SAN DIEGO, Feb. 14, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Healthyroads, Inc., the wellness subsidiary of leading personal health improvement company American Specialty Health (ASH), has been chosen by Fort Smith, Ark.-based Golden Ventures to provide the Healthyroads Coaching Program for Weight Management to a select group of employees. Golden Ventures manages benefits for more than 35,000 employees of nursing homes and eldercare service businesses.
Golden Ventures employees enrolled in specified employer-sponsored health plans and who are considered obese (or overweight with chronic conditions such as high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes) are eligible to enroll in the coaching program. Obesity and overweight are measured in terms of the employees' body mass index.
Through the program, Healthyroads' registered dietitians, certified personal trainers, registered nurses, and other health professionals provide telephone-based motivational and goal-oriented coaching to help members make better nutrition, exercise, and stress management choices. A variety of online tools providing e-communication and health status trackers help members work toward their individual health and wellness goals.
"Obesity and overweight can be linked to many serious health conditions and are a significant cause of companies' rising health care costs," noted ASH chairman, president, and chief executive officer George DeVries. "We applaud Golden Ventures' implementation of this coaching program as a way to improve employee health over the long term and help keep health care costs in check."
"As a health care company, the health and well-being of our own employees is of particular concern to us," said Terri Burt, director of benefits for Golden Ventures. "The Healthyroads Coaching Program for Weight Management enables us to provide a value-added benefit for employees that will increase satisfaction, improve productivity, and reduce health care costs."
About Golden Ventures
Golden Ventures provides administrative services on a contract basis to nursing homes and other health care companies. Services include billing, finance, human resources, information technology, government relations, marketing, and communications. Primary clients include the Golden LivingCenters and the Beverly LivingCenters.
About American Specialty Health
ASH and its subsidiaries are one of the nation's premier personal health improvement companies and provide benefit, fitness, and wellness programs to health plans, insurance carriers, employer groups, and trust funds nationwide. Healthyroads, Inc. is ASH's wellness, health education, and e-commerce subsidiary, offering award-winning coaching programs for weight management, tobacco cessation, and healthy living; the Healthyroads health risk assessment; and member discounts on more than 2,400 health and wellness products.
Based in San Diego, ASH has over 500 employees and covers more than 12 million members in benefit programs and more than 750,000 members in wellness programs. For more information, visit ASH online at ASHCompanies.com or call 800.848.3555.
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