Huckabee to Headline HealthMedia’s ENGAGE 2008
HealthMedia’s Second Annual Customer Conference to Focus on Innovative Behavior Change and Productivity Solutions
HealthMedia, the global leader in scalable behavior change interventions with outcomes, announced today that former Arkansas Governor and Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee will deliver the keynote address at ENGAGE 2008, the company’s second annual customer conference, on April 8 in Palm Springs, California.
Huckabee will discuss his approach to improving the nation’s health through prevention, education and behavior change. He believes the healthcare system in this country is irrevocably broken, in part because it is only a "disease care" system, not a "health care" system. He will also discuss the results of the “Healthy Arkansas” initiative, which used HealthMedia programs to improve the health of State of Arkansas employees. This program serves as a model for other employers who want to help their employees get healthier and improve their own bottom line. In one year, nearly 60 percent of State of Arkansas employees participating in the program lost weight, 95 percent improved their nutrition and 12 percent reduced their BMI by at least one unit. Productivity impairment has improved, resulting in an estimated productivity savings of $2,300 per employee.
“Mike Huckabee has a very strong health agenda, and is committed to investing in innovative technology that harnesses the power of the Internet,” said HealthMedia CEO Ted Dacko. “The partnership with HealthMedia is just one example of his commitment to reduce healthcare costs through prevention and behavior change, made possible through this innovative technology.”
ENGAGE 2008 brings together thought leaders from employers; health plans; pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers; and hospitals, health systems and physician groups. They will discuss the latest trends in wellness, disease management, behavioral health, and medication adherence, as well as successful strategies used by leading health plans and employers to increase participation, change behavior, increase productivity, and reduce healthcare costs. Other conference highlights include Graham Kerr, the “Galloping Gourmet,” who will discuss tailoring healthy meals to fit each individual’s lifestyle, as well as the following sessions:
• Measuring Productivity Impairment and Its Impact on the Bottom Line
• Henry Ford Health System: The Ups and Downs of a Stressed-Out Healthcare Worker
• How AstraZeneca Engaged Patients to Improve Cardiovascular Health
• McKesson Puts Behavioral Health and Productivity Problems to Rest for its Employees
• How Kaiser Permanente Orchestrated an Encore Performance with Its Member Pain Program
• Health Alliance Plan of Michigan: Outcomes from a Web-based Diabetes Intervention Rival Telephonic Results
• The Outcomes of a Claims Based Analysis for HMSA (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Hawaii)
• Web and Telephonic Interventions that are Rewriting the Playbook for Reaching Today’s Medicare Population
• Aetna Unveils the Tip of the Iceberg: How Health Plans and Employers are Looking Beneath the Surface to Address Behavioral Health Issues
For a complete ENGAGE 2008 Conference Agenda, visit http://www.healthmedia.com/engage2008/sessions.
About HealthMedia, Inc.
HealthMedia, Inc. is the global leader in scalable behavior change interventions with outcomes. HealthMedia’s proven outcomes increase compliance, reduce medical utilization, and increase productivity— boosting profitability for health plans, employers, pharmaceutical companies, and behavioral health organizations. A fusion of their own unique technology and proven behavioral science, HealthMedia delivers individually tailored behavior change interventions for health and wellness, disease management, behavioral health, and medication compliance. Clients include Kaiser Permanente, UPS, Cleveland Clinic, Johnson & Johnson, GSK, and eight Blue Cross Blue Shield organizations across the United States. HealthMedia partners include APS Healthcare, Corphealth, Health Dialog, Wellsource, and SHPS. For more information visit www.healthmedia.com.
Editorial Contact
Caren Kenney
Director of Corporate Communications
508-942-4407
ckenney@healthmedia.com
Secondary Contact
Mia Cupp
Corporate Communications Manager
734-536-2006
mcupp@healthmedia.com