ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. and TAMPA, Fla., Feb. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Presbyterian Health Plan, serving more than 418,000 New Mexicans, and Health Integrated Inc., a pioneer in health and condition (disease) management, today announced a collaborative effort to assist Presbyterian members with managing certain chronic medical conditions and depression. The Health Integrated Synergy Personal Health Management program provides coaching, education and support, and provides members with tools to help better manage their health and improve their quality of life in collaboration with their physician's plan of care.

Beginning this month, Health Integrated's Synergy program will be offered at no additional charge to Presbyterian's members in an effort to positively impact their health. The program addresses the patient's behavioral and emotional health along with their medical conditions to improve their quality of life.

The clinical focus of the program will be on those members who may have a diagnosis of depression or have a high likelihood of having depression as an undiagnosed comorbid condition with one or more of the following conditions: CAD, CHF, CVA, Diabetes, Cancer, Chronic Low Back Pain and Multiple Sclerosis. In addition, qualifying members of Presbyterian's Medicare population will be screened for Mild Cognitive Impairment.

A major health problem, depression afflicts an estimated 27 percent of adults in the United States. The corresponding economic burden of depression continues to skyrocket with annual costs estimated to be $83 billion. As a result, depression is quickly becoming a serious concern for employers who are losing more than $50 billion a year due to work loss, according to the Journal of Psychiatry. While symptoms of depression can occur alone, they often accompany other chronic illnesses such as those mentioned. This can cause the individual to be less interested in seeking help, caring for themselves, taking medication and monitoring his/her condition properly.

The Synergy program will include a specially trained clinician (Care Coach), who will develop a personalized coaching plan built around an individual's specific needs. The Care Coach assists the individual in setting goals they want to accomplish related to their health condition(s) and well- being (e.g., better knowledge of their condition, better communication skills, better coping skills, greater motivation) and provides tools to help the individual achieve those goals. The Coach helps the individual identify any barriers that may be preventing them from feeling the best they can and encourages them to clearly communicate with their physicians and follow their treatment plans. Presbyterian will offer this program to plan members who meet specific requirements.

"The Health Integrated program focuses on enhancing individuals' relative health knowledge, motivation to follow treatment plans and psychosocial support," said Dr. Sam Toney, vice chairman and chief medical officer at Health Integrated. "We also monitor treatment plans and ensure consistency against evidence-based guidelines as a means to improve clinical and financial outcomes as well as improving productivity in the workplace."

About Presbyterian Health Plan

Presbyterian Health Plan serves more than 418,000 New Mexicans, and is part of the Presbyterian Healthcare Services family. Presbyterian Healthcare Services was founded in New Mexico in 1908, and is the state's only private, not-for-profit healthcare system. As New Mexico's largest provider of healthcare, Presbyterian includes seven hospitals, the state's largest health plan, a strong and growing medical group and more. Presbyterian employs more than 9,000 people throughout New Mexico who serve to improve the health of individuals, families and communities.

About Health Integrated

Health Integrated, Inc. pioneers health and condition management programs, resulting in better mental and physical health for individuals across the care continuum. Driven by a strong entrepreneurial culture, Health Integrated combines behavioral health and modification expertise with advanced analytic and mass personalization technology to deliver tailored outcomes-driven behavioral, medical and disease management solutions for health plans, employers and government organizations. As a result, healthcare economics, quality of life, productivity and clinical outcomes are all improved. Founded in 1996, Tampa, FL-based Health Integrated is URAC Accredited for Disease Management, Case Management and Health Utilization Management programs. The company has also received National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Patient and Practitioner Oriented Accreditation for its award-winning Depression Care Coaching Program. For more information, visit http://www.healthintegrated.com/.

   CONTACTS:    Todd Sandman, Presbyterian Health Plan   505-923-6578 or tsandman@phs.org    Mike Miniati, Health Integrated   877-267-7577 or MMiniati@HealthIntegrated.com   

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Health Integrated, Inc.

CONTACT: Todd Sandman of Presbyterian Health Plan, +1-505-923-6578, ortsandman@phs.org, or Mike Miniati of Health Integrated, +1-877-267-7577, orMMiniati@HealthIntegrated.com

Web site: http://www.healthintegrated.com/