PRESS RELEASE - August 21, 2000:
Monday August 21, 9:06 am Eastern Time
Press Release
Stayhealthy Announces Acquisition of Center for Health Information
Maker of Innovative, Web-Enabled Products and Services Continues Growth With Addition of Leading Health Information and Services Company
MONROVIA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 21, 2000-- Stayhealthy, Inc., a leading online company dedicated to empowering consumers to monitor their health and fitness, has signed an agreement with PharMerica, Inc., a subsidiary of Bergen Brunswig Corporation, to acquire the Center for Health Information (CHI), a leading pharmaceutical care management organization. John Collins, chief executive officer of Stayhealthy, Charles J. Carpenter, president and chief executive officer of PharMerica, and Dr. Thomas Chamberlain, Pharm. D., president and founder of CHI, made the announcement today.
Under the terms of the agreement, CHI, which designs and implements comprehensive clinical support services, multidisciplinary educational programs, telephonic and Web-based drug information, and professional and consumer call center services, will continue to serve the pharmaceutical and health care markets and provide customer service and access to those markets for Stayhealthy. Additionally, CHI's proprietary Drug Information Network, which includes major academic medical centers, will provide objective, credible drug information and health content to the Stayhealthy Web site at www.stayhealthy.com and other Stayhealthy partners.
``The acquisition of an industry leader like the Center for Health Information tremendously strengthens our ability to increase the scope and maximize the impact of Stayhealthy's innovative Web-enabled products and services. This will significantly expand Stayhealthy's revenue opportunities. At the same time, CHI can expand its service offerings and bring enhanced value to its customers by accessing Stayhealthy's technology and leveraging our extensive direct-to-consumer marketing and distribution channels,'' said Collins.
``As a result of the acquisition, Stayhealthy is also pleased to add PharMerica and Bergen Brunswig to its distinguished list of top-tier corporate shareholders.''
Accredited by the American Council of Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmaceutical education, CHI provides traditional and multimedia educational programs designed for health care organizations, payers and the pharmaceutical industry. Additionally, CHI is affiliated with numerous other accredited organizations to provide Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education and nursing continuing education programs.
``Joining Stayhealthy, Inc. presents an ideal opportunity for the Center for Health Information because Stayhealthy's business model, consumer and clinical marketing strategies and strong brand concept are uniquely complementary to CHI's programs and services,'' said Dr. Chamberlain. ``Integrating the business models of both companies substantially enhances Stayhealthy and CHI's opportunities to achieve profitability.''
``PharMerica's ability to create direct to consumer programs as well as our competitiveness in our field is greatly enhanced by our association with Stayhealthy. Stayhealthy combined with CHI creates many more marketing channels and opportunities for us,'' said Carpenter.
Stayhealthy's products include the BC1 Body Composition and Calorie Tracker, a simple desktop device that allows users to accurately monitor their body composition and measure caloric burn. An essential tool for any weight management or fitness program, the BC1 works with Stayhealthy software to connect users to the Stayhealthy Web site at www.stayhealthy.com through their existing Internet connection and view performance graphs, news and other personalized information in a secure, password protected environment.
The acquisition allows Stayhealthy to develop marketing initiatives integrating CHI with Stayhealthy's partners, which include Bergen Brunswig Corporation, Teletech, Inc., Castle Connolly Medical Ltd., Wellmed, Dell Computer Corp., eNutrition, eHealthInsurance, RnetHealth.com, AFAA (Aerobic and Fitness Association of America), Spinning and sports and entertainment celebrity spokespersons.
Stayhealthy is leading the development of Web-enabled products and services for management and measurement of weight, blood pressure and heart rate, hearing loss, vision and colorblindness and respiratory function. Created for consumer and clinical use, the company's leading-edge products and services facilitate better communication and increase efficiencies between doctors and patients and health care facilities, reduce the need for in-person appointments and improve opportunities for early illness detection. In doing so, Stayhealthy's comprehensive home monitoring programs create mutually beneficial opportunities for a wide variety of industries and professionals such as self-insured employers, physicians, dieticians, nutritionists, fitness trainers, health club owners, insurers and others.
Headquartered in Chesapeake, Va., the Center for Health Information (CHI) is a pharmaceutical care management organization providing pharmaceutical consulting and clinical support services to the pharmaceutical industry, health care organizations, payers, and consumers. CHI's primary mission is to promote appropriate pharmaceutical prescribing, improve medication compliance, and optimize pharmaceutical outcomes by providing multimedia educational programming, comprehensive call center support services, and professional and consumer focused drug information services. For more information, contact CHI at 757/483-6117 or visit the CHI Web site at www.center4healthinfo.com.
Headquartered in Monrovia, Calif., Stayhealthy is a leader in developing and marketing Web-enabled products and services that empower consumers to screen, assess and monitor their health. The company's proprietary programs are accessed through its comprehensive health Web site that features a comprehensive drug database, original health, nutrition and fitness content, and e-commerce. For more information, contact Stayhealthy at 626/256-6152 or visit the Stayhealthy Web site at www.stayhealthy.com.
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Contact:
Stayhealthy
Peter Bylsma, 626/256-6152 |
