StayWell Custom Communications Cited as “Best Wellness Vendor” in Disease Management

Evanston, IL, September 4, 2009 – StayWell Custom Communications has been cited as one of the top 8 vendors in disease management from more than 150 nationwide by Health Industries Research Co. – and is the only company added to the list in 2009. The listing appears in the fall 2009 edition of The Best Health Plans in Disease Management, just released by the Health Industries Research Co.

StayWell Custom Communications credits this unique position to the launch of its ground-breaking new health management platform StayWell Engage™.

StayWell Engage™ is a sophisticated online health management platform designed to engage consumers with personally-relevant content, health assessment tools and highly-tailored digital health coaching programs that emulate a live health coach and create a truly personal health improvement experience for consumers.

"SCC earned its spot on the 2009 'Best Wellness Vendor' list because of the company’s commitment to technological innovation for health management solutions," said Disease Management Purchasing Consortium president Al Lewis. "The company's new offering, StayWell Engage, is a rare example of state-of-the-art solutions for scalable population health management."

"SCC is thrilled to be added to the prestigious 'Best Wellness Vendor' list released by HIRC," said StayWell Custom Communications president and CEO Trent Sterling. "To be the only company added to the 2009 list is a true honor and we’re delighted that StayWell Engage and our other wellness solutions have positioned us as a clear industry leader."

With its new platform solution, StayWell Custom Communications is adding a new approach to the strong array of health management programs offered by the StayWell family of companies. Whether our clients are looking for a total health management solution that utilizes telephonic coaching, such as that provided by StayWell Health Management, print solutions, or the digital coaching approach represented by StayWell Engage, or a combination of all of these, StayWell can offer the solution that meets their needs.

The new health management platform delivers a win-win for payors and their populations—driving healthier lifestyles for consumers and proven outcomes that result in lower costs for health plans and employers. StayWell Engage was the recent choice of a major Blues plan looking to provide its member population with the most advanced online health management portal available.

About StayWell Custom Communications (SCC)
StayWell Custom Communications is the leader in custom health content solutions delivered via variety of sophisticated technology platforms. Our interactive offerings include robust web platforms, online health libraries, e-mail and SMS (or mobile) marketing programs, and an extensive range of multimedia tools including video, podcasts and animations. The company serves hundreds of clients representing several channels in the healthcare industry: hospitals and health systems; health plans; employers; and retail organizations. StayWell Custom Communications also offers a comprehensive range of print and print/interactive integrated solutions to meet a broad range of clients’ marketing and communication needs.

SCC is a member of the StayWell family of companies, which includes Krames, StayWell Health Management, StayWell Consumer Health Publishing (A Harvard Medical School Strategic Alliance), Vitality Communications, StayWell Productions and StayWell Safety Solutions (a Red Cross Strategic Business Alliance). StayWell, which is a division of MediMedia USA, represents the largest patient education and consumer health information publisher in North America. For more information visit www.staywellcustom.com. About MediMedia USA Headquartered in Chatham, NJ, with 1,500 employees in offices throughout the U.S., MediMedia changes consumer and professional behaviors through superior engagement, education and end-user preferences. Our health information services group creates, publishes, distributes, and syndicates on and off-line health information to help consumers make information health decisions on behalf of a variety of sponsors, including providers – both hospitals and physicians, payers, and online media companies. Our health management services group provides population health management services which help consumers lower their health risk, enabling employers to lower their risks, utilization and ultimately their health care expenses. And finally, our professional segment derives its revenues from providing online-off-line professional promotion, engagement, and education services targeted to healthcare professionals and their patients.

MediMedia is a Vestar Capital Partners portfolio company.

About Disease Management Purchasing Consortium International and Al Lewis
DMPC (www.dismgmt.com) has been providing procurement and outcomes measurement support for health plans, large self-insured employers and states since 1995. Google credits founder DMPC Al Lewis with having “invented disease management.” Managed Healthcare Executive consistently ranks Lewis as the “#1 Most Influential” person in disease management.” He has twice been named the industry’s most influential person by DMAA: The Care Continuum. Books include Emerging Trends in Disease Management: 2009 and Beyond (with Jill Brown) and OOBonomics: The Best Outside-of-the-Box Economic Policy Ideas From The Site That Will Pay $1 Million for Yours, which will be broadly available in bookstores in November. He also appears regularly on Montel Williams and other national and local TV and radio, and has published many peer-reviewed articles on the subject, most recently “How to Measure the Outcomes of Chronic Disease Management,” Journal of Population Health Management (2009;12:47-54). His Critical Outcomes Report Analysis, Savings Measurement Validity and Care Management Contract Negotiation certifications have been earned by 150+ individuals and 30 payor organizations, listed on www.dismgmt.com. Lewis holds two degrees from Harvard and taught economics there, and was a partner in the international management consulting firm of Bain & Co., Inc. Copies of the Fall 2009 HIRC Disease Management Report can be ordered at www.dismgmt.com or by calling 781.856.3962.

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