OMAHA, Neb., Jan. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Omaha-based SimplyWell will be presented to President Barack Obama as an example of "what works" in improving health care in the United States.

Former Speaker of the House and Founder of the Center for Healthcare Transformation, Newt Gingrich hosted a special event January 26 at the National Press Club entitled, "Healthcare that Works: Answering President Obama's Challenge of Finding What Works." Joined by a group of physicians and healthcare experts from across the nation, the group focused on the Obama challenge to find "what works" in health care today. They looked at Medicare, Medicaid, healthcare information technology and the range of healthcare programs and asked "do they work?" SimplyWell was selected as one of ten examples out of one hundred case studies that exemplify the "what works" part of President Obama's challenge.

The case study featured was the Greater Omaha Packing Company, Inc. (GOP). GOP has annual sales of nearly $1 billion and is ranked 5th in beef processing nationally. Since implementing SimplyWell in 2001, GOP has experienced significant improvement in employee engagement as well as measurable clinical improvement.

Founder and President of SimplyWell, James T. Canedy, MD, attributed the group's success to giving employees the right information at the right time as it relates to their health.

"By engaging patients in their own health and providing them the appropriate tools, they can manage their health more effectively," said Dr. Canedy. "Our studies show that a higher engagement rate in one's health drives a trend of decreasing risk and cost. That is what SimplyWell focuses on".

Nearly 90% of GOP's employees have elected to participate in SimplyWell in exchange for a comprehensive group medical insurance program. This program includes lower deductible and out-of-pocket employee expenses with a minimal employee contribution to their health plan premium costs. Their results are measured annually and show a significant shift in both the risk and cost of health expenses.

Repeat participants over the past five years have experienced a 27% improvement in normal blood pressure readings while 16.7% fewer participants have elevated total cholesterol and 41.3% participants have decreased elevated glucose levels. Since 2001 this group has experienced an average health care cost increase of only 2.4%, far below the national average. As part of their future plans, GOP is opening an onsite clinic staged with qualified medical professionals to continue this successful program. SimplyWell offers the only fully application-based program that is combined with the delivery of disease prevention management services that improves the participant's health outcomes and reduces the associated health and medical costs. SimplyWell's capabilities in integrating the care of multiple diseases and conditions enhance the outcomes of participants by taking a coordinated, participant-centric approach focusing on individual risks and conditions.

About SimplyWell

Since its inception in 1998, SimplyWell has dedicated its resources to provide employers and participants with the most comprehensive online health management solutions available. Headquartered in Omaha, Neb., SimplyWell provides intervention services that address the participant's primary health issues as well as the individual's associated future health risks. For more information, visit the SimplyWell website at www.simplywell.com or contact SimplyWell at 4242 Farnam St., Suite 270, Omaha, NE 68131 or call toll-free 1-877-991-9355.

SOURCE SimplyWell