higi and IMPOWER Announce Partnership to Advance the Power of Behavioral Telehealth with Biometric and Lifestyle Data

CHICAGO, April 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- IMPOWER physicians supporting Medicaid patients in Central Florida are setting a new clinical standard in telehealth thanks to a new partnership with higi.  

By leveraging the higi platform, IMPOWER patients can routinely track key health measurements, such as blood pressure, weight, pulse and body mass index, and, when they opt in, share them with IMPOWER clinicians through a quick and convenient visit to a local retail location at no cost. By leveraging this data, IMPOWER clinicians are gaining greater insights into their patients' health statuses, which is particularly helpful when e-prescribing medication during virtual consultations.  

"Higi provides a unique opportunity for healthcare providers to engage their patients between visits and receive real-time biometric and activity data, which is especially important when dealing with chronic conditions," said Dr. Khan Siddiqui, Chief Medical and Technology Officer of higi. "Our partnership with IMPOWER is only the beginning; we look forward to building relationships with telehealth providers across the country to advance their care management efforts and continue our mission of empowering consumers to own their health by understanding their key health stats."

Teen and adult patients will register for higi at any of the 981 convenient retail locations state-wide, opt in to share their vital statistics with their IMPOWER physician, and check in for free anytime at a higi station. IMPOWER physicians will require their patients to check in and share their vital statistics before an appointment and patients have the option to check in, without cost, as frequently as they'd like between appointments. Regular data collection provides insights into individual health trends which can help clinicians track the success of certain treatments and improve patient wellness overall. The improved ability to track health measurements made possible by higi helps IMPOWER clinicians encourage their patients to stay active in managing their own health while also providing their clinicians the invaluable health data needed to make crucial care decisions.

Higi is the leading omni-channel community engagement platform with web, mobile and health stations in nearly 10,000 retail locations across the U.S. At an FDA-cleared higi station, consumers can conveniently and securely track their biometric data such as blood pressure, pulse, weight and body mass index free of charge. The higi platform also allows the integration of more than 70 wearable devices that track personal activity data in real time. This enables a highly accurate analysis of individual key health indicators over time and empowers individuals to take charge of improving their own health outcomes while sharing more accurate and relevant data with their health care providers and those they trust.

"We are excited to set a new clinical standard in telehealth through our partnership with higi," said IMPOWER president and CEO Anna Baznik. "With higi, we have a unique opportunity to empower our patients to take an active role in their health leading up to and between appointments, which will help advance our work to remove barriers that keep people from seeking the care they need."

About higi:

Higi's mission is to get consumers to take small but meaningful steps to create lasting health habits. Its unique, retail, omni-channel community health engagement platform gives consumers the power to collect (and, when they opt-in, share) their health and activity data with trusted partners and communities.

The higi platform includes the nation's largest single network of health stations in the U.S. that millions of consumers access. The platform includes the station, web, and mobile app platform.  Higi stations are HIPAA-compliant, FDA 510k Class II medical devices that provide a secure real-time flow of information with multiple screening and tracking modalities, incentives and rewards. This 360-degree, cross-device ecosystem meets consumers where they are (in retail, mobile, home) and enables healthcare stakeholders to better engage with consumers and patients, creating access and actionable insights that motivate and empower individuals in simple, fun and rewarding ways.  For more information, visit us at higi.com and follow us on Twitter @higi. In addition, prospective partner developers can learn more about higi's API by visiting developer.higi.com.

About IMPOWER:  

IMPOWER is a leading, non-profit mental health and child well-being organization dedicated to empowering the lives of those in need by offering personal attention, counseling, assistance and inspiration to help them reach their full potential and achieve individual success. No matter what barriers an individual may have encountered, IMPOWER provides the tools necessary to overcome obstacles and achieve goals.

Founded in 1994 originally as Intervention Services, Inc., IMPOWER is rooted in Central Florida with established service offices in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Brevard, Volusia and Polk Counties. Each year they serve more than 9,000 individuals and families in the home, schools and community-based settings through a continuum of services dedicated to helping individuals and families acquire the skills and tools needed to lead safe, healthy, meaningful and productive lives.

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