CareNet and Healthwise Help Patients Make Better Health Decisions

Action-Oriented Health Content Helps Patients Achieve Better Health


BOISE, ID and SAN ANTONIO, TX--(Marketwire - July 15, 2008) - CareNet, a premier provider of care management services, and Healthwise, a nonprofit provider of consumer health information, will work together to help consumers take an active role in their care. CareNet is using Healthwise® Connect's decision-focused and action-oriented health information within its care management environment.

"Adding the Healthwise decision-support content to our suite of services is a natural progression for our organization," states John Erwin, President of CareNet. "For the past 20-years, millions of consumers have reached out to our registered nurses 24/7 for support in their time of need. We are a very established and trusted resource as our registered nurses average more than 18 years' experience. We see significant trends toward empowering consumers and patients to evaluate and participate in making their own health related decisions. Our team of experts serves as a natural extension for our clients to assist their members with making informed and smart decisions."

Healthwise Connect will provide CareNet nurses with quick access to plain-language health information, allowing them to better support shared decision-making with patients. The nurses will use more than 7,000 evidence-based topics, including interactive decision-support tools that advance consumer engagement: Actionsets help people manage chronic conditions, Decision Points help people make important treatment and test choices, and Interactive Health Tools help people understand and assess their risk for certain conditions.

"Healthwise is pleased to work with CareNet so its clients can get evidence-based information that will help people take a more active role in their care," said Donald W. Kemper, Healthwise founder and CEO. "Giving people the information they need, when they need it, will help them make the health decisions that are right for them."

Healthwise Connect links call tracking software to the in-depth, evidence-based, and actionable health information in the Healthwise Knowledgebase. The Healthwise Knowledgebase includes topics on health conditions, medical tests and procedures, medicines, decision-support tools, and everyday health and wellness issues. Healthwise Connect supports shared decision-making and expands program offerings from triage to disease management.

About CareNet

CareNet partners with progressive, leading health care organizations. Our suite of solutions includes: Shared Decision Making, 24/7 Nurse Advice Services, Disease Management Services, and Concierge/Advocate Services. Built on a 20-year foundation, CareNet helps clients support and improve their members' healthcare experiences and overall satisfaction. Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, CareNet currently supports 65 leading healthcare organizations with more than 5 million members across the US. For additional information regarding CareNet's services, please visit our Web site at www.callcarenet.com or call 1.800.809.7000.


About Healthwise

Healthwise is a nonprofit organization with a mission to help people make better health decisions. Nearly 111 million times a year, people turn to Healthwise information to learn how to do more for themselves, ask for the care they need, and say "no" to the care they don't need. Healthwise partners with health plans, hospitals, disease management companies, and health Web sites to provide up-to-date, evidence-based information to the people they serve. To learn more about the Healthwise Information Therapy (Ix®) Solution, visit www.healthwise.org or call 1.800.706.9646.

Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.

Ix is a trademark of the Center for Information Therapy.

© Copyright 2008, Healthwise, Incorporated.

1.800.706.9646

www.healthwise.org

Contact Information: Healthwise Contact: Brenda Foster Phone: 208.331.6963 E-mail: CareNet Contact: Lisa Policano Phone: 210.595.2034 E-mail: