| << Back |
| WebMD Announces Next-Generation Consumer Health Portal |
WebMD Provides Free Personal Health Record for Every American NEW YORK, Jan. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- WebMD Health Corp. (Nasdaq: WBMD) today announced the next generation of its leading consumer health information portal, together with free, widespread access to its WebMD Personal Health Record. The new portal will enrich the user experience for the more than 35 million people who turn to the WebMD Health network each month. A preview of the new site can be accessed on the homepage of WebMD.com or at www.pv.webmd.com. The new WebMD health portal introduces the next level of personalization, information, community and care that empowers people to make more informed health decisions. In addition, the new initiative creates opportunities for expanded sponsored promotion, and serves to increase overall WebMD traffic through improved external search engine optimization. "We are proud to introduce the next generation of WebMD which builds on our rich heritage of delivering the most trusted health information for consumers and physicians," said Wayne Gattinella, President and CEO, WebMD. "This marks a company-wide investment made over more than 18 months in advanced technology, design, data profiling and new content development." As part of the new portal, WebMD will provide every American with access to its Personal Health Record as part of WebMD Health Manager, a free service that enables consumers to securely store and maintain their personal health history. WebMD Health Manager provides the health assessment tools that enable people to learn their personal health score and take a more active role in managing their families' health. The next generation WebMD health portal provides new capabilities across four major areas: Personalization WebMD Health Search -- The new WebMD Health Search delivers the highest level of relevant search results, further enabling people to refine their search by treatment, prevention, symptom and related conditions. In addition, WebMD "HealthScan" provides a set of pre-selected editorial recommendations that span more than 1,000 major health topics. WebMD Symptom Checker -- WebMD Symptom Checker features a new interactive graphic interface with advanced clinical decision-support rules to help people pinpoint potential conditions associated with their physical symptoms. WebMD Symptom Checker was created by experienced group of WebMD physicians trained in the development of clinical decision support applications using the latest standards of evidence-based medicine. Expanded Information Health, Wellness and Lifestyle Centers -- The new WebMD portal makes it even easier to find the most current health information with more than 60 new health, wellness and lifestyle centers. Each center features newly organized and medically reviewed information to locate the top articles, news, community features and health assessments for each topic. Health Guides -- Anchored within each Health Center, the WebMD Health Guide is designed to assist a person through the most current symptom, diagnosis, treatment and care information related to that health topic. These unique guides were created by the WebMD editorial staff of professional health writers in collaboration with our proprietary physician network of over 8,000 practicing doctors across the country. Health Video -- Over 1,300 new broadcast-quality health videos are featured within each of the Health & Wellness Centers. WebMD Videos feature real stories and expert interviews and are produced specifically for Internet viewing, with the consistent high-level WebMD editorial standards. In addition, the popular WebMD Daily features an original video health story each day on the new WebMD home page. Community Community Centers -- The new WebMD Community Centers are designed to help people benefit from the experiences of others who share the same health interests. Community Centers are featured in each of the 60 new WebMD Health Centers and connect to over 140 expert-led and peer-to-peer message boards. Expert Blogs -- Expert physicians and patients alike chronicle their experiences with one another in the new WebMD health blogs. The blogs deepen WebMD's community experience by giving an even greater understanding of living with and treating health conditions. Care WebMD Health Manager -- As part of the WebMD Health Manager, WebMD's free Personal Health Record enables people to store and maintain their comprehensive health history in a secure, centralized location. With the WebMD health risk assessment, people can compare their personal health score to their peers and track their progress against a personalized WebMD health plan. In addition, a personalized report is provided with potential health risks to discuss with the doctor. Finding, Selecting and Connecting with a Physician -- Through the WebMD proprietary database that includes virtually every practicing physician across the country, people have the ability to find a physician across any specialty, as well as connect with a physician for an appointment with the new online application. "Our new consumer health portal delivers an unprecedented level of personalization with an unparalleled user experience," said David Gang, Executive Vice President. "Throughout 2007, we will continue to expand the new services and capabilities of the WebMD site." About WebMD WebMD Health Corp. (Nasdaq: WBMD) is the leading provider of health information services, serving consumers, physicians, healthcare professionals, employers and health plans through our public and private online portals and health-focused publications. WebMD Health Corp. is a subsidiary of Emdeon Corporation (Nasdaq: HLTH). The WebMD Health Network reaches more than 35 million visitors a month through its leading owned and operated health sites that include WebMD Health, Medscape, MedicineNet, eMedicine, eMedicine Health, RxList and theHeart.org. All statements contained in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements, including those regarding: the amount and timing of the benefits expected from the transactions referred to in this press release; future deployment of applications; and other potential sources of additional revenue. These statements are based on WebMD's current plans and expectations and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual future events or results to be different than those described in or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include those relating to: market acceptance of WebMD's products and services; WebMD's ability to form and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with customers and strategic partners; and changes in economic, political or regulatory conditions or other trends affecting the healthcare, Internet and information technology industries. Further information about these matters can be found in WebMD's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. WebMD expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
SOURCE WebMD Health Corp. |
| "Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding WebMD Health's business which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report or Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year. |