Healthways Launches
Center for Health Research
Other Topics:
iPod Health Organizer,
Nursing Informatics,
Intelligent Imaging Informatics
BIOWIRE
October 27, 2006
Healthways, Inc. (NASDAQ: HWAY), the market leader in
high-impact Health and Care Support(SM) services, today held a
live webcast announcing the launch of the Healthways Center for
Health Research, a dedicated team of experienced researchers
that will produce original research and peer-reviewed studies on
the impact of Healthways' health and care support services. As a
standalone knowledge engine, the Center will expand Healthways'
understanding of the drivers of healthcare outcomes and enable
Healthways to refine its programs, increase the specificity of
interventions and improve outcomes.
"The Center for Health Research will give Healthways deep
intelligence into the best possible design, implementation and
execution of our services, while advancing our health and care
support platform," said Dexter Shurney, M.D., chief medical
officer of Healthways. "Our commitment to the Center for Health
Research is a direct reflection of our ongoing commitment to
integrate knowledge with care in ways that improve health,
improve quality and, as a result, reduce healthcare costs." |
The Center will
focus its research efforts on the inputs and best practices
around health and care support services and will generate both
internal and peer-reviewed research reports. Today, the Center
released two new research reports:
- The impact of telephonic
interventions in a disease management population
- The efficacy of focused
interventions in driving adherence to A1C and dilated retinal
exam testing
Previously completed research
reports include an analysis of the impact of Healthways'
myhealthIQ(SM) program on health risk biomarkers.
Additional research results are currently under peer review
and/or scheduled for release throughout the coming year,
including detailed results of a study of the effectiveness of
Healthways' programs at addressing minority health disparities,
to be presented at the 2006 Disease Management Association of
America (DMAA) Leadership Forum. More information on the Forum
can be found at www.dmaa.org/DMLF06/.
"By bringing a scientific and disciplined approach to the study
of health and wellness intervention strategies, Healthways is
making tremendous strides not only for the wellness, prevention
and disease management communities, but also for the future of
healthcare delivery in North America and beyond," said Joe
Coughlin PhD, founding director, MIT AgeLab.
The Center for Health Research currently employs more than 19
experienced and highly trained researchers with advanced degrees
from such diverse backgrounds as biostatistics, healthcare
informatics, quantitative psychology, epidemiology, healthcare
econometrics, actuarial sciences, industrial / organizational
psychology, biomedical sciences, healthcare finance, predictive
analytics and artificial intelligence, Medicare health services
research, statistical programming, education psychology, and
healthcare statistics. Combined, the members of the Center have
more than 300 years of advanced analytics and research
experience.
"We view the Center as a best-in-class research team, focused on
adding significant value to Healthways' existing programs, while
supporting the development of scientifically sound,
next-generation approaches to health and care support programs,"
said Carter R. Coberley, PhD , the Center's director. "This
approach will also support the work of scholars and researchers
examining health and wellness interventions in a variety of
applications across broad populations."
About Healthways
Healthways, Inc. is the leading and largest provider of
specialized, comprehensive Health and Care Support(SM) programs
and services, including disease management, high-risk care
management and outcomes-driven wellness to health plans,
employers and government. As of August 31, 2006, the Company
provided Health and Care Support services for more than 2.4
million people nationwide. Healthways helps people lead
healthier lives while reducing overall healthcare costs. As The
Health/Care Trust Channel(SM), Healthways provides people the
support they need when they need it to enable them to make
better choices and achieve better health outcomes. For more
information, visit www.healthways.com.
Safe Harbor Provisions
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are
based upon current expectations and involve a number of risks
and uncertainties. In order for Healthways to utilize the "safe
harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995, investors are hereby cautioned that these
statements may be affected by the important factors, among
others, included in the discussion in Part I, Item 1, and Part
II, Item 7, of Healthways' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended August 31, 2005, and Part I, Item 2 of
Healthways' Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
May 31, 2006. Consequently, actual operations and results may
differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking
statements. Healthways undertakes no obligation to update or
revise any such forward-looking statements. |
