Embark Health Combines Solution for End of Life Planning Dilemmas With Innovative Fundraising for Worthy Causes

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Feb. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Embark Health, Inc., today announced the launch of an innovative business model that combines the long-sought solution to the difficult problem of end of life healthcare planning with a means for worthy healthcare causes to raise needed funds.

Embark's Advance Directive Solution (ADS) brings together the elements needed for advance directives to work the way they were intended, so that individuals receive the healthcare they want at the end of life or during serious illnesses when they cannot speak for themselves.

When people sign up to be members of the ADS at www.embarkhealth.com/ADS, Embark will donate a percentage of the enrollment fee to a worthy healthcare cause.

"At Embark Health we believe that every company can and should incorporate philanthropy in their business model to support the resources that are vital to our communities," said Ken Burdick, Chairman of the Board of Embark Health. "Now when individuals do the right thing and plan for the future with the Advance Directive Solution, non-profit healthcare organizations will receive a new revenue stream to fund their research and charitable services."

This innovative approach to raising funds for much needed research, education and community outreach comes at a time when donations to non-profit organizations have declined significantly due to the economy. In fact, 52 percent of charities experienced a significant drop in spring 2009 donations, according to The Chronicle of Philanthropy.

Available in all 50 states, the Advance Directive Solution is a comprehensive online system for legal documents that express patients' wishes for healthcare when they cannot speak for themselves, augmented by a comprehensive system to ensure that the advance directive is actually followed. This system includes:

• 24/7 online and telephonic support.
• Three levels of quality checks to ensure that the advance directive is completed clearly and correctly.
• Multiple communication channels with healthcare providers to get the advance directive to the healthcare team when it is needed.
• Legal counsel in the event of a dispute.
• Education for the member's Circle of Care – healthcare team, family, and healthcare agent – so they are fully informed about the location of the advance directive and its terms.

Although laws have been put in place since 1991 giving Americans the right to have their healthcare wishes respected at the end of life, only one in five people today have an advance directive specifying their choices. Most individuals believe that completing an advance directive and filing it away in their homes is enough, but there are many common problems that can arise. For example, the documents may not be readily available when they are needed, be up-to-date with new established laws, or the family and healthcare agent may not understand what the patient really wanted.

"We are dedicated to making advance directives valid, clear, up-to-date, and accessible when needed, so that the family and the healthcare agent know the patient's decisions before a crisis occurs," said Michael Brouthers, CEO of Embark Health.

Individuals can sign up directly to become members of the Advance Directive Solution for an annual membership fee, or they may enroll through sponsorships offered by their health plan, hospital, physician, employer, association, or charitable organization.  

For more information about the Advance Directive Solution, visit www.embarkhealth.com/ADS, or call 800-944-0451.

About Embark Health

The mission of Embark Health, Inc. (www.embarkhealth.com) is to improve the end of life process for patients, families, loved ones, caregivers, and healthcare providers. Embark's Advance Directive Solution (ADS) is an online service (with telephonic assistance available) to help people develop the appropriate legal documents that communicate their healthcare choices if they are unable to speak for themselves. Embark's ADS stores the document, contacts members if the laws change and their directive needs updating, notifies the people that the member has determined should have this information, and works with healthcare providers to get the directive in the patient's medical chart when it is needed. For more information, contact 800-944-0451.

SOURCE Embark Health, Inc.