood activities. This will include free health screenings and social networking tools to share success stories and to provide personal support for health improvement.

"I’ve seen neighbors of all ages work together to achieve better health and have fun at the same time,” said Karen Koeppe of the Healthy West 7th group in St. Paul. “Activities like helping people get to their healthcare appointments, planting a community garden, walking dogs together, running grocery store errands or just getting a cup of coffee together all can contribute to better health.”

Neighborhood Health Connection also encourages participants to come up with their own ideas, such as hosting a yoga class. They can apply for grants from Allina Health for up to $250 to support their healthy neighborhood activities.

“Finding ways to engage people in healthy activities has always been a tough challenge,” said Minnesota Commissioner of Health Dr. Edward Ehlinger. “Programs like this, that harness the power of social connections and support, may be just what many people need to take a more active role in their health.”

Allina Health will launch Neighborhood Health Connection at a family-friendly event Sunday, April 29 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Minneapolis Farmers Market, 312 East Lyndale Ave. N. At the event, people can learn more about the program and participate in healthy activities like gardening and yoga.

The first 500 families who attend the kick-off event on April 29 will receive free Wellness Kits from Allina Health with items to support healthy behaviors, such as vegetable seeds for planting, healthy recipe cards, pedometers and jump ropes. Additional kick-off events will take place in communities around Minnesota and Western Wisconsin in the coming weeks.

“We are entering a new era in health care, one which emphasizes health as much as care. They are equal partners that when taken together can produce stunning results,” said Dr. Courtney Baechler, medical director of the Penny George Institute for Health and Healing, a part of Allina Health. “We believe that we can truly help people to take control of their health by partnering with them at the neighborhood level. Programs like Neighborhood Health Connection and others to come are examples of how we can build relationships that extend beyond the walls of our hospitals and clinics to facilitate better health for our communities.”

For more information on the events, program and to apply for Neighborhood Health Connection support visit neighborhoodhealthconnection.org.

About Allina Health
Allina Health (formerly Allina Hospitals & Clinics) is dedicated to the prevention and treatment of illness and enhancing the greater health of individuals, families and communities throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. A not-for-profit health care system, Allina Health cares for patients from beginning to end-of-life through its 90+ clinics, 11 hospitals, 15 pharmacies, specialty care centers and specialty medical services that provide hospice care, oxygen and home medical equipment, and emergency medical transportation services. Learn more at allinahealth.org.

Those quoted in news release are also available to comment on this initiative:

Dr. John Finnegan, Dean, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota.
finne001@umn.edu
612-625-1164

Dr. Edward Ehlinger, Minnesota Commissioner of Health
john.stieger@state.mn.us
(651) 201- 4998

Karen Koeppe, Healthy West 7th Project, St. Paul
(651) 227-1942

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FAIR Health Launches Online “Medicare Compare” Tool to Help Consumers Understand Impact of Medicare-Based out-of ...

FAIR Health, the independent not-for-profit corporation dedicated to bringing transparency to healthcare costs and out-of-network reimbursement, today launched FH Medicare Compare, a free, web-based tool that will help consumers better understand their out-of-pocket medical costs if their insurers base out-of-network reimbursement on the Medicare fee schedule. The tool is available on the FH Medical Cost Lookup on the FAIR Health consumer website (www.fairhealthconsumer.org/medicalcostlookup).

A number of private health plans base out-of-network reimbursement rates on a percentage of Medicare fees. The Medicare-based reimbursement formulas, generally 110% to 140% of the fee set by Medicare, often result in reimbursement amounts that are much lower than those calculated under the traditional usual, customary, and reasonable (UCR) standards that reflect actual provider charges. The switch to Medicare-based rates confuses many consumers who are unaware of the financial implications of this method. Using a Medicare-based reimbursement method often means that consumers will have to pay a larger portion of their medical bills out of pocket when they seek out-of-network services.

“Medicare is a government-based fee schedule that was developed for specific populations such as the elderly and the disabled. It was not designed to serve as a benchmark for the general population in the private out-of-network context FAIR Health President Robin Gelburd said. ”Many consumers are not aware of the differences between Medicare and UCR payment schedules and the cost impact on patients when their plans switch to a Medicare-based formula. Consumers can now use the Medicare Compare feature on the popular Medical Cost Lookup to understand their cost exposure if their plans use a Medicare-based reimbursement method.”

Previously, the free FH Medical Cost Lookup estimated costs for the UCR-based reimbursement method for a queried procedure. The UCR-based method remains the default, but with FH Medicare Compare, consumers can select the “Medicare-based” button to view Medicare-based reimbursement for a specific procedure and “Compare” to see Medicare- and UCR-based amounts side-by-side.

Medicare-based reimbursement:

Insurance plans using Medicare as the basis for out-of-network reimbursement multiply the fee set by Medicare for a specific medical procedure by a specified percentage to determine the maximum amount that they will reimburse for the procedure.

For example, assume that a patient visits an out-of-network doctor in Chicago, Illinois, who charges $1,700.03 for a colonoscopy with a biopsy. The patient’s insurance plan reimburses the visit based on 140% of what Medicare would normally pay for someone covered by Medicare. If the Medicare fee is $297.48 for that office visit, the plan would agree to pay up to $416.47, and the patient would be responsible for the remaining $1,283.56.

UCR-based reimbursement:

Using the same fact pattern, assume instead that the patient’s insurance plan reimburses at the 80th percentile of what the insurance company determines as UCR and the charge at such percentile is $1,700.03. If the insurer reimburses based on 70% of UCR, or $1,190.02 in this case, then the patient would be responsible for only the remaining $510.01 for that visit.

In these two examples, although the percentage of reimbursement for UCR (70%) was lower than that of Medicare (140%), the patient was responsible for a smaller portion of the $1,700.03 bill when the plan based reimbursement on a percentage of UCR, than on the Medicare fee. The new feature will allow consumers to estimate their out-of-pocket costs based on options that better reflect their specific plan provisions.

For a fuller description of the use of the Medicare fee schedule in out-of-network reimbursement, please visit www.fairhealthconsumer.org/reimbursementseries/medicare.aspx.

To use FH Medicare Compare to calculate the difference between Medicare-based and UCR-based reimbursement, visit www.fairhealthconsumer.org/medicalcostlookup.

About FAIR Health:

FAIR Health is a national independent, not-for-profit corporation whose mission is to bring transparency to healthcare costs and health insurance information through comprehensive data products and consumer resources. FAIR Health uses its database of billions of billed medical and dental services to power a free website (fairhealthconsumer.org) that enables consumers to estimate and plan their medical and dental expenditures. The website also offers clear, unbiased educational articles and videos about the healthcare insurance reimbursement system. In addition to its consumer offerings, FAIR Health licenses data products to businesses, governmental agencies, healthcare providers and researchers. With its professional staff of experts in healthcare, statistics, technology and communications, FAIR Health strives to offer accurate, consistent and timely information to all stakeholders in the healthcare system.

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EmpowHER Media Launches "HER Daily Dose" Health News Program

SCOTTSDALE, AZ--(Marketwire -03/14/12)- EmpowHER, an award-winning social health company for women, announces a new way to stay fresh and current on women's health topics. "HER Daily Dose" is an online news program offering innovative 90-second reports on topical issues affecting hundreds of millions of female health consumers. The daily feature is the latest addition to EmpowHER's premium health programming, adding to the largest library of original women's health and wellness content online with more than 7,500 videos and 13,500 articles.

According to the Nielsen Company, 76 percent of women ages 25-50 consume video online. As one of the fastest growing online resources for women's health and wellness, EmpowHER added "HER Daily Dose" to its lineup to meet the need of millions of women looking for help and resources. Other original online video programming from EmpowHER includes HER Week in Health, HER Health Minute, HER Health Stories.

There are more than 45 "HER Daily Dose" segments featured on EmpowHER, the leading web site for women's health, including:

HER Daily Dose: Lead in Lipstick
HER Daily Dose: Breastfeeding and Caffeine Consumption
HER Daily Dose: A Simple Way to Shed 5 Pounds
HER Daily Dose: Can Being Thirsty Make You Cranky?

"HER Daily Dose," which addresses the day's biggest news stories in women's health, is hosted by EmpowHER Correspondent Bailey Mosier. Her passion for health awareness developed as a teenager, when she was diagnosed with a rare degenerative cartilage disorder to her knees. In her quest for wellness, Mosier channeled her energy into the athletic realm, playing Division I Golf on scholarship. Today, she proudly advocates women take wellness into their own hands.

"HER Daily Dose offers visitors to EmpowHER much more than the latest health tips and news stories," says Mosier. "The show encourages women to think differently about health, uncovering new truths and expanding our understanding of emotional and physical well-being."

"Our 'HER Daily Dose' program is a demand-driven short news format that fits nicely into our robust video library that we syndicate to over 160 million women across the web every month through a network of video syndication partners," says EmpowHER President & COO, Thom Brodeur. "EmpowHER's social health platform provides an opportunity for women to access gender-specific health information, share their stories, and ask questions. As well, we offer brands a unique opportunity to advertise their products and services through powerful video media to an audience specifically looking for female health products, treatments and procedures."

About EmpowHER Media http://www.empowhermedia.com/
EmpowHER Media is an award-winning, HON-certified, social health company for women. The Company's flagship -- EmpowHER.com -- is the third most visited women's health and wellness destination on the Web (comScore Media Metrix). As the online home for female health consumers, EmpowHER.com offers a unique value proposition of a peer health community and premium, original women's health and wellness content. Health care professionals, brands and agency professionals rely on EmpowHER Media for reaching the most influential health and wellness buyer on the Internet -- women. EmpowHER reached more than 60 million women onsite and through syndication in 2011, and expects to reach more than 250 million in 2012.

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Trees Ontario launches A Healthy Dose of Green

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Hotze Health & Wellness Center Launches a Wellness Revolution in 2012

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Hotze Health & Wellness Center (HHWC), a world leader in the alternative health care industry, today announced its 2012 plans to get Houstonians on a path of health and wellness naturally without the use of pharmaceutical drugs. In an effort to educate and advocate people to rid themselves of unnecessary medications, HHWC is focusing its efforts on advancing a “Wellness Revolution” in Houston during 2012.

HHWC’s tag line, “Get your life back,” captures the unparalleled benefits HHWC provides through its new model of health care as well as its goal to advance a “Wellness Revolution.” Through the HHWC wellness program, which includes an 8-point treatment regimen and the use of bioidentical hormones, patients, or “guests,” are put in charge of their health and vitality. The goal is to help them get their life back, naturally and effectively.

“By advancing the Wellness Revolution, we put you back in the driver’s seat by helping you get onto a path of health and wellness,” said Dr. Steven Hotze, founder and CEO of HHWC. “We are able to help you regain and prolong your quality of life by utilizing bioidentical hormones, vitamin and minerals, and an optimal eating regimen, all of which restore hormones to optimal levels, strengthen the immune system, and increase energy levels.”

To summarize HHWC efforts to advance a “Wellness Revolution,” and help give people their lives back, the following educational resources are available:

About Hotze Health & Wellness Center:

Hotze Health & Wellness Center is leading the Revolution in Wellness™ care by changing the way women and men are treated in mid-life through the use of biologically identical hormones. Founded in 1989 by Steven F. Hotze, M.D., the Center has successfully treated more than 20,000 patients. In an effort to help patients obtain and maintain life-long health and wellness, physicians and registered nurses on staff address the root cause of symptoms, and correct health ailments naturally rather than merely masking symptoms with drugs. For more information, visit, www.hotzehwc.com, and on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HotzeHWC.

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Health 2.0 Launches Developers World Cup

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Health 2.0 announced today that it launched its first Health 2.0 Developers World Cup in which teams of developers, innovators, and entrepreneurs worldwide will compete in code-a-thons to build applications and tools that improve healthcare. The winners from each coding competition will face-off in San Francisco at the 6th Annual Fall Health 2.0 Conference for the Developers World Cup title. All finalists will receive free passes to the conference and a travel stipend. The winning team will receive a $10,000 cash prize, the opportunity to showcase their winning product on the main stage of the conference, and international visibility as world champions.

Health 2.0's code-a-thons are live one- to two-day events that result in rapid development of concepts and working prototype applications.

"We are building upon the successes of our developer challenges to encourage new ideas and products that enhance health care delivery in the United States," said Indu Subaiya, Health 2.0 Co-Chairman and CEO. "Improving quality of care and reducing costs are challenges confronting nations around the globe, not just the U.S. Our goal with the Developers World Cup is to unleash the innovation and creativity of the international developer community and bring multi-disciplinary teams comprised of designers, clinicians, patients and entrepreneurs together to address health issues that matter the most in their region."

The Developers World Cup kicked off yesterday in Delhi with a one-daycode-a-thon that was held in conjunction with Health 2.0 India Conference. The next international code-a-thon will be hosted by the Health 2.0 Fukushima Chapter in Japan on February 21-22, 2012. Other competitions are planned in China, the Netherlands, Russia and several cities in the U.S. The international and U.S. winners will gather at Health Innovation Week in October to refine their entries and then square off in the final competition October, 6-7, 2012 at the 6th Annual Fall Health 2.0 Conference in San Francisco.

To learn more about Health 2.0 Developer World Cup, please visit http://www.health2challenge.org/code-a-thon/world-cup/.

About Health 2.0
Health 2.0: The conference. The media network. The innovation community. The Health 2.0 Conference is the leading showcase of cutting-edge innovation transforming the health care system and is the premiere platform connecting IT innovators to established health care providers. Health 2.0 covers the broadest spectrum of the technology revolution that is shaking up every sector of health care. Learn more at http://www.health2con.com.

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EmpowHER Media Launches New and Improved Resource for Health and Wellness Marketers

SCOTTSDALE, AZ--(Marketwire -01/24/12)- EmpowHER, an award-winning social health company for women, today announces the re-launch of EmpowHERMedia.com -- a resource for health and wellness marketers, advertisers and practitioners looking to tap into the highly lucrative and influential market that controls 90% of the household healthcare decisions and wields a whopping $5T in annual spending power -- women. The new site design and resources offers marketers a visually pleasing experience and powerful insights into tapping into the female health consumer market.

New features on EmpowHERMedia.com include: improved navigation making it easier to find marketing solutions for brands looking to target female health consumers; up-to-date pulse of actual conversations happening in real-time throughout EmpowHER Media's social media properties; and a slick new design and style highlighting smarter insights in marketing to women along with trends in digital and social media marketing in the healthcare space. EmpowHER Media tells the story of the evolution of online health consumer behavior from Health 1.0 to Health 3.0 -- more specifically, the social health movement; the power and importance of the female health consumer, and how health and wellness marketers, practitioners and providers will need to reach, engage, and influence the female health consumers in social health environments.

Other site enhancements include easier access to EmpowHER Media's newly launched social media channels, geared towards educating and connecting marketers to these highly influential consumers. Industry professionals can follow EmpowHER Media across several social media platforms including: the EmpowHER Media LinkedIn group -- where professionals can engage in discussions and ask questions; the @EmpowHERMedia twitter handle, where marketers can stay updated on industry stats, latest reports and key insights in health care and social media, EmpowHER Insights: Marketing to Women Blog, and a market-focused Facebook page.

"Social Health is redefining the way people consume healthcare information," says Thom Brodeur (@thombempowher), Executive Vice President and CMO of EmpowHER Media. "Gone are the days when brands could simply dictate one-sided information to a captive audience. Health 3.0 suggests that brands will win in social health environments where they genuinely connect with, educate, and compel consumers to take action. EmpowHERMedia.com is the definitive resource for health and wellness marketers looking to reach, influence and engage female health consumers online."

Other enhancements to EmpowHERMedia.com include a new section showcasing examples of how top-tier brands, healthcare agencies and media companies are working with EmpowHER to improve their online marketing ROI. Additionally, a new press release section highlights corporate news from EmpowHER Media that informs the audience of exciting updates from The Company including new partners and programs, features and upgrades to the site, and executive and corporate award and milestone announcements. Marketers can also sign up to receive the news EmpowHER Media monthly newsletter.

Visit EmpowHERMedia.com to learn more about the evolution of consumer behavior on the web from Health 1.0 to Health 3.0 -- more specifically, social health.

Click here to view this release on EmpowHER.com and share it with your social networks.

About EmpowHER Media
EmpowHER Media is an award-winning, HON-certified, social health company for women. The Company's flagship -- EmpowHER.com -- is the third most visited women's health and wellness destination on the Web (comScore Media Metrix). As the online home for female health consumers, EmpowHER.com offers a unique value proposition of a peer health community and premium, original women's health and wellness content. Health care professionals, brands and agency professionals rely on EmpowHER Media for reaching the most influential health and wellness buyer on the Internet -- women. EmpowHER reached more than 60 million women onsite and through syndication in 2011, and expects to reach more than 250 million in 2012.

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Nestle Health Science Launches Next Generation Enteral Safety Technology

FLORHAM PARK, N.J., Jan. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --  Nestle Health Science will unveil its pediatric closed system formulas with the new SpikeRight® PLUS port at the annual American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition's (A.S.P.E.N.) Clinical Nutrition Week meeting being held in Orlando January 21-24. The introduction marks a significant step in supporting the provision of safe enteral (tube) feeding.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/53580-nestle-health-science-launches-next-generation-spikeright-plus-pediatrics

Enteral tubing misconnections, where feeding solutions are wrongly administered through intravenous (IV) tubing or other non-enteral systems, have been a concern for nearly thirty years. Most commonly occurring in intensive care settings, where patients have multiple types of tubing connections, an enteral tubing misconnection can result in catastrophic complications and possibly death.

To help address this issue, Nestle Health Science introduced its original SpikeRight® design in the U.S. in 2008. The company's unique design reduces the risk of proximal end (the end closest to the nutrition container) tubing misconnections. Now the next-generation design, the SpikeRight® PLUS enteral connection system, helps to further reduce the risk of tubing misconnections through its PLUS (+) shape which is specifically designed to be incompatible with IV tubing sets, IV solution bags, and other types of non-enteral connectors.  Click here to view a brief video about SpikeRight® PLUS and its unique design benefits for patients.

"Misconnections remain a serious risk to patients, despite the best intentions of healthcare professionals and hospitals, unless we engineer a system with safety stops," said Debora Simmons, PhD RN CCNS, Executive Operations Director at University of Texas School of Biomedical Informatics. "The SpikeRight® PLUS design is a welcomed and important safety advance in improving the quality of care for all patients."

Currently, the SpikeRight® PLUS system is available for pediatric tube feeding products. Additional Nestle Health Science products with the SpikeRight® PLUS port will be available in North America in the coming months.

The issue of tubing misconnections is a global concern. Currently, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is working together with government and industry representatives, including Nestle Health Science, to bring a global standard for enteral nutrition connections to the marketplace. The SpikeRight® PLUS design has been proposed as the sole industry standard for the proximal end and will undergo additional usability testing this month. A final standard is expected by 2014.

"We are extremely proud to have the new SpikeRight® PLUS system available for our pediatric patients," said David Yates, North American Region Head for the company's Nestle HealthCare Nutrition business. "As a leader in safety innovation, we are committed to offering the latest technology and look forward to working with industry partners, hospitals and other healthcare facilities to help ensure the safety of their patients."

Since the initial U.S. introduction of the SpikeRight® system in 2008, Nestle Health Science has made available the design to other manufacturers royalty free and will continue to do so with the SpikeRight® PLUS design. The company has also championed patient safety through education and three hospital-based safety campaigns done in partnership with A.S.P.E.N. The initial campaign, Be A.L.E.R.T., was introduced in 2009 and featured a bedside poster to remind healthcare professionals about the necessary steps to take for safe enteral feeding. The next two campaigns expanded this safety effort to include safe enteral medication delivery (Be A.W.A.R.E., 2010) and specific patient populations such as pediatrics (Be R.E.A.D.Y., 2011), with more than 60,000 posters distributed to hospitals nationwide.

To learn more about the availability of other products in the SpikeRight® PLUS system or find more information on the BE A.L.E.R.T., BE A.W.A.R.E. and BE R.E.A.D.Y. campaigns, visit www.nestlenutrition.com/us. Additionally, an interactive learning experience on the risk of tubing misconnections is available during Clinical Nutrition Week at the Nestle Health Science Enteral Safety Simulation Lab (booth 809).

About Nestle Health Science
Nestle Health Science, through its Nestle HealthCare Nutrition business, offers nutritional solutions for people with specific dietary needs related to illnesses, disease states or the special challenges of different life stages. Nestle Health Science, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nestle S.A., became operational on January 1, 2011 and has worldwide headquarters in Lutry, Switzerland.

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TELUS Health Solutions launches new Canadian health reference portal, myhealthreference.com

88 per cent of Canadians are looking for online health information with Canadian references, yet 72 per cent concerned about reliability*

MONTREAL , Jan. 19, 2012 /CNW/ - TELUS is making access to reliable, verified Canadian healthcare information online a snap with myhealthreference.com. myhealthreference.com, a new health reference internet portal, is designed to help Canadians find the relevant information and tools they need to take better care of their health and the health of their loved ones.

A recent national poll by Vision Critical found 72 per cent of Canadians are concerned with the reliability of healthcare information they find online, yet 53 per cent still use the Internet as their primary health information reference.

"Technology has empowered us with convenient, fast access to health information. Yet much of the online information is unverified. myhealthreference.com will allow Canadians to quickly find credible, reliable and expert-reviewed health information for themselves and their families," said Paul Lepage , senior vice-president, TELUS Health Solutions.

With 66 per cent of Canadians seeking a single point for online health information, the new site will deliver current content, reviewed articles and specialized functions to make the consumer experience "future friendly".

The new site includes access to:

Web and mobile tools such as a symptom checker, self-assessment modules, healthy habits guides and smoking cessation programs Powerful search feature that "learns" from user trends and health news to deliver relevant, credible content to returning visitors Reliable reference content and news from trusted Canadian sources covering health topics from A to Z Advice from physicians, pharmacists, naturopaths and nutritionists, as well as information to find specialized local resources

The Vision Critical survey also reveals:

90 per cent of women identified themselves as the primary health seekers in the family 70 per cent of mothers first look to the Internet to gather health advice for their children 94 per cent of mothers prefer a website with information from a Canadian reference 66 per cent of Canadians have used online health information for positive results 25 per cent of Quebecers do not have a family physician. The highest rate from all provinces surveyed (17% BC, 14% AB, 8% MB/SK, 10% ON, 13% ATL) 33 per cent of Canadians over 55 say it's difficult to find dietary tips for specific chronic health conditions

To explore the new site go to www.myhealthreference.com.

*The Vision Critical poll of 1,500 Canadians was conducted from December 19 to December 22, 2011 .

About TELUS Health Solutions
TELUS Health Solutions is a leader in telehealth, electronic health records, remote patient monitoring, mobile home and community care, consumer health, benefits management and pharmacy management. Our solutions give health authorities, providers, primary care physicians, patients and consumers the power to enhance decision making and improve outcomes for Canadians. TELUS Health Solutions is transforming how information is used across the continuum of care from hospital to home with solutions that foster collaboration, drive prevention and empower care teams and patients. TELUS Health Solutions is Canada's leading Healthcare IT Company as cited by the Branham Group for five years and for being honoured as the ITAC Health Company of the Year (2008) and Health Transformation Company of the Year (2009). For more information about TELUS Health Solutions, please visit www.telushealth.com and www.telushealthspace.com.

About TELUS
TELUS (TSX: T, T.A; NYSE: TU) is a leading national telecommunications company in Canada , with $10.3 billion of annual revenue and 12.6 million customer connections including 7.2 million wireless subscribers, 3.6 million wireline network access lines, 1.3 million Internet subscribers and more than 450,000 TELUS TV customers. Led since 2000 by President and CEO, Darren Entwistle , TELUS provides a wide range of communications products and services including data, Internet protocol (IP), voice, entertainment and video.

In support of our philosophy to give where we live, TELUS, our team members and retirees have contributed $245 million to charitable and not-for-profit organizations and volunteered 4.1 million hours of service to local communities since 2000. Eleven TELUS Community Boards across Canada lead TELUS' local philanthropic initiatives. TELUS was honoured to be named the most outstanding philanthropic corporation globally for 2010 by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, becoming the first Canadian company to receive this prestigious international recognition.

For more information about TELUS, please visit telus.com.

Survey Methodology
From December 19 to December 22, 2011 , Vision Critical conducted an online survey among a randomly selected, representative sample of 1,500 Canadians who are Vision Critical Forum panel members. Individuals were sampled according to Census data to be representative of the Canadian national adult population. The full dataset has been statistically weighted according to the most current gender, age, region (and in Quebec , language) Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of Canada . The margin of error is ±2.7 per cent, 19 times out of 20. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

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Global Health Trax Launches New Health Supplement Products

VISTA, Calif., Jan. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Health Trax, a leading name in nutritional supplements, has announced the launch of two new products. The new products join its top selling offerings formulated to optimize and maintain a healthy digestive system or improve overall health and wellness.

Available for immediate shipment, the Digestive Recovery Pack and the Joint Muscle Recovery Pack are the first of the firm's new ProLine labeled supplements.

"Our Digestive Recovery Pack includes our flagship probiotic Threelac™ along with four other products formulated to be extraordinarily helpful in promoting good digestive health," says Jim Rex, President and CEO of Global Health Trax.

The Pack specifically provides beneficial bacteria probiotics to rebalance flora in the intestinal tract, along with digestive enzymes to help break down foods, cellular level oxygenation to assist with nutrition absorption, immune boosters plus a mineral often deficient when the digestive system has been compromised.

"The formulation of our Joint Muscle Recovery Pack combines glucosamine and chondroitin with three other noted ingredients which support joint lubrication and flexibility. It also incorporates systemic enzyme capsules designed to provide comfort for occasional body aches and pains," says Rex.

Related products marketed by the firm have enjoyed steady sales growth, according to company figures.

About Global Health Trax

Global Health Trax, Inc. is located in Vista, California and has been a supplier to the health supplements industry since 1996. It is a leader in the nutraceutical industry, with recognized expertise in the maintenance of a healthy digestive system. The company markets a widely recognized line of health products featuring probiotics, enzymes, antioxidants and other pivotal nutraceuticals focused on the health of the digestive system.

For more information visit the company's website at http://www.ghthealth.com. Global Health Trax strongly recommends that consumers consult with their healthcare provider to determine which supplements are best suited to individual health needs.

Media Contact:

Mike Foitzik
(760) 542-3000
mfoitzik@globalhealthtrax.com

This press release was issued through eReleases(R).  For more information, visit eReleases Press Release Distribution at http://www.ereleases.com.

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RedBrick Health Launches RedBrick Mobile, Bringing Consumers On-the-go Access to its Engaging Health Improvement Tools ...

MINNEAPOLIS , Jan. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --  RedBrick Health, a leader in consumer health engagement technology, announced today the launch of RedBrick Mobile, providing its rapidly expanding user base on-the-go access to RedBrick's innovative employee health engagement tools and applications. With mobile access changing the game in employee health and wellness, RedBrick's Health Management Innovation Lab developed one of the industry's most comprehensive mobile suites so users could incorporate RedBrick's programs into their daily life.

"Research shows that consumers are increasingly relying on smartphones as their primary information resource," said Daniel Ryan, chief executive officer for RedBrick Health. "With this in mind, we are thrilled to provide our clients mobile access to the best of RedBrick's online features so their employees can more easily track progress, take part in social networked games and challenges, and ultimately reach their individual health improvement goals."

RedBrick Mobile is fully integrated with RedBrick's suite of online and telephone-delivered services, providing the consumer a uniquely seamless experience across web, mobile device, and live support services. Through RedBrick Mobile, employees and dependents of RedBrick's corporate clients can now join health improvement programs, track activity, earn rewards and participate within social health games. All of these programs are available in both English and Spanish, as RedBrick Mobile features a category-first translator button that allows users to switch the entire mobile suite instantaneously into their preferred language.

"We are excited to be introducing RedBrick Mobile to our associates in conjunction with our company-wide Be Fit Challenge, a team based activity challenge being rolled out in late January" says Tamara Storbakken , Benefits Manager at Brookdale Senior Living. "Providing our associates access to RedBrick's programs and challenge engine via their mobile phones will increase engagement by making it easier for them to participate and record activity resulting in small, positive health decisions every day."

About RedBrick Health

RedBrick is a health engagement technology company that helps employers reinvigorate their health & wellness programs. The company combines financial accountability, clinical and behavioral insight, social and game mechanics and powerful data analytics to create a personalized and persuasive experience delivered through web, mobile and live interactions. As a result, RedBrick drives healthy behaviors, better outcomes, and stronger returns on everyone's investment in health. The company serves large, self-insured employers and strategic distribution partners. Visit RedBrick at redbrickhealth.com, read more at healthinnovationblog.com or follow the company at twitter.com/redbrickhealth.

Connect with RedBrick Health

Health Innovation Blog

LinkedIn

Twitter

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