Healthline Networks and GE healthymagination Launch Healthline BodyMaps™, the First Human Body 3-D Visual Search Tool

SAN FRANCISCO and BARRINGTON, Ill., May 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Healthline Networks, the fastest growing provider of intelligent health information services, and GE healthymagination, a $6 billion commitment to bring better health to more people, today announced the launch of Healthline BodyMaps, a new 3-D visual search tool for consumers. BodyMaps is an interactive human body that allows consumers to navigate male and female anatomy, view systems and organs down to their smallest parts and explore in detail how the body works. It transforms the body into a rich, visual learning platform with Medically Guided™ search capabilities and links to related information including videos, animations, learning centers and wellness guides. Healthline and GE healthymagination created BodyMaps in partnership with Visible Productions, which produced the 3-D modeling and graphics for the new search platform. BodyMaps will initially be available on Healthline.com.

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The BodyMaps search platform will include the following functionality:

• Interactive experience: 3-D modeling of the human anatomy; use a mouse to rotate, view and search body systems, organs and detailed cross-sections for information; watch animations of functions, even at the molecular level
• Search and find: Features 964 different views of the body; uses Healthline's robust Medically Guided search platform; each page has clinically-reviewed content including in-depth learning centers, a vast video library, animations, articles, Staying Healthy wellness tips, GE medical images and links to more information
• High-quality 3-D images: The most rich, vibrant 3-D anatomical models available—created by Visible Productions, the company responsible for the detailed medical images featured on The Dr. Oz Show, ABC World News with Diane Sawyer, and Good Morning America
• Simplified health terms and definitions: Maps thousands of anatomical and clinical terms to simple consumer-friendly synonyms such as "knee cap" in place of "patella" or "tail bone" in place of "coccyx"
• Wellness and prevention tips: Targeted content to help users learn how to stay strong and healthy; for example, the coronary artery page features information on high cholesterol, related heart conditions, recommended cardiovascular exercise and heart healthy recipes
• Social Media Tools: Links for users to share any BodyMaps view or content

"A picture tells a thousand words and BodyMaps tells a powerful story about personal wellbeing," said West Shell III, chairman and chief executive officer of Healthline Networks. "It's unlike anything else on the web—BodyMaps uses 3-D models with our medically guided search to immediately connect consumers with information about their bodies and conditions in a personalized way.  Consumers have a compelling new way to understand how the body works and visualize better health."  

BodyMaps is free to consumers, widely accessible, and does not require any download or additional viewing applications. Future enhancements to BodyMaps will include mobile and tablet extensions, predictive views of what happens to the body based on human behavior, diseases and specific conditions, including topics like how the body changes during pregnancy, how cancer tumors grow and what happens as the body ages.

"Empowering patients to manage their own health is one of our healthymagination priorities. Improving the physician/patient dialog is an important step in helping patients to do this," said Michael Barber, vice president of healthymagination. "BodyMaps anatomical modeling brings both patients and physicians new tools to improve communication and overall healthcare."

"Doctors appreciate that the role of the patient has changed. They are smarter and more involved in their care, and they are using the Internet to research treatment options, learn about medications, and gain insights into information shared by their doctors," said Dr. Michael Roizen, author of the RealAge and YOU books. "Seeing is believing, and when it comes to understanding our bodies, seeing is learning. Patients can use innovative visuals like this to better manage their health."

The BodyMaps platform will be rolled out to a number of Healthline Networks partners in the second half of 2011 and is also available for licensing, integration into sites across the web, custom advertising solutions, and in-office applications for healthcare providers. BodyMaps can be found on Healthline.com.

About Healthline Networks

Healthline Networks is the fastest growing provider of intelligent health information services, enabling 100 million consumers a month to make more confident, informed healthcare decisions. The company's proprietary consumer healthcare taxonomy, the largest of its kind, powers a suite of intelligent health search, content and advertising services. Combining advanced search technology with deep medical expertise, Healthline partners with a network more than 50 trusted destination sites that include publishers, portals, search engines, employers and health plans. Headquartered in San Francisco and ranked #54 in Deloitte's 2010 Technology Fast 500, Healthline is backed by Aetna, GE/NBC Peacock Fund, Investor Growth Capital, Kaiser Permanente, Reed Elsevier, U.S. News & World Report, and VantagePoint Venture Partners. For more information, visit http://www.healthline.com.

About GE

GE is a diversified infrastructure, finance and media company taking on the world's toughest challenges. From aircraft engines and power generation to financial services, medical imaging, and television programming, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs about 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, please visit the company's website at www.ge.com.

About healthymagination

healthymagination is GE's $6 billion commitment that was launched in May 2009. Our "healthymagination" vision for the future invites the world to join us on our journey as we continuously develop innovations focused on reducing costs, increasing access and improving quality and efficiency around the world. For more information, visit www.healthymagination.com.

About Visible Productions

Visible Productions creates 3-D medical animations and multimedia projects for a wide range of clients, including pharmaceutical companies, medical device companies, and healthcare organizations. VP's medical animations and programs shine a light on concepts in a way that's impossible to convey by conventional means. Visible Productions' 3-D animations have been featured on several other broadcasts in addition to The Dr. Oz Show, including World News with Diane Sawyer, Good Morning America, and The Oprah Winfrey Show. For more information, visit www.visibleproductions.com.

SOURCE Healthline Networks