A New Model of Healthcare is Unveiled, Offering Seniors Control, Independence and Dignity as They Age

NEW YORK, Oct. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 40 million U.S. seniors now have the ability to "age gracefully at home" due to the benefits of a subscription-based health solution launched by Virtual Health today.  Virtual Health is a service provider that delivers a suite of home-based services and lifestyle choices to consumers, going beyond healthcare to also include meals, transportation, and financial solutions.  In collaboration with leading technology and healthcare providers, this new model of care offers personalized tools and services for seniors to remain independent at home, while offering peace of mind for their loved ones.

"We are proud to begin the nationwide roll-out of Virtual Health, starting with a series of Independent Living services targeted for the overwhelming majority of seniors that want to remain at home, and extend a helping hand for the sandwich-generation care givers," said Alex Go, Chief Executive Officer of Virtual Health. "As an enabler of a physician's plan of care, we have partnered with national technology, health and daily living service providers to make it easy for mature adults to live their life as they choose in their own home."

Working directly with an individual's primary care physician, Virtual Health provides tailored solutions for varying levels of care, interactivity and real time reporting and monitoring depending on each person's health and lifestyle needs. This proactive personalized care model provides an opportunity to decrease medical costs including emergency room visits, which is important as adults over the age of 65 make more visits to the emergency room than any other age group in the U.S.

"Personalized healthcare is the way of the future. Solutions such as Virtual Health will become increasingly important as more and more seniors aim to age at home gracefully and remain active for as long as possible," said Bradford Perkins, a global authority on senior living. "The combination of state of the art technology and a responsive national care network will make Virtual Health a valuable addition to the marketplace."

Virtual Health has partnered with best-in-class technology and health service providers to shape an offering that takes into account the needs of both the healthcare provider and the individual.  As part of its service roll out, Virtual Health has selected the FDA-cleared Intel-GE Care Innovations™ Guide platform as a tool which enables providers to remotely monitor patient vital signs, such as blood pressure, weight, and glucose, and engage the patient using video-conferencing technology. SeniorBridge, a leading provider of elder care at home provides care coordination and home health services, is partnering with Virtual Health to offer a co-branded service starting in New York.  In addition, as part of its holistic approach to care, Virtual Health announces partnership agreements with Dinewise, a leading provider of prepared meals, and Life Care Funding Group, who assists people in need of funds to cover the costs of senior care.

"My independence is important to me so I was eager to be part of an early market trial for the Virtual Health system when my daughter, a SeniorBridge employee, approached me with the opportunity.  As soon as I began using the Virtual Health system, a care manager noticed a spike in my blood pressure and suggested I contact my primary care physician," said Selma Farrago, a patient involved in the New York market trial. "My doctor told me that we averted a potential health crisis by catching that early. Having the system in my home not only helps me to better understand my condition, but also reminds me to maintain a lifestyle that benefits my health."

To learn more about Virtual Health, please visit www.virtualhealth.com.

About Virtual Health

Virtual Health is a service provider of health and wellness, activities of daily living (ADL) and financial solutions to health consumers.  The company offers a portfolio of concierge-level, subscription services in partnership with national healthcare providers and best in class technology manufacturers.  Virtual Health strives to improve the health and wellness of those needing ongoing care, to enable them to stay independent and well, and to offer peace of mind to their families and caregivers. For more information about Virtual Health, please visit www.virtualhealth.com.

News Media Contacts:
Jennifer Harrington
Zeno Group for Virtual Health
212-299-8957
[email protected]

SOURCE Virtual Health