Microsoft Selects the WellMed Health Hub™ for its 60,000 U. S. Employees and Dependents
Utilization high as employees manage personal health information using secure online tools and resources
(PRWEB) May 24, 2002
Portland, OR –– WellMed, Inc., a health communication company, today announced its selection by Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) to integrate its online health and benefits technology to drive a comprehensive employee health portal called MicrosoftHealth. This portal was launched in March and provides Microsoft employees and their dependents with personalized, secure, online health management information and resources. MicrosoftHealth is accessible internally and externally and enables employees and their families to easily:
• Identify health risks
• Enter and safely store personal health information
• Access interactive health improvement programs
• Access Microsoft health benefits information
• Search for medical information from a variety of credible sources
MicrosoftÂ’s selection of the WellMed platform was based on the flexible customization it provides. Following a comprehensive examination of WellMedÂ’s proprietary technology, policies and procedures, Microsoft gave WellMed high scores on security and privacy.
“Privacy and security are a top concern for Microsoft,” said Tom McPherson, Health Benefits Manager at Microsoft. “Following a thorough audit confirming that WellMed’s platform met our standards, we are now able to offer meaningful online resources to help our employees better manage their health.”
WellMed’s platform – or Health Hub -- was developed to help self-insured employers like Microsoft increase the quality of care and services they provide while controlling escalating health care costs. The Health Hub provides a secure online health communication platform that aggregates self-reported health information, integrates it with client systems based on the company’s business rules, benefits, guidelines and third-party health resources, then following proprietary analysis, communicates with clients and individuals to guide them in achieving their health-related objectives. With the WellMed Health Hub, Microsoft can easily modify its existing health programs to more effectively meet employee needs and bring about positive behavioral change within the organization.
Bringing health and benefit resources online further illustrates MicrosoftÂ’s commitment to its employees and their families, while paralleling WellMedÂ’s vision of delivering secure, intuitive online heath care solutions.
“Microsoft recognizes the importance of empowering people with the tools and information they need to effectively manage their health,” said Craig Froude, chairman and CEO of WellMed. “Aligning with WellMed is a natural extension of that philosophy. Microsoft is committed to maintaining the leading position in its industry, which means their employees will have the most comprehensive and sophisticated health information and communication capabilities available to them.”
The WellMed Health Hub
The core products and related applications that make up the WellMed Health Hub include:
• Personal Health Manager™ -- The interactive dashboard for individuals that contains a comprehensive suite of online health assessments, condition information and personalized, relevant health resources to elevate the user’s ability to effectively manage health issues on a daily basis.
• Personal Health Insight™ -- The decision-support control panel that clients use to analyze aggregate health data in real time, address population health risks, proactively implement preventive programs, and communicate directly with individual users.
• Personal Health Connect™ -- The secure communication tool that facilitates online dialogue between individuals and providers, thus enabling more streamlined and effective individual health management.
About WellMed
WellMedÂ’s award-winning online products and services enable individuals to make informed decisions about their health while providing client organizations with business intelligence to proactively address costly health care issues. Organizations that purchase WellMedÂ’s solutions include self-insured corporations, health insurance companies, government agencies, pharmaceutical manufacturers and national retailers. WellMed, Inc. is headquartered in Portland, Oregon, with regional offices in Seattle, Atlanta, Austin and Boise.
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Jerry Schranz
CPRi Communications, Inc.
370 North Street
Teterboro, NJ 07608
201-641-1911 Phone ext. 14
Jschranz@cpronline. com
