AdvancePCS Expands Its Centers For Health Improvement; Two New Centers Added to Existing Programs.Health/Medical Writers IRVING, Texas--(BW HealthWire)--Aug. 6, 2001 AdvancePCS (Nasdaq: ADVP), the nation's leading health improvement company, Monday announced it has expanded its Centers for Health Improvement. In addition to the Center for Work and Health and the Center for Healthier Aging that were launched last year, AdvancePCS has developed the Center for Women's Health Women's Health Definition Women's health is the effect of gender on disease and health that encompasses a broad range of biological and psychosocial issues. and the Center for School and Health. The purpose of the centers is to conduct research and develop programs focused on improving the total health of specific population groups. The centers combine academic expertise, original evidence-based outcomes research and sophisticated information systems to offer a unique approach to understanding health issues of population groups. The result is the development of new programs employing proven intervention strategies that will help clients, members and physicians take action toward improving health. "The centers are further evidence of our commitment to use our scale, clinical strength and broad resources to improve health outcomes for Americans. "For example, through programs developed at the Center for Work and Health, we can understand the total cost of illnesses -- including difficult-to-measure costs such as lost productivity -- and guide our partners towards making the right medical decisions that connect health and productivity," said David D. Halbert, AdvancePCS chairman and chief executive officer. "The centers are taking a unique approach to their research by examining groups of people, such as employees, older Americans, women and school-age youth, and the health conditions common among those groups," Halbert added. "By applying our evidence-based outcomes research and intervention capabilities to these populations, we are better able to bring about behavior changes Behavior change refers to any transformation or modification of human behavior. Such changes can occur intentionally, through behavior modification, without intention, or change rapidly in situations of mental illness. that improve health outcomes and ultimately reduce our clients' overall costs." Center Descriptions The Center for Work and Health seeks to increase awareness of the impact of illness in the workplace and to intervene and improve employee health and productivity. This center is focused not only on illnesses that cause absenteeism ab·sen·tee·ism n. 1. Habitual failure to appear, especially for work or other regular duty. 2. The rate of occurrence of habitual absence from work or duty. , but also on medical conditions See carpal tunnel syndrome, computer vision syndrome, dry eyes and deep vein thrombosis. employees bring to work that interfere with their ability to be productive. Common conditions such as arthritis, back pain, musculoskeletal musculoskeletal /mus·cu·lo·skel·e·tal/ (-skel´e-t'l) pertaining to or comprising the skeleton and muscles. mus·cu·lo·skel·e·tal adj. Relating to or involving the muscles and the skeleton. problems, headache, bowel pain, depression, allergies -- including allergic rhinitis Allergic Rhinitis Definition Allergic rhinitis, more commonly referred to as hay fever, is an inflammation of the nasal passages caused by allergic reaction to airborne substances. -- and respiratory problems have a significant impact on lost work time. By measuring the impact of these conditions, the Center for Work and Health helps employers understand the total cost of illness and then determines and applies interventions that will lead to a healthier and more productive workforce. The Center for Healthier Aging concentrates on improving the health of individuals over the age of 55, the population group that takes the greatest number of prescription drugs prescription drug Prescription medication Pharmacology An FDA-approved drug which must, by federal law or regulation, be dispensed only pursuant to a prescription–eg, finished dose form and active ingredients subject to the provisos of the Federal Food, Drug, . Recognizing the risk of drug interactions associated with multiple medications, the Center for Healthier Aging educates patients, prescribers and pharmacists about appropriate medication use among older Americans. AdvancePCS also has developed a portfolio of products that specifically meet the needs of this population. Examples include a senior drug formulary formulary /for·mu·lary/ (for´mu-lar?e) a collection of recipes, formulas, and prescriptions. National Formulary see under N. for·mu·lar·y n. that excludes drugs that should not be given to the elderly and a senior drug utilization review drug utilization review Health insurance A study of drug prescriptions to evaluate appropriateness and cost-effectiveness of drug therapy , which alerts physicians to potential drug interactions that are specific to older Americans. AdvancePCS also employs 140 clinical pharmacists who interact, face to face, with more than 20,000 physicians a year. These pharmacists monitor and track drug interactions for the senior patients of these physicians and alert them on an ongoing basis. Several research initiatives are under way that focus on optimizing medication use, minimizing drug interactions and effectively managing cognitive problems in the senior population. The new Center for Women's Health will concern itself with the broad range of health issues pertinent to women. The initial focus of this center is to better understand the influence of hormones on women's health across the life span. Other areas of focus include cardiovascular disease Cardiovascular disease Disease that affects the heart and blood vessels. Mentioned in: Lipoproteins Test cardiovascular disease , central nervous system disorders Nervous system disorders A satisfactory classification of diseases of the nervous system should include not only the type of reaction (congenital malformation, infection, trauma, neoplasm, vascular diseases, and degenerative, metabolic, toxic, or deficiency (migraine migraine (mī`grān), headache characterized by recurrent attacks of severe pain, usually on one side of the head. It may be preceded by flashes or spots before the eyes or a ringing in the ears, and accompanied by double vision, nausea, and other pain disorders pain disorder Somatiform pain disorder, see there , depression, multiple sclerosis) and osteoporosis. The center is developing a portfolio of products that will focus on improving the health of women in these disease areas. The Center for School and Health will seek to increase awareness of the impact of illness on children's health Children's Health Definition Children's health encompasses the physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being of children from infancy through adolescence. and learning, and to implement research and educational initiatives that improve the health, productivity and quality of life of the school-age population. "Later this year, we anticipate receiving preliminary results from the Center for Work and Health's American Productivity Audit, an ongoing national survey of the U.S. workforce," said Andrew Garling, senior vice president of clinical operations for AdvancePCS. "This audit will set a benchmark for costs associated with various illnesses and give employers the extra backing they need to justify taking action to improve employee health." Based in Hunt Valley, Md., the Centers for Health Improvement are led by: -- Andrew Garling, M.D., senior vice president of AdvancePCS clinical operations; -- Richard Lipton, M.D., vice president of the Centers for Health Improvement and director of the Center for Healthier Aging. He also is chief science officer for AdvancePCS subsidiary IMR and a professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. -- Walter "Buzz" Stewart, Ph.D., director of the Center for Work and Health. He also is vice president of IMR and an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. -- Babette S. Duncan, Pharm. D., senior director of the Centers for Health Improvement and clinical assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. About AdvancePCS AdvancePCS (www.advancepcsrx.com) is the nation's largest independent provider of health improvement services, touching the lives of more than 75 million health plan members and managing more than $21 billion annually in prescription drug spending. The company offers health plans a wide range of health improvement products and services designed to improve the quality of care delivered to health plan members. The company's capabilities include integrated mail service and retail pharmacy networks, innovative clinical services, customized disease management programs, specialty pharmacy, clinical trials and outcomes research, information management, and prescription drug services for the uninsured. AdvancePCS clients include Blue Cross and Blue Shield Blue Shield A US not-for-profit health care insurer that is a reimbursement intermediary for physicians. Cf Blue Cross. organizations, insurance companies and HMOs, Fortune 500 employers, Taft-Hartley groups, state and local governments, and other health plan sponsors. AdvancePCS is an information technology leader and has developed several online health e-solutions, including www.AdvanceRx.com, one of the country's most comprehensive Internet pharmacies internet pharmacy Online A website that offers prescription drugs from the comfort of home Cons The IP or prescribing physician may not be qualified or licensed to prescribe drugs in all states. See Operation Cure-All, VIPPS. . The company's e-health portal, www.BuildingBetterHealth.com, helps people stay healthy by providing valuable information on health and wellness. Forward-Looking Statements forward-looking statement A projected financial statement based on management expectations. A forward-looking statement involves risks with regard to the accuracy of assumptions underlying the projections. Any statements included in this press release that are not historical facts and that concern predictions of economic performance and management's plans and objectives constitute forward-looking statements under the safe harbor Safe Harbor 1. A legal provision to reduce or eliminate liability as long as good faith is demonstrated. 2. A form of shark repellent implemented by a target company acquiring a business that is so poorly regulated that the target itself is less attractive. provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA) implemented several significant substantive changes affecting certain cases brought under the federal securities laws, including changes related to pleading, discovery, liability, class representation and awards fees and of 1995. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that would cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, factors detailed in AdvancePCS' Securities and Exchange Commission filings. |
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