New Study says Traditional cold-call Recruiting less Effective CHADDS FORD, Pa., Feb. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The country's largest workplace health care provider, CHD Meridian Healthcare (an I-trax company, Amex: DMX), has published encouraging research demonstrating that a new technique it has developed resulted in a three-fold improvement in enrollment into a corporate-sponsored disease management program. The results of the research demonstrated an encouraging 76 percent enrollment rate, which compares to the typical rate of about 25 percent using conventional enrollment methods. According to the study, "Disease Management Engagement Rates: Leveraging the Trusted Clinician," published in the February issue of Disease Management, enrollment rates in workplace disease management programs can be improved by involving a familiar and trusted clinician in the recruiting process, as opposed to relying solely on the anonymous telephone callers typically used in disease management programs. Disease Management is a peer-reviewed journal published by the Disease Management Association of America (http://www.liebertpub.com/) The study involved nearly 2,000 Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.* (NYSE:GT) employees, dependents and retirees who were identified and invited to participate in disease management programs to better control their diabetes, hypertension and coronary artery disease. They were selected to participate based on data demonstrating dramatic opportunities to improve their health and medical condition statuses. The group, approached through established, trusted primary care clinicians delivering care at the workplace, were contacted and enrolled at significantly higher rates than those approached through the traditional "cold-call" process. "At Goodyear, we recognize the fact that good health among our associates translates into greater efficiency, productivity and reduced cost," noted Dr. Bruce Sherman, Goodyear's global medical director. "That's why we are continually looking for new and better ways to encourage our more than 75,000 associates around the world to take an active interest in their and their families' health. By utilizing our worksite primary health care and pharmacy services to integrate other programs such as disease management, we can get key information disseminated and really make a difference in the scale and scope of these tactical programs." CHD Meridian Healthcare found that enrollment in the Goodyear program particularly spiked (79 percent) when patients were approached to participate during a regularly scheduled visit with a familiar clinician at their worksite health center. "These results are fascinating and provide evidence that 'high touch' methods for recruitment to care management programs can be worth the investment. This added benefit also dovetails with the growing interest by large employers in on-site medical centers," said Helen Darling, President, National Business Group on Health. "Coordinating the 'trusted clinicians in the workplace' with remote telephonic nurse coaches - aligning caregivers into a single, integrated delivery model - will bring us closer to realizing the potential value of population health management which includes healthier employees, reduced health care costs, increased productivity and reduced absenteeism," the study authors concluded. "Our company is committed to doing the research necessary to methodically demonstrate the value of workplace health and productivity solutions," said Dr. Ray Fabius, President of CHD Meridian Healthcare and a co-author of the study. "The results of this study are directly relevant to all types of employee health management and wellness programs." CHD Meridian Healthcare has plans for additional studies to evaluate the clinical, financial and utilization outcomes of the patients in disease management programs facilitated by a trusted clinician versus those in conventional programs. Authors of the study include CHD Meridian Healthcare employees Sharon G. Frazee, Ph.D., Vice President, Health Informatics; Patricia Kirkpatrick, R.N., Vice President Integrated Care; and Dr. Fabius. For more on disease management go to: http://www.dmaa.org/dm_definition.asp About CHD Meridian Healthcare CHD Meridian Healthcare, an I-trax company, is the leading provider of integrated workplace health and productivity management solutions. Serving nearly 100 clients at over 215 locations nationwide, CHD Meridian Healthcare offers on-site health centers, which deliver primary care, acute care, corporate health, occupational health and pharmacy care management services as well as integrated disease management, wellness and lifestyle management programs. CHD Meridian Healthcare provides a comprehensive solution utilizing telephonic and e-health tools to enhance the trusted relationship established by its clinicians at the worksite. CHD Meridian Healthcare is focused on helping companies achieve employer of choice status, making the workplace safe, improving the quality of care and the productivity of the workforce while mitigating healthcare costs. Managing employer-sponsored health centers for over 40 years, some of CHD Meridian Healthcare's clients include: BMW, Blue Ridge Paper, Coors Brewing Company, Coushatta Casino Resort, DENSO Manufacturing Michigan, Deutsche Bank, Eastman Chemical, Fieldale Farms, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Lowe's, Toyota, UnumProvident and US Steel. For more information, visit http://www.chdmeridian.com/. About Goodyear Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies. The company manufactures tires, engineered rubber products and chemicals in more than 90 facilities in 28 countries around the world. Goodyear employs more than 75,000 people worldwide. *Although Goodyear is not identified in the study as the worksite explored, it was the sole organization involved in this study. Contacts: Peter Hotz CHD Meridian Healthcare (610) 459-2405 x126 Michelle Sawatka-Fernandez Edelman (212) 704-4544 DATASOURCE: I-trax, Inc. CONTACT: Peter Hotz of CHD Meridian Healthcare, +1-610-459-2405 x126, , or Michelle Sawatka-Fernandez of Edelman, +1-212-704-4544, Web site: http://www.i-trax.com/ http://www.dmaa.org/dm_definition.asp http://www.chdmeridian.com/

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