John W. Hoben wrote:
>
> Dear colleagues, (please excuse this message if it's a duplicate!)
>
> Companies and other organizations which offer entertainment value in
> providing health maintenance services and education seem to be a
> potentially high value resource.  I haven't found many with the exception
> of one company I'm very familiar called Raya Systems (at
> http://www.hhn.com on the web) which develops Super Nintendo and PC based
> games for asthma / diabetes management, tobacco avoidance and AIDS
> awareness.
>
> With many health care provider organizations and HMO's looking for ways to
> be more competitive through leveraging health care premium dollar value
> and differentiation, a trend seems to be emerging in the US.  This trend
> is really based on certain thoughts in some "old" documents (such as "the
> pursuit of happiness") where patients and health plan members are better
> off for themselves, their employers, families and their communities if
> provided the tools to manage their health status through educational
> entertainment mechanisms.  The term "Health Maintenance Individual" comes
> to mind in this new environment where information technologies play a key
> role in helping the citizen help her/him self better manage their own
> health.
>
> Does anyone have information on other companies which provide health
> maintenance education / entertainment offerings?
>
> Thanks for your help!  I'll share the findings with anyone interested.
>
> John
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