Healthrageous Unveils 'Accountable Health' The Missing Piece To Engage Consumers In Their Health And Achieve Accountable Care Goals

BOSTON, April 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Recognizing that Accountable Care can only succeed if consumers take responsibility for their health, Healthrageous, Inc., has unveiled the concept of Accountable Health. Unlike Accountable Care that focuses on provider behavior, Accountable Health is consumer-centric.  Accountable Health occurs when a consumer takes responsibility for modifying their lifestyle in ways that prevent or improve the management of a chronic condition, increase adherence to medication or comply with care plans that lead to optimal clinical outcomes.  Healthrageous is a leader in digital health self-management.

A significant percentage of chronic disease is due to consumer controlled lifestyle factors.  According to the World Health Organization, "If the major risk factors (including inactivity, poor nutrition, excessive alcohol consumption and smoking) for chronic disease were eliminated, at least 80% of heart disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes would be eliminated; and 40% of cancer would be prevented."

Healthrageous introduced the concept of Accountable Health to encourage awareness and dialogue around the role that consumers play in reducing risk factors and achieving health outcomes. Accountable Health fosters an environment where consumers will assertively partner with their providers.

"The overall goal of health care consumerism is to assist individuals in making more informed health and healthcare decisions that will favorably impact outcomes and lower the cost of care," said Ron Bachman, President & CEO of Healthcare Visions.

In order to support consumer health accountability -- and complement Accountable Care provisions -- Accountable Health approaches will be consumer-centric, outcomes driven, evidence-based and personalized to appeal to the in-the-moment needs and preferences of the consumer.

"When Accountable Care intersects with Accountable Health, physicians and consumers collaboratively work together on the mutual goal of improving and sustaining optimal health and its associated clinical outcomes," said Rick Lee, President and CEO, Healthrageous. "Accountable Care can only succeed if consumers are engaged. In order to improve the quality of health care and reduce cost, consumers must take control of their health. This will only increase in importance as various provisions of the Accountable Care Act gain traction."

"Accountable Health is the 'soul' of Accountable Care," added Michael Parkinson, MD, MPH, FACPM, Past President, American College of Preventive Medicine and a member of Healthrageous' Scientific Advisory Board. "An informed, empowered and engaged consumer and patient, supported to become one's best self to achieve health, wellness and quality of life, is the essence of Accountable Health." 

White Paper: Accountable Health: Accountable Care Meets Personal Health Accountability, available here http://info.healthrageous.com/accountable-health outlines how Accountable Health personalizes health and makes it relevant, engaging, timely and actionable for individuals.

Webinar: "Vanishing deductibles for Accountable Health?" on April 9 at 1 PM EDT, featuring Ron Bachman, President and CEO, Healthcare Visions, a noted expert on health consumerism, to discuss the consumerization of health care.

To register for the webinar: please visit http://info.healthrageous.com/accountablehealthwebinar

About Healthrageous, Inc.
Healthrageous, Inc. is an Accountable Health company that supports individual journeys to prevent and self-manage chronic health conditions via the web and a mobile app. It achieves superior engagement through its proprietary platform that incorporates personalized goal setting, health journey maps with gaming dynamics, timely biometric feedback and interactive digital coaching. The digital coach leverages multiple tools such as inspirational messages, recognition and incentives, challenges, social networking, trackers and reminders, and interactive educational content.

The company's solutions are based on technologies developed at the Center for Connected Health, a division of Partners HealthCare, founded by Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, teaching affiliates of Harvard Medical School. Connect: www.healthrageous.com, Twitter and LinkedIn.

SOURCE Healthrageous, Inc.