InteliHealth, Inc. Launches Into Exploding Information Industry With The PointCast Network, Intelligent Information Inc., And AccuWeather
BLUE BELL, PA, December 2, 1996 — (NYSE: ΑET) Inteli-Health, Inc., a
joint venture formed by Aetna U.S. Healthcare and Johns
Hopkins, has teamed with the PointCast Network,
Intelligent Information Incorporated, and AccuWeather to
launch state-of-the-art products which provide consumers
with access to timely health information. InteliHealth
has also signed an agreement to provide CompuServe with
content for its interactive health service.
The PointCast Network
InteliHealth has developed a health channel with The
PointCast Network, the leader in broadcast news via the
Internet.
"One of the fundamental goals of creating
InteliHealth was to provide consumers with access to
comprehensive yet understandable health care
information," said Thomas Durovsik, president of
InteliHealth. "Through the PointCast Network,
consumers can customize the health information they want,
and have timely information readily available."
Health categories have been organized topically (general
health, women’s health, men’s health, physical
fitness and air quality) to allow consumers to easily
access the health information they desire. Consumers will
also be able to click through to InteliHealth’s
soon-to-be-launched World Wide website from the
PointCast program.
Intelligent Information Incorporated (III)InteliHealth
has teamed with III to provide consumers with customized
health content through alphanumeric pagers, PCS handsets,
personal digital assistants (PDAs), laptop/palmtop
computers and other wireless devices.
"Providing compelling health information to
end-users of wireless devices is a commitment we’ve
made at Intelligent Information Incorporated," said
Stephen G. Maloney, president of III. "The inclusion
of Johns Hopkins health content obtained through the
InteliHealth relationship gives us a truly significant
source of meaningful information to help us meet that
goal."
The relationship with III gives InteliHealth access to
the dynamic wireless information services industry,
currently estimated at more than 40,000,000 users.
Consumers will now be able to receive timely health
headlines from InteliHealth’s news desk on their
alphanumeric pagers through a new service from Panasonic
and Axcess Global. InteliHealth and III developed this
service, which is currently available in retail stores in
11 western states with nationwide service planned.
AccuWeather
InteliHealth and AccuWeather, Inc. have co-developed
national reports for pollen and pollution levels on a
daily basis that are currently available to consumers via
The PointCast Network, as well as through
InteliHealth’s website. Consumers will be able to
access pollen and pollution data for 50 individual cities
across the United States.
"AccuWeather has pioneered many products and
services designed to meet the public’s need for
precise, accurate and timely information," commented
Dr. Joel N. Myers, AccuWeather president and founder.
"We are very pleased to make this valuable health
information available to the public as part of the team
of other innovative leaders such as InteliHealth,
PointCast, Panasonic and III."
Healthy Home Catalog
The Healthy Home catalog was developed by InteliHealth
for consumers looking for high-quality products for
specific health conditions. InteliHealth recently mailed
over 400,000 copies of the first issue of the catalog,
which focused primarily on asthma and allergies. The
products available through the current catalog assist
with reduction of allergy and asthma symptoms, as well as
promote a cleaner, healthier home.
"This catalog specifically addresses the needs of
consumers with allergies and asthma by focusing on
products that can improve health conditions in individual
households through improved air and water quality, and a
reduction in allergen levels such as dust mites, pet hair
and mold," said Joel Kahn, MD, chief medical officer
of InteliHealth.
InteliHealth will continue to provide products in
upcoming issues of its consumer-oriented catalog that
will focus on the health needs of consumers. Catalog
issues will cover a range of health-related topics from
sports medicine to stress and anxiety.
CompuServe
InteliHealth has signed an agreement with CompuServe to
provide an interactive health service to the more than 4
million global CompuServe users, scheduled to begin in
January 1997.
Background
Formed in early 1996 as a unique enterprise between
managed care and academic medicine, InteliHealth is a
joint venture between U.S. Healthcare, now Aetna U.S.
Healthcare, and Johns Hopkins to distribute multi-media
consumer health information.
Johns Hopkins is one of the nation’s oldest and best
known academic medical centers. Based on a 44-acre campus
in downtown Baltimore, The Johns Hopkins Medical
Institutions consist of the 107-year-old Johns Hopkins
Hospital, consistently ranked one of the best in the
nation, along with three health-related divisions of The
Johns Hopkins University – the schools of medicine,
nursing and public health. Hopkins’ faculty annually
receive more biomedical research support from the federal
government than the faculty at any other university. In
addition to Hopkins Hospital, The Johns Hopkins Health
System includes Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center,
along with satellite clinics, physician networks, and a
home care service.
InteliHealth provides health information to consumers in
a variety of formats ranging from its soon-to-be-launched
website on the Internet, to pager/wireless systems,
computer screen-saver programs, and a consumer health
catalog, which features condition-specific products to
consumers. InteliHealth also licenses customized medical
content to a variety of business partners, ranging from
on-line services, corporate websites and media
companies. Johns Hopkins is the principal authority
behind the content InteliHealth distributes.
For more information about Aetna Inc., please visit the company's website at
www.aetna.com.
|
