The Asthma And Allergy Foundation Of America And The HealthCentral Network To Develop Enhanced Internet Resources For Patients

Main Category: Respiratory / Asthma
Also Included In: Allergy;  IT / Internet / E-mail
Article Date: 18 Aug 2006 - 0:00 PDT

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The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (http://www.aafa.org) and The HealthCentral Network (http://www.TheHealthCentralNetwork.com), a Choice Media Division, announce that they will work together to create a new online resource for individuals with asthma and allergic disorders. The collaboration marries the deep health education expertise and resources of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation with The HealthCentral Network's multimedia capabilities and vast online community of patients and experts.

"This partnership with The HealthCentral Network offers us a valuable modern vehicle to disseminate our extensive library of multimedia educational materials," said Mike Tringale, M.S.M., the Foundation's Director of Marketing and Communications. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America is the leading nonprofit patient organization focused on improving the quality of life for people with asthma and allergies and provides practical information, community based services and support through a national network of chapters and support groups. "One of our first joint projects will be to create a Web site portal to create opportunities for patients, providers and caregivers in the asthma and allergy community to connect," said Tringale. "Future projects will include the development of a blog allowing our supporters to interact on topics ranging from advocacy and policy issues, asthma and allergy program funding, patient rights, treatment guidelines and more."

The HealthCentral Network's new asthma Web site at http://www.MyAsthmaCentral.com and allergy Web site at http://www.MyAsthmaCentral.com are designed to leverage the wisdom and experience of asthma and allergy sufferers to help others coping with similar challenges. Building on a base of comprehensive medical information to inform and manage asthma, the new site seeks foremost to connect the asthma community through the voice of others who have been there. Through new tools such as customizable Web sites to keep extended families up-to-date during acute episodes, and regular blogs by those who can articulate the everyday realities of living with asthma, The HealthCentral Network seeks to provide in partnership with the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America the ultimate community site to build awareness and understanding. More than 50 million individuals in the United States have allergies, and 20 million individuals have developed asthma, often triggered by or co-existing with other allergies.

"We are excited about promoting the Asthma and Allergy Foundation's award- winning educational programs, cutting edge research, and outstanding internet resources to our millions of Web site visitors on The HealthCentral Network," said Chris Schroeder, CEO and President of Choice Media. "Through this collaboration we hope to tap into the Foundation's network of local chapters and support groups to create an inspirational online community that captures the patient experience and addresses real world needs."

About The HealthCentral Network

The HealthCentral Network (http://www.aafa.org) is a division of Choice Media, Inc. and has over 30 general health and highly specific condition and wellness web properties, each committed to offering a voice in every day and personal language people can understand and connect with at critical points in their lives. Each site provides timely, interactive, in-depth, and trusted medical information, personalized tools and resources, and connections to vast communities of expertise for people seeking to engage in, manage and improve their health. The award-winning, multi-media experience combines medically-reviewed articles from doctors and researchers, as well as news, information, video and extensive engagement from every day people who have great experience and empathy in specific health areas. The Company also produces the Medical Breakthroughs television show, seen around the country.

Founded in the late 1990s, Choice Media, Inc. was recently acquired by a team of blue-chip investors including Sequoia Capital, Polaris Ventures, The Carlyle Group and Allen & Company. With a management team that combines decades of experience in interactive media and medical, science and news journalism, Choice Media, Inc. aims for the highest standards of quality, relevance and community for patients and their caregivers.

About the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), headquartered in Washington, DC, is the leading non-profit consumer and patient organization fighting asthma and allergic disease. The Foundation provides free information to the public, offers educational programs to consumers and health professionals, leads advocacy efforts to improve patient care and supports research to find cures. The Foundation's services include a toll-free hotline, counseling and educational materials, and a free caregiver magazine. For more than 50 years, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation has been a leader in fiscal responsibility and charity management and has a coveted four-star rating from Charity Navigator and is a member of the National Health Council. To learn more about The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, visit http://www.aafa.org.

The HealthCentral Network
http://www.TheHealthCentralNetwork.com

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