Press Release

Manasquan, N.J., USA, May 5, 2006 – A patient navigation kit adorned with artwork and musings from breast cancer survivors empowers those grappling with a similar diagnosis. A treatment roadmap guides health plan members hospitalized with behavioral disorders. An educational packet alerts healthcare providers to the signs of physical abuse to improve patient screening. Whether designed to inform, advise or persuade their targeted populations, healthcare toolkits are gaining ground as preferred industry communication vehicles.

Recognizing the increased presence of toolkits and their potential to empower, educate and effect change, the Healthcare Intelligence Network (HIN) is sponsoring its second annual Healthcare Toolkits contest. For contest details and submission requirements, please visit the HIN contest page.

“The use of toolkits meshes well with the burgeoning trend of consumer-driven healthcare," stated Melanie Matthews, HIN executive vice president and chief operating officer in announcing the 2006 call for entries. “When we surveyed our customers in October 2005 on their use of toolkits, more than half of the 125 healthcare organizations who responded told us they have already launched healthcare toolkits for their clients. And more than half of these respondents planned to launch new toolkits in 2006.

“Whether providers use toolkits to distribute clinical guidelines, or health plans create them to describe programs and benefits, healthcare toolkits educate their target audiences and facilitate informed healthcare choices,” she continued. “As a healthcare publisher, we have seen huge growth and interest in this area.”

Respondents to the 2005 HIN survey said they use toolkits to convey information on disease management, employee and member services, among other uses, said Matthews. Popular topics for respondents’ toolkits included smoking cessation, pain management, benefits enrollment, healthcare claims tracking and patient safety.

Last year, more than 65 employers, health plans and providers entered HIN’s inaugural toolkits contest. The breast cancer patient navigation kit described above took first place in the 2005 competition. An independent panel of healthcare communications professionals will again judge this year’s entries. Toolkit entries, which may be submitted in print and electronic formats, will be judged on visual appearance, ease of use and the results that the toolkit achieved. The winning work will be featured on the HIN web site and in other healthcare publications. Entry in the contest constitutes permission to use the contestant’s toolkit in future HIN editorial products, added Matthews. For contest details and submission requirements, please visit the HIN contest page.

About the Healthcare Intelligence Network---HIN is the premier advisory service for executives seeking high-quality strategic information on the business of healthcare. For more information, contact the Healthcare Intelligence Network, PO Box 1442, Wall Township, NJ 07719-1442, (888) 446-3530, fax (732) 292-3073, e-mail info@hin.com, or visit http://www.hin.com.

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Contact: Patricia Donovan