WATCHING TV CAN IMPROVE PATIENT HEALTH

New Programming from The Patient Channel and The Newborn Channel are Helping Hospitals Keep Patients Healthy

New York, (September 21, 2010) The Patient Channel and the Newborn Channel, part of the nation’s largest hospital-based health television network, currently airing in over 2,700 hospitals nationwide, today announced the addition of twelve exciting new programs designed to promote patient wellness and parenting success.

A survey commissioned by the Patient Channel* shows that 43% of Americans felt that they didn’t receive enough information regarding their own or a loved one’s condition during their last hospital stay, and hospitalized patients often have difficulty getting health information at the very time they want it most – at the point of care.

The new programs, which range in content from helping dads become more involved in infant care to how patients can finally quit smoking, deliver important health information and advice in an entertaining and engaging format that positively affects patient lifestyle decisions upon discharge.

All programs are developed by the Patient Channel and the Newborn Channel, with the clinical guidance and expertise of its distinguished medical advisors and review board. Videos are shot on location and feature national health experts and patient stories told by the patients and their physicians. This unique storytelling helps patients better understand and cope with what is required to manage their care.

“With the increases in fiscal restrictions and regulations it is more difficult then ever for doctors and nurses to give each patient the personal care and attention they would like and as a result, the patient may miss out on important information,” said Dave Ross, Chief Operating Officer, Interactivation Health Networks. “We’ve added programs designed to help hospitals not only meet requirements for regulatory compliance and reimbursement but supply patients with a source of poignant and credible advice. ”

“The Patient Channel and Newborn Channel provide our nurses with the resources they need to supplement their patient and family education. It also gives us valuable tools to help us meet some of our regulatory requirements to provide mandated education to our patients.“ Said Beth Quinn-O’Neill, Director of Clinical and Community Education at Holy Name Medical Center, Teaneck, NJ, which has been participating in the network since 2002.

The following programs have been recently added and are now available in all participating hospitals:

NEWBORN CHANNEL

• Mommy Calls-information on when new moms should call the doctor
• Mommy Don’t Smoke-A practical guide to quitting
• Shaken Baby Syndrome-Information on how to avoid a preventable tragedy
• Special Care for Preemies-A look at the special needs of premature newborns
• Baby’s Clean Home-Information about creating a safe and clean home for babies
• Keeping Baby Safe-Important safety information for new parents
• Dad’s Role with Baby-Pointers for Dads new to parenting

PATIENT CHANNEL

• Men’s Health: Advice to Baby Boomers-Health issues unique to male Baby Boomers
• Women’s Health: Advice to Baby Boomers-Health issues unique to Female Boomers
• Stop Smoking Today- A practical guide to quitting
• Living With Heart Disease-How to resume life after a heart attack and avoid readmission
• Preventing Flu and Pneumonia-The latest information, just in time for the cold and flu season

For more information, full descriptions of the new programs as well as all other Patient Channel and Newborn Channel programming, please visit thepatientchannel.com and thenewbornchannel.com.

*The Patient Channel Hospital Patient Education Survey was commissioned through ORC International.  The survey was conducted among 1,025 American adults [509 men and 516 women] living in private households, age 18 years and older.  The overall margin of error for the survey was +/- 3%.

About Interactivation Health Networks

The Patient Channel and the Newborn Channel are the most comprehensive in-hospital TV networks. Delivered directly to patient rooms and waiting areas, the Channels provide viewers with original, award-winning health programs and advertisers with the unique ability to integrate brand messaging with content that is compelling and endorsed by healthcare professionals. The Newborn Channel broadcasts baby care and postpartum programming for new parents, reaching 60% of new moms. The Patient Channel features both condition-specific and preventative health programming to empower and inform patients. The channels are currently available in over 2,700 hospitals nationwide. For more information, visit www.thenewbornchannel.com and www.thepatientchannel.com

Media Contact Information:

For more information or to speak with an executive of the company, please contact:
Wendy Simmons or Josh Kail, Vendeloo
Ph: 718.522.9873
E-mail: wendy@vendeloo.com or josh@vendeloo.com

NEWBORN CHANNEL PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS

Dad’s Role With Baby

It’s important for new Dads to understand that they can make a difference in a newborn’s life. In our program, Dad’s Role With Baby, new families learn how Dad bonds with baby and tips for helping Mom get back on her feet faster.

Keeping Baby Safe

In Keeping Baby Safe, parents will learn about co-sleeping and other sleep issues, giving medication and what to do to help prevent injuries.

Shaken Baby Syndrome: A Preventable Tragedy

Our program, Shaken Baby Syndrome: A Preventable Tragedy, features Dr.Cindy W. Christian, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia who is a member of  the American Academy of Pediatrics’ section on Child Abuse and Neglect. The program discusses real patient stories, why parents sometimes shake a baby, and ways new parents can cope.

Mommy Don’t Smoke

Smoking is incredibly harmful to everyone, but especially new babies and children. In this program you’ll learn how smoking harms your baby and what you can do to keep them from being exposed to second-hand smoke.

Mommy Calls

We have developed a new short-format series called Mommy Calls based on the book of the same name written by Tanya Remer Altmann, MD, FAAP, and published by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Tanya answers some of parents’ top questions about babies.  Look for these segments between programs.

Baby’s Clean Healthy Home

When a new baby home comes home parents want everything to be perfect. Baby’s Clean Healthy Home includes information on non-toxic cleaners, the dangers of second-hand smoke, and hand washing. Help make the transition home easier with this valuable program.

Special Care for Your Preemie

Babies that arrive early need extra special care. This program discusses what parents of preemies can expect from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, or NICU, bonding with your special needs baby, and tips on bringing your preemie home.

PATIENT CHANNEL PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS

Women’s Health: Advice to Baby Boomers

In Women’s Health: Advice to Baby Boomers viewers will learn what changes to expect at mid-life, ways to avoid some of them, compensate for others and in some cases, how to accept and manage them. This program features Dr. Robin Miller, co-author of The Smart Women’s Guide to Midlife and Beyond and Dr. Mike Roizen, co-author of “You Staying Young” and other “You” series books.

Men’s Health: Advice to Baby Boomers

Today more men and women are staying active into older age and living longer. Men’s Health: Advice to Baby Boomers explores how aging impacts men’s bodies and what they can do to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle. This program discusses nutrition, exercise and how to navigate the aging process.

Stop Smoking Today

Stop Smoking Today provides an understanding of how nicotine impacts the body, its role in disease, and practical ways to quit smoking forever.

Living With Heart Disease

Heart Disease is the number one killer of both men and women in the United States. In our program, Living With Heart Disease, patients will learn how to recognize heart disease risks and symptoms, medications, cardiac rehabilitation, and ongoing management.

Preventing Flu and Pneumonia

In Preventing Flu and Pneumonia, experts stress the importance of flu and pneumonia vaccinations and discuss preventative steps you can take to stay healthy.