higi and Health Dialog Add Real-Time Patient Data to Deliver Precision in Population Health Management Programs

Health insights derived from real-world patient biometric data enable highly accurate health risk predictions, more informed health coaching, and precise treatment plansCHICAGO and BOSTON– April 12, 2018 – higi, a Chicago company that operates a national network of more than 11,000 health self-screening stations for population health enablement, and Health Dialog, a leading provider of integrated population health management solutions for health plans, risk-bearing providers and self-insured employers, today announced an agreement to combine real-world patient data from higi’s national network of self-screening stations with Health Dialog’s award-winning population management programs. New data-driven health insights will help health plans, providers and employers deliver highly precise, actionable health interventions to patients, which can dramatically improve the cost and health outcomes equation.higi makes it easier for consumers to measure, track and act on their health data through its network of 11,000 FDA-cleared health stations nationally located in grocery stores, club stores and pharmacies, including more than 2,300 Rite Aid pharmacies, operated by Health Dialog’s parent company, Rite Aid. These user-friendly and free self-serve stations help consumers gather health information such as blood pressure, pulse, weight and BMI. higi services are compliant with HIPAA regulations around data security and privacy and rigorously protected for the privacy and security of consumer data. higi allows consumers to control sharing of their data with explicit consent at the time of sharing.Health Dialog’s powerful analytics engine, Care Pathways, will analyze the population health data collected through higi to stratify individuals into one of nine health stages based on their progression from wellness to disease. Health Dialog will use these highly precise insights to deliver personalized health interventions to help individuals prevent or delay disease progression. Programs range from intensive chronic disease management and wellness improvement to shared decision making, all delivered through telephonic health coaching, digital engagement and health education tools and resources.“higi is thrilled to partner with Health Dialog to help targeted populations receive more personalized treatment plans through data-driven insights. We are dedicated to working with organizations, including payers, providers and employers, to provide enhanced solutions for care, and our partnership with Health Dialog will further streamline the process of connecting consumers and their data to their healthcare needs,” said Jeff Bennett, CEO of higi.  “Today’s population health programs largely use data from health events that occurred in the past or are reported once a year by members, which limit their effectiveness,” said Danielle Barrera, chief operating officer of Health Dialog. “higi’s national network of 11,000 consumer health stations adds a continuous flow of actionable, real-time patient data into our population health management programs. This information will give us the highest level of insight into the right health interventions that can prevent and delay disease progression across the populations we manage. We believe this level of insight and precision is rare and will have a dramatic and meaningful impact on health outcomes as well as health care costs.”ABOUT HIGI:higi is a population health enablement company that empowers consumers to measure, track and act on their health data. Through a nationwide network of over 11,000 FDA-cleared self-screening stations found at pharmacy retailers and other community locations and over 80 different third-party integrations, higi makes it easier to engage consumers in their health.  As the largest repository of standardized biometric data, higi’s population health solutions enable healthcare organizations to better reach targeted populations; collect biometric and other health determinant data to stratify and prioritize consumers; and motivate consumers to take specific actions at a point of care. To date, more than 45 million people have used a higi health station to conduct over 259 million biometric screenings. For more information, visit us at www.higi.com.ABOUT HEALTH DIALOG:Health Dialog is a leading provider of population health management solutions. The company works with the nation’s largest third-party payers, employers and providers to improve the health and wellness of their members, employees and patients while reducing costs and improving performance in key quality measures, such as NCQA’s HEDIS and CMS’ Stars ratings. Health Dialog’s unique capabilities include analytics, a patient portal, a multi-channel coaching platform, shared decision-making tools and a 24/7 nurse line. For more information, visit www.healthdialog.com. Health Dialog is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE:RAD).CONTACT:higi: Anna Stallmann, higi@nahigianstrategies.com, 202-660-2567Health Dialog: Shanti Skiffington, shanti.skiffington@gmail.com, 617.921.0808

higi and Rolling Strong Announce Partnership Helping Truck Drivers to be their Healthiest

11,000+ higi Health Stations Provide Nationwide Network of Support to Rolling Strong Members on the RoadCHICAGO – March 15, 2018 – higi, a population health enablement company that empowers consumers to measure, track and act on their health data, and Rolling Strong, the provider of driver wellness programs for transportation companies, their drivers, and owner-operators, today announced their partnership to deliver on-the-road access to the more than 11,000 higi self-screening health stations across America. With this partnership, higi’s health stations will provide the opportunity for drivers to measure, track and share their biometric health data as part of Rolling Strong wellness programs.“Rolling Strong has a tremendous track record of empowering companies and drivers to improve their health and wellness, and we look forward to helping Rolling Strong advance their mission to reverse the declining health of America’s commercial drivers and get them home safely,” said higi CEO Jeff Bennett. “By connecting with truck drivers at one of our 11,000 self-screening health stations across America, we can be a valuable conduit towards helping them stay their healthiest while on the road.”As a Rolling Strong partner, higi will provide free access to Rolling Strong members to measure their biometric health numbers, including blood pressure, BMI and weight, and directly integrate with the Rolling Strong platform and mobile app for seamless engagement with their overall health and wellness. Among other features, this unique integration will allow the Rolling Strong application to make personalized dining suggestions based on a user’s combination of biometric data, activity levels and geographic location.“Our partnership with higi will help us measure the success of our programs and provide a more personalized health and wellness experience for the nation’s commercial drivers,” said Steven Kane, President of Rolling Strong. “With their extensive network of health stations across America, truck drivers can conveniently complete screenings and track their progress through the Rolling Strong platform and mobile app.” ABOUT HIGI:higi is a population health enablement company that empowers consumers to measure, track and act on their health data. Through a nationwide network of over 11,000 FDA-cleared self-screening stations found at pharmacy retailers and other community locations and over 80 different third-party integrations, higi makes it easier to engage consumers in their health.  As the largest repository of standardized biometric data, higi enables healthcare organizations to better reach targeted populations; collect biometric and other health determinant data to stratify and prioritize consumers; and motivate consumers to take specific actions at a point of care. To date, more than 45 million people have used a higi health station to conduct over 259 million biometric screenings. For more information, visit us at www.higi.com.ABOUT ROLLING STRONG:The provider of driver wellness programs for transportation companies and their drivers and owner-operators, Rolling Strong promotes behavior change and provides support in the areas of Nutrition, Fitness, Sleep, Stress Management and Weight Management. Driven by its mission to reverse the declining health of America’s CDL Drivers and get them home safely, the company offers in-terminal and on-the-road solutions that target health improvement. Its customizable programs include the Rolling Strong App for drivers and administrative reporting capabilities to help carriers and drivers improve compliance with CDL medical requirements and to implement and manage their wellness initiatives. For more information, visit www.rollingstrong.com.CONTACT:higi: Anna Stallmann, higi@nahigianstrategies.com, 202-660-2567Rolling Strong: Susan Fall, susan@launchitpr.com, 858-490-1050 

higi, the Largest Collector and Repository of Blood Pressure Data, to Implement New ACC/AHA Blood Pressure Guidelines on 11,000 Stations Nationwide

New interoperable higi platform to enable retailers and healthcare organizations to better reach consumers for hypertension managementLAS VEGAS – March 6, 2018 – higi, a population health enablement company that empowers consumers to measure, track and act on their health data, today announced their commitment to implementing the new American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association (AHA) 2017 blood pressure guidelines across the 11,000 FDA-cleared higi stations at retail stores and community locations nationwide.  As the largest collector and repository of blood pressure data in the United Sates, higi is strategically-placed in the marketplace to power the new blood pressure guidelines by engaging consumers in their health, helping them understand their biometric measurements and conveniently connecting them with the appropriate care for earlier intervention and better management of hypertension treatment plans.“At higi, we are committed to helping retailers and healthcare providers better reach consumers in their health. Following the announcement of the new blood pressure guidelines, we witnessed a nearly 30% increase in the number of higi population health screenings that will be considered hypertensive,” said higi CEO Jeff Bennett. “Through our trusted partnerships with the retail community, higi is uniquely suited to deliver a convenient population health screening venue without requiring a significant increase in medical staffing to address the increased volume of patients.”The November 2017 announcement by ACC and AHA to update the blood pressure guidelines underscores the vital importance for indiviuals to know their key biometrics, particularily blood pressure, and what it means for their personal health.  Under the new guidelines, almost two-thirds (24 million) of the 39 million higi blood pressure screenings in 2017 were in the hypertensive range.  Today, every 90-seconds a higi user, which is one in every seven Americans, learns that he/she has their blood pressure in the hypertensive crisis range (BP >180/120 mmHg).“After nearly 14 years, it was important for the hypertension guidelines to be updated. An abundance of research and evidence has repeatedly demonstrated a high number of hypertension related cardiovascular events occurring in individuals that have blood pressure previously considered in the ‘pre-hypertensive’ range (BP 120/80mmHg – 140/90mmHg),” said Dr. Khan Siddiqui, higi Chief Medical Officer and Chief Technology Officer. “With this change, health organizations, including pharmacists located at convenient points of care, will be better equipped to save lives and money by preventing more strokes, cardiovascular events and kidney failure while increasing awareness of the risk of hypertension – considered one of the deadliest ‘silent killers.’”Beginning in late March 2018, higi will implement the new blood pressure guidelines at all 11,000 higi health stations across the entire North American network. As part of this announcement, educational information will be incorporated into the higi station experience, informing consumers about the new blood pressure guidelines, what it means for their personal health and how lifestyle changes can impact their overall health.Those attending HIMSS18 in Las Vegas from March 5-9 will be able to see a demonstration of the new platform at Booth #12440 and learn more about how higi and trusted retail and health partners are empowering consumers to be their healthiest through actionable data and connected care.ABOUT HIGI:higi is a population health enablement company that empowers consumers to measure, track and act on their health data. Through a nationwide network of over 11,000 FDA-cleared self-screening stations found at pharmacy retailers and other community locations and over 80 different third-party integrations, higi makes it easier to engage consumers in their health.  As the largest repository of standardized biometric data, higi enables healthcare organizations to better reach targeted populations; collect biometric and other health determinant data to stratify and prioritize consumers; and motivate consumers to take specific actions at a point of care. To date, more than 45 million people have used a higi health station to conduct over 259 million biometric screenings. For more information, visit us at www.higi.com.CONTACT: Anna Stallmann, higi@nahigianstrategies.com, 202-660-2567

higi Health Stations Now Can Connect With Electronic Health Records

App developed in partnership with Rush University Medical Center will help improve management of chronic conditions and address health disparitiesCHICAGO – March 1, 2018 – higi, a Chicago company that operates a national network of more than 11,000 health self-screening stations for population health enablement, today announced the development of a new app that will allow higi users to have data from their screening shared with health care providers who maintain electronic health records (EHR) in Epic, the most widely-used system. Rush University Medical Center in Chicago built the app in conjunction with higi.“higi is proud to partner with Rush on this important integration, which enables Rush and other organizations who use the Epic EHR to connect with our more than 11,000 publicly-accessible higi stations to extend their reach into communities, enable more convenient measurement of health data, gain insight into social determinants of health and inform patient treatment plans,” said Jeff Bennett, CEO of higi.higi readings in homeless shelter inspired app’s developmentAs part of this initiative, Rush is placing additional higi stations into community centers, high schools and other locations to improve access and to address social needs that affect overall health and well-being. Rush’s first higi station deployment was to Franciscan House of Mary and Joseph, a not-for-profit homeless shelter near Rush on Chicago’s West Side where Rush clinicians and students provide free medical services.At Franciscan House, the Rush team detected a prevalence of severe hypertension in residents that was multiple times higher than for people in the greater Chicago area. This finding inspired Rush’s information technology team to create an interoperable integration with Rush’s Epic EHR to ensure that data from higi is accessible in real time for Rush clinicians or other community-based providers.Beyond measurement of important biometric health indicators, higi also enables collection of social determinants of health information at the station. Social determinants such as housing instability, food insecurity and difficulty accessing transportation have a significant impact on health outcomes, and this data can be used to connect individuals with appropriate community based resources.“At Rush, we are focused on improving the health of our surrounding communities,” said Dr. Shafiq Rab, Rush’s senior vice president and chief information officer. “A leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Chicago’s West Side is unmanaged hypertension and heart disease. By connecting higi health stations with Epic workflows, we are trying to improve access to care, regularly measure biometrics and work with our community partners to better understand and address social determinants of health.”Patients will be able to share data from higi stations across ChicagoIn the initial launch of the higi-Epic EHR integration, planned to begin during the third quarter of 2018, Rush patients who receive specialized care for hypertension will be able to measure their biometrics at 211 Jewel-Osco, Meijer, Sams Club and select CVS pharmacy locations across the Chicago area. With the patients’ consent, data from higi will be shared immediately and securely with trusted Rush care providers in Epic’s hypertension registries to decrease the need for blood pressure check visits to Rush clinics.Based on the results of the launch, this program will be extended to 60,000 additional Rush patients with chronic conditions such as hypertension, pre-diabetes and diabetes."The partnership with higi helps us toward achieving our population health goals for hypertension management,” said Dr. Omar Lateef, Rush’s chief medical officer. “Through their extensive network of health stations, higi will provide an accessible and affordable way for our patients to regularly measure and share their blood pressure measurements."The higi team is working with the Rush IT team to make the higi – Epic EHR integration application available on the Epic App Orchard marketplace for adoption by other health systems and physician groups that use Epic EHR solutions.Those attending the HIMSS18 conference in Las Vegas from March 5-9 will be able to see this integration at Booth #12440 and to learn more about how higi and Rush are using data and community-based care to make it easier for patients to be their healthiest.###ABOUT HIGI:higi is a population health enablement company that empowers consumers to measure, track and act on their health data. Through a nationwide network of over 11,000 FDA-cleared self-screening stations found at pharmacy retailers and other community locations and over 80 different third-party integrations, higi makes it easier to engage consumers in their health.  As the largest repository of standardized biometric data, higi enables healthcare organizations to better reach targeted populations; collect biometric and other health determinant data to stratify and prioritize consumers; and motivate consumers to take specific actions at a point of care. To date, more than 45 million people have used a higi health station to conduct over 259 million biometric screenings. For more information, visit us at www.higi.com.HIGI CONTACT: Anna Stallmann, higi@nahigianstrategies.com, 202-660-2567ABOUT RUSH:Rush is an academic health system whose mission is to improve the health of the patients and the diverse communities it serves through the integration of outstanding patient care, education, research and community partnerships. The Rush system comprises Rush University Medical Center, Rush University, Rush Copley Medical Center and Rush Oak Park Hospital, as well as numerous outpatient care facilities. Rush University, with more than 2,500 students, is a health sciences university that comprises Rush Medical College, the College of Nursing, the College of Health Sciences and the Graduate College.In November 2017, Rush University Medical Center was recognized by CMS as the only five-star academic medical center in Illinois. The Rush University Medical Group was also named a CDC 2017 Million Hearts Hypertension Control Champion for achieving a control rate of 74 percent, demonstrating a commitment to provide the highest quality of care for patients. 

higi, the Largest Repository of Biometric Information in the United States, is Making it Easier for People to be their Healthiest at HIMSS18

higi to showcase consumer-centric solutions connecting consumers and their data to trusted care providersCHICAGO – February 20, 2018 – higi, a population health enablement company that empowers consumers to measure, track and act on their health data, today announced it will be bringing its latest innovative health solutions, focused on improving patient care by connecting consumers and their data to their trusted providers, to the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Conference in Las Vegas from March 5 - 9.As the largest collector and repository of standardized biometric data, higi’s new solutions equip healthcare organizations and pharmacy retailers to better reach consumers, integrate their data, and motivate them to take specific actions at a point of care. While providing consumers access to the largest network of FDA-cleared self-screening stations, located in 11,000 pharmacy retailer and other community locations nationwide, higi’s solutions enables payers, providers and pharmacies to activate their consumers in their health and share their data, leverage biometric data collection for stratification, risk monitoring and targeting, and use retail locations to close care gaps and improve chronic condition management by connecting consumers to  convenient point of care resources.“As retailers look to engage consumers at their point of care, higi provides the connective tissue to engage and motivate consumers in their health,” said Jeff Bennett, CEO of higi. “Delivering nearly one million screenings a week, our unique data-driven enablement of population health is helping retailers and healthcare providers better reach, know and manage target populations, and continues to support retailers to be the front door of healthcare.”From March 5 - 9, 2018, higi encourages those attending the HIMSS Conference to visit booth #12440 to see how easy it is for consumers to register and incorporate higi into their everyday life, and the benefits for healthcare organizations to integrate higi’s data-driven approach into their population health workflows.For more information about higi, please visit www.higi.com or follow along on Twitter @higi.ABOUT HIGI:higi is a population health enablement company that empowers consumers to measure, track and act on their health data through a nationwide network of over 11,000 FDA-cleared self-screening stations found at pharmacy retailers and other community locations.  As the largest repository of standardized biometric data, higi enables healthcare organizations to better reach targeted populations, collect biometric and other health determinant data to stratify and prioritize consumers, and motivate consumers to take specific actions at a point of care. To date, more than 45 million people have used a higi health station to conduct over 259 million biometric screenings. For more information, visit us at www.higi.com.CONTACT: Anna Stallmann, higi@nahigianstrategies.com, 202-660-2567

higi, the Largest Free Blood Pressure Screening Network, Applauds Change in Blood Pressure Guidelines

higi Provides Easy Access to Health Screening through Trusted Retail Partnerships and is Critical Enabler for Better Hypertension Management

CHICAGO – higi SH llc (higi), a population health enablement company that operates the largest self-screening health station network in North America, today announced their support of the new blood pressure standards released by the American College of Cardiology (ACA) and American Heart Association (AHA) on Monday. As an owner and operator of 11,000 FDA-cleared and HIPAA compliant health stations across the country, higi is uniquely positioned to reach high-risk populations and safely and securely track population health data at easily accessible food, chain drug, mass and club retailers. To date, more than 43 million unique individuals have used a higi health station to measure their blood pressure, pulse, weight and body mass index and receive critical information to enable and inform their healthcare management.

People with readings of 130 mmHg as the top number (systolic) or 80 mmHg as the bottom one (diastolic) now are considered to have high blood pressure. Previously, high blood pressure was defined as 140/90 mmHg. Under the new guidelines year-to-date, 61.5 percent of higi screenings have results in the hypertensive range.

Hypertension, commonly referred to as high blood pressure, is a key indicator for heart disease and stroke, the two leading causes of death in the world. As tens of millions more Americans receive a high blood pressure diagnosis, higi remains committed to helping reach this high risk population, providing educational resources and motivating individuals to better manage their blood pressure.

"The new guidelines released by ACA and AHA are noteworthy - and indicate the vital importance for individuals to know their key biometrics and what it means for their personal health," said Dr. Khan Siddiqui, higi Chief Medical Officer and Chief Technology Officer. "Under the new guidelines, two-thirds of higi health screenings are in the hypertensive range - a significant increase from 32 percent under the previous guidelines. Uniquely positioned to access high risk populations for hypertension, higi will continue to work with our retail pharmacy and health system partners to motivate individuals to promote lifestyle modifications."

As a population health enablement company, higi abides by the strictest of standards for its healthcare stations and data management. higi’s FDA clearance includes the 2013 standards from the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) for automated blood pressure devices. higi is the only health station in the marketplace that abides by these rigorous standards, and is aligned with the team based hypertension management recommendations under the new guidelines. Through trusted partnerships with retailers and healthcare providers, higi enables individuals to know and track their key biometric health indicators and share screening information in real time with their physician, pharmacist, and other trusted healthcare providers to better manage their personal health.

ABOUT HIGI:

higi is a population health enablement company that is transforming the way communities take care of themselves. higi owns and operates the largest FDA-cleared self-screening health station network in the United States with over 11,000 stations located in food, chain drug, mass merchant and club retailers. higi also operates a robust online community platform that is linked to the higi health station network and over 80 health devices, activity trackers, and apps. To date, more than 43 million people have used a higi health station to conduct over 245 million biometric screenings (blood pressure, pulse, weight, body mass index). Over 6 million people have signed up for a higi account, which offers an all-in-one biometric and activity data feed for personal health management and information sharing with friends, family, and trusted healthcare providers.  For general information, visit us at www.higi.com.

Solera Health and higi Partner to Expand Access to Community-Based Diabetes Prevention Programs

Solera Health and higi Partner to Expand Access to Community-Based Diabetes Prevention ProgramsPartnership increases access to the Diabetes Prevention Program at Retail Pharmacies and Grocery Stores NationwidePhoenix, AZ - August 17, 2017- Solera Health, a provider of integrated chronic disease prevention services, today announced that it has entered into a strategic partnership with higi, owner of the largest FDA-cleared, retail-based, self-screening network and consumer engagement platform in North America. As a result of the relationship, Solera will leverage the higi retail network to identify consumers that are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes and work to help enroll them in the National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) that best meets their needs and preferences. higi currently offers nearly 11,000 health stations in food, drug and mass market retailers nationally with locations within 5 miles of 78% of the U.S. population.With a focus on connecting at-risk individuals with the ”best-fit” DPP provider, Solera is continually expanding its national delivery network by identifying community resources with the capacity to deliver the DPP in locations where people live, work, pray and shop. Tens of millions of Americans are currently eligible for the DPP as a covered medical benefit paid through their insurance company or employer. Medicare beneficiaries will also be eligible for Medicare DPP services delivered in community settings in 2018. Americans visit a grocery store or pharmacy an average of 1.6 times per week (statista, 2017), which provides an unrivaled opportunity for engagement and education. Reaching consumers in convenient retail locations will be an effective part of the company’s engagement strategy moving forward. To date, the higi stations have proven to be a touch point that consumers are comfortable using for health management.“Solera’s partnership with higi provides immediate access to millions of consumers who can conveniently determine their risk for type 2 diabetes and have the opportunity to enroll in the Diabetes Prevention Program,” said Brenda Schmidt, CEO of Solera Health. “As Solera continues to expand our community-based DPP delivery network into the retail, grocery and pharmacy space, the higi relationship will be invaluable for driving qualified leads for DPP program engagement and enrollment.”In addition to helping connect at-risk individuals with community and digital DPP providers as a proven intervention to prevent type 2 diabetes, the partnership between higi and Solera will enable higi’s retail partners to create meaningful interactions with their consumers. This will help them to improve their health by delivering the DPP and bring shoppers back to store locations repeatedly, which is expected to positively impact long-term customer relationships and engagement.“higi is best positioned to help our retail partners deliver turnkey, scalable chronic condition prevention programs, starting with DPP, that will drive shopper engagement and contribute to their bottom line,”said Jeff Bennett, CEO of higi. “We are excited to partner with Solera as they expand their innovative approach to scaling the Diabetes Prevention Program nationwide.”About Solera Health, Inc.Solera Health provides integrated chronic disease prevention services connecting patients, payers, and physicians with community organizations and digital therapeutics providers, simply and securely. The company helps consolidate highly fragmented programs and services into one integrated network, allowing health plans and medical providers to increase consumer participation while lowering associated costs. Solera proactively identifies the “best fit” program provider based on each individual’s unique needs and preferences, which has proven to have a significant impact on improved patient outcomes at a fraction of the cost of traditional medical care. For more information, visit Solera Health at www.soleranetwork.com, call 800-858-1714 or follow us on Twitter @SoleraHealth or LinkedIn.About higihigi is a technology company that is transforming the way communities take care of themselves. Founded in 2012, the company owns and operates the largest FDA-cleared self-screening health station network in the United States with nearly 11,000 stations located in food, drug and mass market retailers. higi also operates a robust online community platform that is linked to the higi health station network and over 80 health devices, activity trackers and apps.  To date, more than 40 million people have used a higi health station to conduct over 228 million biometric screenings (blood pressure, pulse, weight, body mass index).  Over 5.5 million people have signed up for a higi account which offers an all-in-one biometric and activity data feed for personal health management and information sharing with friends, family and trusted healthcare providers. Visit us at https://higi.com.Media Contacts:Jessy Green & Kay KellySVM Public Relationssolera@svmpr.com401.490.9700

Former President of the American Medical Association Dr. Robert Wah to Join higi’s Board of Directors

Dr. Robert Wah joins higi to be part of the most extensive consumer health screening technology infrastructure that makes coordinating health easy and convenient

(May 9 – 2017) higi, the health IT company that operates the largest health screening ecosystem in North America, announced today the addition of Robert Wah, MD, former President of the American Medical Association and Global Chief Medical Officer of DXC Technology to its Board of Directors.

Dr. Wah, a reproductive endocrinologist and OB/GYN, is most notably recognized for his expertise in healthcare and health information technology. He served at the Department of Health and Human Services, where he was the first Deputy National Coordinator for Health IT.

“As higi continues to expand its capabilities to work with leading healthcare organizations to personalize population health, experts like Dr. Wah will insure the appropriate approach and perspective needed to enable sustainable health improvement in the communities across the nation,” said CEO Jeff Bennett.

“Approximately 60% of health outcomes are determined by social, environmental, and behavioral factors,” said Dr. Robert Wah.  “higi gives/provides consumers and healthcare organizations an affordable, accessible vehicle to connect outside of the traditional health system.  I am excited about joining the board to help guide improving the health of consumers and to connect higi and healthcare organizations.”

Dr. Wah has been ranked in the Top 50 Most Influential Physician Executives by Modern Healthcare and Modern Physician magazine readers. He currently cares for patients, performs surgery, and trains fellows and residents at the National Institutes of Health and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the McKnight Brain Research Foundation and the American Telemedicine Association.

For over 23 years, Dr. Wah served on Active Duty in the Navy and was the Associate CIO for the Military Health System in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. There, he led the requirements team of over 100 physicians, nurses and pharmacists and also managed the technology portfolio of 520 clinics and hospitals worldwide, covering over 10 million patients and $900,000,000 spending for Health IT tools. He has also taught at Harvard Medical School, University of California-San Diego and Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Dr. Wah did his training at National Naval Medical Center Bethesda and Harvard Medical School and holds two board certifications. He is also a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School..  

About higi:

higi is a technology company that is transforming the way communities take care of themselves. Founded in 2012, the company owns and operates the largest FDA-cleared self-screening health station network in the United States with nearly 11,000 stations located in food, drug and mass market retailers. higi also operates a robust online community platform that is linked to the higi health station network and over 80 health devices, activity trackers and apps.  To date, more than 38 million people have used a higi health station to conduct over 212 million biometric screenings (blood pressure, pulse, weight, body mass index).  Over 5 million people have signed up for a higi account which offers an all-in-one biometric and activity data feed for personal health management and information sharing with friends, family and trusted healthcare providers.  For general information, visit us at www.higi.com or how to work with higi at business.higi.com.

higi Raises Strategic Financing, Acquires EveryMove to Personalize Population Health

BlueCross BlueShield Venture Partners invests in higi to expand the ecosystem that will personalize population health. (March 29, 2017 – Chicago, IL) – higi, the health IT company that operates the largest health screening ecosystem in North America, today announced a Series B investment from BlueCross BlueShield Venture Partners and the acquisition of EveryMove. The new investment and acquisition accelerates higi’s strategy to create the most extensive set of tools to transform population health activities through the collection and workflow integration of ambient health and lifestyle data.higi collects and secures data today on behalf of over 36 million unique users at its nearly 11,000 retail stations and through integrations with 80 connected health devices, wearables, and apps.  Through its secure, HIPAA compliant data collection, engagement and workflow integration tools, customers leverage its ambient health and lifestyle data, with explicit user consent and opt-in, to drive more targeted engagement through an unprecedented set of physical and digital touchpoints.The investment by the BlueCross BlueShield Venture Fund validates the critical importance of a complete consumer data profile to drive successful engagement in strategically important areas like population health, quality and prevention. “higi is the only network we have seen that has demonstrated an ability to integrate into the normal workflow of the consumer, whether at the retailer, the pharmacy or on their mobile phone,” said Anna Haghgooie of Sandbox Industries, which provides investment management services to the BlueCross BlueShield Venture Fund.As part of the investment higi has acquired EveryMove, a pioneer in consumer health engagement that delivers a cloud based engagement application which provides incentives to health plan members to reduce costs and improve outcomes.  “This investment along with the integration of EveryMove further extends higi’s leadership in enabling population health and our ability to help our payer, provider, retail, and brand customers to drive behavior change, cost savings, and improved health.” said Jeff Bennett, higi CEO.About higi:higi is a technology company that is transforming the way communities take care of themselves. Founded in 2012, the company owns and operates the largest FDA-cleared self-screening health station network in the United States with nearly 11,000 stations located in food, drug and mass market retailers. higi also operates a robust online community platform that is linked to the higi health station network and over 80 health devices, activity trackers and apps.  To date, more than 36 million people have used a higi health station to conduct nearly 200 million biometric screenings (blood pressure, pulse, weight, body mass index).  Over 4.5 million people have signed up for a higi account which offers an all-in-one biometric and activity data feed for personal health management and information sharing with friends, family and trusted healthcare providers.  For general information, visit us at https://higi.com or how to work with higi at business.higi.com. About BlueCross BlueShield Venture Partners:BlueCross BlueShield Venture Partners, L.P. is a corporate venture fund licensed by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. The fund invests in promising emerging companies of strategic relevance to Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans. Sandbox Industries is the exclusive provider of investment management services to BlueCross BlueShield Venture Partners. For more information, visit www.bcbsvp.com. About EveryMove:EveryMove is a recognized leader in combining big data and consumer design to energize the relationship between health plans and individuals. EveryMove’s proprietary technology platform, Tandem, is a Health Action Driver®, a cloud based, analytics driven automation platform designed to target and motivate the right actions among the right members to meet healthcare sponsors’ near term business goals specific to care management, utilization, quality, prevention, and coding. Contact:Malcolm BohmEVP Commercializationhigi SH llc                                           973-975-3784mbohm@higi.com

higi Continues to Redefine How People Manage Their Health and Well-Being with the Launch of higi Communities Online Engagement Platform

higi’s New On-line Communities Platform Expands on Its National Network of Nearly 11,000 Self-Screening Health Stations. Organizations are now Able to Connect and Engage with Their Audiences Wherever They Are, 24 Hours a DayChicago, IL (February 21, 2017) – higi, the healthcare technology company that operates the largest network of connected self-screening stations in the U.S. and Canada, today announced the launch of its online communities platform. This enhancement to higi’s digital platform allows organizations to build their own, customized communities where their invited members can enjoy share-worthy content, participate in challenges, earn rewards, and connect with those they trust.The addition of communities to higi’s existing health engagement platform introduces new tools for both consumers and client partners who want to connect and engage with people trying to take a more active role in their health. It also provides a health-centric space for organizations and brands to develop ongoing relationships with target populations and facilitate behavior change through challenges, incentives, and rewards.“We have long known that people achieve better results when they are supported by one another in a group,” said Jeff Bennett, higi CEO. “higi communities is an exciting new platform that will change the way people rely on and support others while pursuing their personal wellness goals.” He added, “It also provides an enormous competitive advantage to brands, retailers, health care providers and influencers looking to connect and engage with their target audiences in a meaningful way.”Users can join communities created by organizations—such as healthcare organizations, brands, influencers, retailers, and municipalities—that are most valuable to them. The online experience is designed to facilitate easy exploration of content and participation in rich discussion, while game mechanics like badges, leaderboards, and activity-based challenges support sustained user engagement. Consumers can access higi communities via the higi app and website.This focused interaction with individuals also provides the sponsor with real-time insights, including ratings, reviews, surveys, as well as measurement of sentiment around health topics. This highly valuable data helps community owners refine their communication and outreach strategies within and beyond their community.Ultimately, the addition of communities to higi’s digital platform will help individuals become more physically active, encourage more frequent biometric screenings, improve health literacy, connect individuals with healthcare professionals, and encourage healthier habits—all steps that can lead to an improved health status. About higi:higi is a technology company that is transforming the way people manage their health. Founded in 2012, the company owns and operates the largest FDA-cleared self-screening health station network in the United States with nearly 11,000 stations located in food, drug and mass market retailers. higi also operates a robust online community platform that is linked to the higi health station network and over 80 health devices, activity trackers and apps.  To date, more than 40 million people have used a higi health station to conduct 190 million biometric screenings (blood pressure, pulse, weight, body mass index).  Over 4 million people have signed up for a higi account which offers an all-in-one biometric and activity data feed for personal health management and information sharing with friends, family and trusted healthcare providers.  For more information, visit us at www.higi.comPress Contact: Tim Sullivan: (732) 816-0239 | t3shamrock@gmail.com

higi Launches Groundbreaking Population Screening Solution for Healthcare Businesses

higi Integrates it’s 11,000 FDA-Cleared Health Station Network with On-line Communities to Deliver Real-Time Aggregated User Data To Deliver a Powerful Data Resource for Healthcare Organizations. Chicago, IL (February 20, 2017) -- higi, the health technology company that operates the largest network of self-screening stations in the U.S. and Canada, today announced the launch of its Population Screening solution which offers an alternative, cost-effective means to continuously screen broad segments of target populations.  By integrating continuous population screenings at higi health stations, health providers and payers can better understand population health trends.The new higi Population Screening solution leverages the company’s extensive network of nearly 11,000 health stations in grocery stores and pharmacies, located within 5 miles of 78% of the US population as well as on-line community user engagement to collect unparalleled data, in near-real time. The higi platform facilitates the integration of screening data into existing analytics, care management or CRM workflows that provide real-time, actionable insights to help facilitate early interventions.  It also enables organizations to offer rewards and incentives to motivate individual users to proactively manage their own health.“When a healthcare organization takes on the risk of a population, the lack of up-to-date claims and clinical data on the group can limit accurate risk assessment and outreach prioritization,” said Jeff Bennett, Chief Executive Officer of higi. “higi’s Population Screening solution eliminates missed opportunities for timely interventions and assures accurate determination of risk, positively impacting reimbursement, quality measures, and outcomes.”Traditional on-site biometric screening solutions are expensive, inconvenient, only happen once a year and fail to capture large segments of the population resulting in significant data gaps.  Healthcare organizations, including providers, payers, employers and researchers can adopt and deploy the higi Population Screening solution in the following way: After selecting a target population, individuals receive a call to action with an incentive to complete a health risk assessment and visit a higi station for a free and convenient screening. Along with station screening data, healthcare organizations can receive additional information from more than 80 wearable devices connected to a user's higi account. Based on near real-time data, higi’s Population Screening solution provides powerful insights that help healthcare organizations triage individuals and segment populations into risk categories. With the addition of this rich new data set from higi to existing records and other analytics tools, healthcare organizations can predict population and individual risk to help them determine opportunities for intervention.As a user’s engagement with higi continues, on-going biometrics readings measured at the station are integrated into the care management process or analytics, keeping healthcare organizations informed and individuals involved in their care. higi’s end-to-end Population Screening solution leverages higi’s unrivaled network as a seamless data collection ecosystem and health engagement platform, providing a new ongoing source of population health data.The higi Population Screening tool will be put into widespread use by healthcare organizations during 2017.  At HIMSS, higi will be demonstrating one application of Population Screening developed to extend the capabilities of Salesforce Health Cloud (link to blog post).  The demonstration of this application will be available at the Salesforce Booth #2675 and higi Booth #6966 at HIMSS. About higi:higi is a technology company that is transforming the way people manage their health. Founded in 2012, the company owns and operates the largest FDA-cleared self-screening health station network in the United States with nearly 11,000 stations located in food, drug and mass market retailers. higi also operates a robust online community platform that is linked to the higi health station network and over 80 health devices, activity trackers and apps.  To date, more than 40 million people have used a higi health station to conduct 190 million biometric screenings (blood pressure, pulse, weight, body mass index).  Over 4 million people have signed up for a higi account which offers an all-in-one biometric and activity data feed for personal health management and information sharing with friends, family and trusted healthcare providers.  For more information, visit us at www.higi.comPress Contact: Tim Sullivan: (732) 816-0239 | t3shamrock@gmail.com

Sam’s Club® Offers higi Technology to Help Members and the Public Take Greater Control of their Health

BENTONVILLE, Ark., (February 7, 2016) – Research has shown that Americans are eager to leverage digital tools to manage their personal health.* With this in mind, Sam’s Club has teamed up with health technology company higi to make free, self-service health screening stations available at most Sam’s Club locations with a pharmacy (622 locations).These screening stations are able to assess each user’s blood pressure, pulse, weight, and body mass index (BMI). Users can also track their health information over time and share it with others through higi’s online platform, which can aggregate data from over 80 health devices, activity trackers and apps to provide a holistic view of the state of their health.“We believe understanding and tracking your personal biometric data is key to living a healthy life, so we make it as easy as possible for people to do just that with our unique screening technology and digital platforms that interface with leading health devices, fitness trackers or apps that people are already using,” said Jeff Bennett, CEO, higi. “We are thrilled to be partnering with Sam’s Club to make these innovative resources available and to help more people be proactive about their health.”The higi self-service stations complement the existing free health screening program that Sam’s Club offers every month from January through October to both members and the public. In fact, the higi rollout at Sam’s Club aligns with the timing of the company’s ‘Healthy at Heart’ screening, which will take place on Saturday, February 11 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at all locations with a pharmacy, while supplies last. This screening is valued at up to $150 and will include the following tests:**

• Total cholesterol

• HDL (good cholesterol)

• Blood pressure

• Body Fat Percentage

• Glucose

• Vision (not available at all locations)

• Hearing (not available at all locations)

Sponsors of the ‘Healthy at Heart’ screening include Align® probiotic supplements, Metamucil® fiber supplements (original and sugar-free), Member’s Mark® Omega 3-6-9 dietary supplement, and Members Mark® CoQ-10 cardiovascular antioxidant.“Knowing how challenging it can be for some people to find the time to get a checkup, we believe higi’s self-service stations will be a great tool to complement our monthly health screening program, as they both help make it easier for people learn more about their health,” said Jill Turner-Mitchael, senior vice president, Sam’s Club Consumables & Health and Wellness. “We also recognize the importance of using the latest technology to motivate people to live healthier lives, so our partnership with higi is a perfect match."In addition to free health screenings, Sam’s Club Pharmacies provide other savings and preventive care to each community they serve, such as year-round immunizations.*** Eligible Sam’s Club Plus members can also save more on prescriptions, including exclusive discounts on select generic prescriptions, some of which are available free of charge, in many states, or at a discounted cost of $4 or $10 for a 30-day supply. The benefit is exclusively available to Plus members in addition to the Sam’s Club Extra Value Drug List, through which Business and Plus members also receive 10-30 percent savings on select brand name medications. Certain restrictions apply to these programs so members and potential members should check with their local Sam’s Club Pharmacy for details.Two out of the last three years, Sam’s Club Pharmacy was ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Mass Merchandiser Pharmacies” by J.D. Power. Sam’s Club Pharmacy also received the highest score in the prescription ordering/pick-up process; non-pharmacist staff; and pharmacist study factors within its segment.****Beyond the Pharmacy, Sam’s Club members can also find a variety of healthy solutions in other areas of the club, including fresh organic foods, vitamins and supplements, oral care products, and wearable health devices (many of which can be connected to the higi platform). Additional information about Sam’s Club health and wellness offerings can be found at SamsClub.com and in the Sam’s Club exclusive bi-monthly wellness magazine, Healthy Living Made Simple. About higihigi is a Chicago-based technology company that is transforming the way people manage their health.  Founded in 2012, the company owns and operates the largest FDA-cleared self-screening health station network in the United States with nearly 11,000 stations located in food, drug and mass market retailers. higi also operates a robust online community platform that is linked to the higi health station network and over 80 health devices, activity trackers and apps.  To date, more than 40 million people have used a higi health station to conduct 190 million biometric screenings (blood pressure, pulse, weight,body mass index).  Over 4 million people have signed up for a higi account which offers an all-in-one biometric and activity data feed for personal health management and information-sharing with friends, family and trusted healthcare providers.  For more information, visit us at www.higi.comAbout Sam’s Club®Sam’s Club®, a division of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT), is a leading membership warehouse club offering superior products, savings and services to millions of members in 659 clubs in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. To learn more about Sam’s Club, visit the Sam’s Club Newsroom, shop at SamsClub.com, and interact with Sam’s Club on Twitter and Facebook.# # #* Makovsky/Kelton. Fifth Annual “Pulse of Online Health” Survey. Available online at http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fifth-annual-pulse-of-online-health-survey-finds-66-of-americans-eager-to-leverage-digital-tools-to-manage-personal-health-300039986.html. Accessed January 26, 2017.** Limited quantities available. Screening types and quantities may vary by state and club. All tests are performed by licensed professionals.*** Some immunizations may not be available in all locations, due to state law restrictions on pharmacist administered immunizations. Age restrictions may apply.**** Sam's Club received the highest numerical score among 8 mass merchandisers in the J.D. Power 2016 U.S. Pharmacy Study, based on 14,789 total responses, measuring the opinions of consumers who filled a new prescription or refilled a prescription during the three months prior to the survey period, surveyed May-June 2016. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com.

higi Launches New Partnership Initiative with National Brands, Thought-Leaders and Celebrities

Chicago, IL – November 30, 2016.  higi SH llc (higi) announced today the launch of a new partnership initiative targeting national brands, industry thought-leaders and celebrity influencers looking to encourage, motivate and reward their respective audiences for taking steps to live healthier, more active lives.Since its inception in 2012, higi has built the largest self-screening health station network in the US, impacting over 38 million people who have conducted over 185 million biometric screenings.  The self-screening health stations are free to use and easily accessible in over 10 thousand retail locations across the country.  Today, 78% of the US population is located within five miles of a higi self-screening health station, and 4+ million users have already signed up to participate within higi’s on-line community platform.To facilitate ongoing engagement with users beyond the self-screening health stations themselves, higi has built out a robust on-line community platform that provides a dynamic environment for organizations to share relevant content, conduct challenges, track activity and reward participants for their accomplishments. This new on-line community platform is connected to the self-screening station network and interfaces with over 70 health devices, activity trackers and apps.  It also allows users to instantly share their on-line experience with family and friends via their preferred social networks.“We see a tremendous opportunity to work with national brands, thought-leaders and celebrities to help them directly engage with their respective audiences in a meaningful way that inspires them to take measurable action when it comes to managing their health.” says Jeff Bennett, CEO of higi.Bennett indicated that higi has several partnership initiatives already in place set to launch in 2017. One example is the “What’s My Win” initiative developed by Golden Image Enterprises that will be bringing brands, celebrities, musicians and media personalities together to promote #whatsmywin across all social media platforms to find, recognize and reward individuals for their wellness wins.About higihigi owns and operates the largest self-screening health station network in the United States with over 10,000 health stations located in food, drug and mass market retailers across the country. The higi health station is a HIPAA-compliant, FDA 510k, Class II medical device that provides screenings for blood pressure, pulse, weight and body mass index.  higi also operates a robust on-line community platform that is linked to the higi health station network and over 70 health devices, activity trackers and apps.  The community platform provides users with a dynamic on-line experience where they can connect with trusted organizations and enjoy relevant content, participate in challenges, track their progress and earn rewards.  For more information, visit us at www.higi.com Media Contact: Leah Jones | leah.jones@olson.com | 312-577-1776

Virtual health challenges with gamification can drive behavior change and may lower blood pressure

Virtual health challenges with gamification can drive behavior change and may lower blood pressureThe LowerMyBP Challenge made the greatest impact on difficult-to-reach populations and created virtual communities that helped drive sustained engagement beyond the end of challengeORLANDO, FL, September 14, 2016 – Social influence and financial incentives in the form of health challenges with motivational messaging can help drive sustainable behavioral changes that are associated with lowering blood pressure, according to a study presented by higi at the American Heart Association’s 2016 Council on Hypertension Scientific Sessions.higi partnered with mHealthCoach to study the impact of a three-month, group challenge on the participants’ blood pressure. The study found that joining the challenge not only correlated with lowering people’s blood pressure, but the positive behavior of monitoring blood pressure regularly continued for at least four months after the financial incentives were removed.The study included participants who were invited and opted to join the LowerMyBP challenge, as well as a set of random sample of individuals as controls who met the inclusion criteria but were not invited. The challenge began in October 2015 and lasted 17 weeks. Participants received customized emails weekly encouraging healthy physical activity and biometric screening at a higi health station at their local retailer. There was a weekly drawing for a $25 gift card for people who had checked their blood pressure and a grand prize drawing at the end of the study for $100.  Participants could also see how they ranked in comparison to other members in the challenge to reinforce engagement through social recognition and social competition.Dr. Khan Siddiqui MD, higi’s Chief Medical and Chief Technology Officer, said, “Current health engagement efforts predominantly focus on ‘carrots or sticks’ (incentives) to engage individuals. The problem arises when you remove the incentives because the individual is now trained to remove the motivation to change. But social influence stays and can be more powerful to help drive long-term habit formation. What was remarkable in this study is that after the incentives were removed and the challenge completed, the positive behavior of monitoring BP regularly was sustained, suggesting a new habit had formed and validating the important role social influence plays in driving behavior change. These findings reinforce the need for incorporating socially-based strategies as a core component of any health engagement program.”Participants in the challenge, that measured their BP less than once a month prior to joining the challenge exhibited improved BP readings with increased engagement that continued at least four months post challenge.  This continued engagement is indicative of behavioral change and not incentivized activity and creates more engaged individuals that are more mindful and receptive to health-related messaging.Dr. Siddiqui continued, “We were also excited to see high levels of engagement from men over the age of 54 who are often most at risk for hypertension and are historically considered a hard-to- reach population.”The higi network includes over 10,000 health stations in retail locations across the U.S. where consumers can track their blood pressure, weight, pulse and BMI on the stations and participate in challenges on the health stations, higi website or higi mobile app.Co-authors are Khan Siddiqui, MD, Daniel Neems, PhD and Ross Goglia, MBA of higi with Aamer Ghaffer of mhealthcoach.The poster presented at the American Heart Association’s Council on Hypertension 2016 can be found hereAbout higihigi’s mission is to get consumers to take small but meaningful steps to create lasting health habits. Its unique retail, omni-channel community health engagement platform gives consumers the power to collect and, when they opt-in, share their health and activity data with trusted partners. Millions of consumers access the higi platform to check their blood pressure, weight, pulse, BMI and link their activity data from more than 70 third-party devices.The higi platform includes the nation’s largest single network of health stations in the U.S. higi stations are HIPAA-compliant, FDA 510k Class II medical devices that provide a secure real-time flow of information with multiple screening and tracking modalities, incentives and rewards. The platform also includes web and mobile access and engagement methods.  This 360-degree, cross-device ecosystem meets consumers where they are (in-store, at home, on-the-go) and enables healthcare stakeholders to better engage with individuals, creating access and actionable insights that motivate and empower in simple, fun and rewarding ways.For more information, visit us at higi.com and follow us on Twitter @higi. In addition, prospective partner developers can learn more about higi's API by visiting developer.higi.com.About mHealthCoach, llcmHealthCoach uses virtual smart agent technology to address gaps in care. The agent utilizes a propriety knowledge base to deliver personalized and contextual actionable care tasks. The highly engaging conversation-style dialogue with natural language processing and voice capability has proven to increase engagement, resulting in better care and outcomes.American Heart AssociationStatements and conclusions of study authors published in American Heart Association scientific journals are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the association’s policy or position. The association makes no representation or guarantee as to their accuracy or reliability. The association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific association programs and events. The association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and device corporations are available at www.heart.org/corporatefunding.For Media Inquiries and AHA/ASA Spokesperson Perspective: (214) 706-1173Karen Astle: (214) 706-1392; karen.astle@heart.orgJulie Del Barto (national broadcast): (214) 706-1330; julie.delbarto@heart.orgFor Public Inquiries: (800)-AHA-USA1 (242-8721) OR  heart.org and strokeassociation.org  Contact: Leah Jones (higi)Leah.jones@olson.com312-577-1776

higi Announces New Partnership with Shopko Stores

Partnership will help advance Shopko’s retail and employee health & wellness strategies and includes 263 health stations in 18 statesCHICAGO, June  20, 2016 –Shopko is advancing the in-store health and wellness engagement experience for its shoppers and employees. Through its partnership with higi, Shopko shoppers and employees will be able to monitor and track their biometric health information and share their data with trusted health partners.higi is the leading omni-channel community health engagement platform, with nearly 10,000 health stations in retail locations across the United States along with a robust web and mobile presence. With 75 percent of the U.S. population living within five miles of a higi health station and more than 155 million tests completed across higi’s network, higi provides millions of consumers with a free, fast, easy, secure and reliable way to monitor their vital health information over time.This partnership will mark higi’s entry into six additional states as the company continues to grow its U.S. retail network, providing a new presence in Wisconsin, Nebraska, Iowa, Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota.  Implementation has already begun, and the full rollout is slated for completion in October.“Shopko is pleased to welcome higi into our stores,” said Darren Singer, Shopko Senior Vice President of Retail Health and Wellness. “higi will be an innovative way to engage our shoppers and employees, helping them track and achieve their individual wellness goals.  We are  excited to leverage higi’s platform in combination with our great pharmacy teams, driving  our vision as a health and wellness destination in the communities we serve.”“We are excited for the opportunity to partner with an organization like Shopko, a company that is focused on leveraging innovation to drive best-in-class engagement across its products and services,” said Jeff Bennett, higi CEO. "Shopko and higi are a strategic fit as Shopko was looking for a partner that can enhance its shoppers’ shopping experience and higi brings a best-in-class platform to help accomplish this goal.  Shopko’s commitment to the health and wellbeing of the communities it serves is inspiring.” About higihigi’s mission is to get consumers to take small but meaningful steps to create lasting health habits. Its unique retail, omni-channel community health engagement platform gives consumers the power to collect and, when they opt-in, share their health and activity data with trusted partners and communities.  Millions of consumers access the higi platform to check their blood pressure, weight, pulse, BMI and link their activity data from more than 70 third-party devices.The higi platform includes the nation’s largest single network of health stations in the U.S. that millions of consumers access.  The platform includes the station, web, and a mobile app platform.  higi stations are HIPAA-compliant, FDA 510k Class II medical devices that provide a secure real-time flow of information with multiple screening and tracking modalities, incentives and rewards.  This 360-degree, cross-device ecosystem meets consumers where they are (in retail, mobile, home) and enables healthcare stakeholders to better engage with consumers and patients, creating access and actionable insights that motivate and empower individuals in simple, fun and rewarding ways.  For more information, visit us at higi.com and follow us on Twitter @higi. In addition, prospective partner developers can learn more about higi’s API by visiting developer.higi.com. About ShopkoAbout Shopko Shopko is owned by an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners, Inc., a leading private investment firm focused on leverage buyouts, equity, debt, and other investments in market-leading companies. Founded in 1962 and headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Shopko Stores Operating Co., LLC is a $3 billion retailer that operates 376 stores in 25 states throughout the Central, Western and Pacific Northwest regions. Retail formats include 131 Shopko stores, providing quality name-brand merchandise, great values, pharmacy and optical services in small to mid-sized cities; 5 Shopko Express Rx stores, a convenient neighborhood drugstore concept; 5 Shopko Pharmacy locations; and 235 Shopko Hometown stores, a smaller concept store developed to meet the needs of smaller communities. For more information, visit www.shopko.com. Media Contact:Leah Jonesleah.jones@olson.com312-577-1776

Force Diagnostics and higi Partner to Provide Innovative Services to Life Insurance Industry:

Fully accelerated underwriting for life insurance companies with biometric and lifestyle data that rewards consumers for healthy behaviors CHICAGO, April 15, 2016 – A new partnership announced today will help life insurance companies make more accurate underwriting decisions in a fraction of the time it takes today, while offering timely, competitively priced and high-value life insurance policies to consumers without requiring inconvenient and time-consuming health screenings.With Force Diagnostics’ rapid testing (A1C, Cotinine and HIV) and higi’s biometric and lifestyle data readings (blood pressure, weight, pulse, BMI, and activity data) available at local retailers nationwide, insurers and consumers will benefit from an expedited exam process that can be completed during a quick visit to their local retail pharmacy. This innovative offering allows insurers to respond with an actionable quote, often within 24 hours, eliminating one of the biggest obstacles when consumers are purchasing life insurance. The offering also allows insurers to reward their consumers for healthy behaviors.“For years, insurers have looked for ways to simplify the life insurance underwriting process with varying results,” said Force Diagnostics President and CEO Michael P. Curran. “Their challenge has been to attract desirable risks, at any age, with an innovative, efficient process that results in a fair price for life insurance that is neither undervalued nor overpriced. Through this partnership, Force and higi can provide insurers and reinsurers with ongoing biometric and lifestyle data for consumers who are interested in improving their physical health as well as their financial health.”Force Diagnostics’ FDA-cleared and CLIA-waived rapid tests detect the presence of chronic disease states and the use of nicotine and drugs of abuse. The tests do not require fasting and are procured with a finger stick of blood and a nominal oral swab.higi is the leading omni-channel community health engagement platform with web, mobile and health stations in nearly 10,000 retail locations across the United States. With 75 percent of the U.S. population living within five miles of a higi station and with more than 1 million tests completed at higi stations each week, higi provides consumers with a free, fast, easy and reliable way to monitor their vital health stats over time and, when they opt-in, share with those they trust. To stay engaged with consumers and improve the persistency of their portfolio, life insurance companies can utilize higi’s rewards and incentives platform to encourage consumers to track and, when they opt-in, share their biometric and lifestyle data.“higi was created to close the gaps in population health by creating ‘win-win’ insights for consumers and healthcare organizations,” said Jeff Bennett, higi CEO. “We’re empowering consumers to know their health stats, which has led to improved health outcomes for millions of higi users across the country. higi works with a broad range of industries to create efficiencies in healthcare through increased engagement with consumers and groundbreaking longitudinal analysis of real-time biometric and activity data collected across the country at home, in retail, and at hospitals and clinics.”While the current focus is on improving access and speed to issuance for life insurance, Force Diagnostics and higi look forward to engaging retailers and employers by providing similar innovations to partners serving the corporate wellness and health insurance sectors.“We are excited about partnering with higi,” concluded Curran. “By providing access to real-time biometric and activity data, consumers become active participants in their own health, leading to healthier individuals—a true benefit for insurers and reinsurers. The strength of this partnership will result in no less than a revolution in the life insurance industry.”About higi:  higi's mission is to get consumers to take small but meaningful steps to create lasting health habits. Its unique, retail, omni-channel community health engagement platform gives consumers the power to collect and, when they opt-in, share their health and activity data with trusted partners and communities.The higi platform includes the nation’s largest single network of health stations in the U.S. that millions of consumers access.  The platform includes the station, web, and mobile app platform.  higi stations are HIPAA-compliant, FDA 510k Class II medical devices that provide a secure real-time flow of information with multiple screening and tracking modalities, incentives and rewards.This 360-degree, cross-device ecosystem meets consumers where they are (in retail, mobile, home) and enables healthcare stakeholders to better engage with consumers and patients, creating access and actionable insights that motivate and empower individuals in simple, fun and rewarding ways.  For more information, visit us at higi.com and follow us on Twitter @higi. In addition, prospective partner developers can learn more about higi's API by visiting developer.higi.com.About Force Diagnostics:Force Diagnostics identifies, develops and commercializes FDA-cleared, CLIA-waived rapid diagnostics tests, administered at the point of presence, to immediately identify underlying disease states, such as diabetes and HIV, as well as the presence of Drugs of Abuse, including Cotinine, for the life insurance, corporate wellness and health insurance sectors, both domestically and internationally. For further information, please contact Catherine Driscoll at Catherine.Driscoll@ForceDiagnostics.com, or go to www.forcediagnostics.com.Contact: Leah Jones (higi)Leah.jones@olson.com312-577-1776 Contact:  Catherine Driscoll (Force)catherine.driscoll@forcediagnostics.com847-414-6619 

higi and IMPOWER Announce Partnership to Advance the Power of Behavioral Telehealth with Biometric and Lifestyle Data

Industry-changing opportunity will improve patient engagement and physician insights with the addition of real-time health stats. CHICAGO, April 13, 2016 – IMPOWER physicians supporting Medicaid patients in Central Florida are setting a new clinical standard in telehealth thanks to a new partnership with higi.By leveraging the higi platform, IMPOWER patients can routinely track key health measurements, such as blood pressure, weight, pulse and body mass index, and, when they opt in, share them with IMPOWER clinicians through a quick and convenient visit to a local retail location at no cost. By leveraging this data, IMPOWER clinicians are gaining greater insights into their patients’ health statuses, which is particularly helpful when e-prescribing medication during virtual consultations.“Higi provides a unique opportunity for healthcare providers to engage their patients between visits and receive real-time biometric and activity data, which is especially important when dealing with chronic conditions,” said Dr. Khan Siddiqui, Chief Medical and Technology Officer of higi. “Our partnership with IMPOWER is only the beginning; we look forward to building relationships with telehealth providers across the country to advance their care management efforts and continue our mission of empowering consumers to own their health by understanding their key health stats.”Teen and adult patients will register for higi at any of the 981 convenient retail locations state-wide, opt in to share their vital statistics with their IMPOWER physician, and check in for free anytime at a higi station. IMPOWER physicians will require their patients to check in and share their vital statistics before an appointment and patients have the option to check in, without cost, as frequently as they’d like between appointments. Regular data collection provides insights into individual health trends which can help clinicians track the success of certain treatments and improve patient wellness overall. The improved ability to track health measurements made possible by higi helps IMPOWER clinicians encourage their patients to stay active in managing their own health while also providing their clinicians the invaluable health data needed to make crucial care decisions.Higi is the leading omni-channel community engagement platform with web, mobile and health stations in nearly 10,000 retail locations across the U.S. At an FDA-cleared higi station, consumers can conveniently and securely track their biometric data such as blood pressure, pulse, weight and body mass index free of charge. The higi platform also allows the integration of more than 70 wearable devices that track personal activity data in real time. This enables a highly accurate analysis of individual key health indicators over time and empowers individuals to take charge of improving their own health outcomes while sharing more accurate and relevant data with their health care providers and those they trust.“We are excited to set a new clinical standard in telehealth through our partnership with higi,” said IMPOWER president and CEO Anna Baznik. “With higi, we have a unique opportunity to empower our patients to take an active role in their health leading up to and between appointments, which will help advance our work to remove barriers that keep people from seeking the care they need.”About higi: Higi’s mission is to get consumers to take small but meaningful steps to create lasting health habits. Its unique, retail, omni-channel community health engagement platform gives consumers the power to collect (and, when they opt-in, share) their health and activity data with trusted partners and communities.The higi platform includes the nation’s largest single network of health stations in the U.S. that millions of consumers access. The platform includes the station, web, and mobile app platform. Higi stations are HIPAA-compliant, FDA 510k Class II medical devices that provide a secure real-time flow of information with multiple screening and tracking modalities, incentives and rewards. This 360-degree, cross-device ecosystem meets consumers where they are (in retail, mobile, home) and enables healthcare stakeholders to better engage with consumers and patients, creating access and actionable insights that motivate and empower individuals in simple, fun and rewarding ways. For more information, visit us at higi.com and follow us on Twitter @higi. In addition, prospective partner developers can learn more about higi's API by visiting developer.higi.com.About IMPOWER: IMPOWER is a leading, non-profit mental health and child well-being organization dedicated to empowering the lives of those in need by offering personal attention, counseling, assistance and inspiration to help them reach their full potential and achieve individual success. No matter what barriers an individual may have encountered, IMPOWER provides the tools necessary to overcome obstacles and achieve goals.Founded in 1994 originally as Intervention Services, Inc., IMPOWER is rooted in Central Florida with established service offices in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Brevard, Volusia and Polk Counties. Each year they serve more than 9,000 individuals and families in the home, schools and community-based settings through a continuum of services dedicated to helping individuals and families acquire the skills and tools needed to lead safe, healthy, meaningful and productive lives. Contact: Leah Jonesleah.jones@olson.com1-312-577-1776

higi selected by Wegmans to engage and encourage customers and employees to adopt healthy behaviors

Platform to focus on customers and employees and will roll-out in retail and corporate locations and through digital channels  CHICAGO, IL, March 1, 2016 — Tens of thousands of Wegmans customers and employees in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic states will now have access to higi stations, mobile app and web portal, to monitor their health conditions and adopt healthy behaviors through a new agreement between Wegmans and higi, the leading retail, omni-channel community engagement platform. More than 100 higi stations – which customers and employees will use to monitor blood pressure, BMI, weight and pulse – will be installed throughout Wegmans’ corporate locations and all retail outlets in Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia over the next few months. Beyond providing access to its health stations, higi also will create, promote and maintain quarterly health challenges for Wegmans customers and employees. Additionally, any Wegmans employee or customer who maintains a personal health record with the current pharmacy solution will be able to migrate their data to the higi platform and preserve their historical data easily and seamlessly. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to contribute to Wegmans’ success through our shared vision of making health and wellness part of the everyday lives of those who we touch,” said Jim Farrell, higi Senior Vice President, Partner Sales. “higi looks forward to helping Wegmans further its legacy of innovation and customer service to make every Wegmans store a place to stay healthy, be social and have fun.” Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2016, Wegmans has been named one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” by FORTUNE magazine for 18 consecutive years, among other accolades. According to higi, Wegmans chose its health platform, among other reasons, for its convenience and accessibility and its emphasis on science-based methods to engage and motivate users. Moreover, Wegmans’ historic commitment to health and wellness – both inside and outside of its stores – provides a strong foundation for higi to further develop offerings to reach and attract new customers and employees. About higihigi’s mission is to get consumers to take small but meaningful steps to create lasting health habits. Its unique, retail, omni-channel community health engagement platform gives consumers the power to collect (and, when they opt-in) share their health and activity data with trusted partners and communities. The higi platform includes the nation’s largest single network of health stations in the U.S. that millions of consumers access.  The platform includes the station, web, and mobile app platform.  higi stations are HIPAA compliant, FDA 510k Class II medical devices that provide a secure real-time flow of information with multiple screening and tracking modalities, incentives and rewards. This 360-degree, cross-device ecosystem meets consumers where they are (in retail, mobile, home) and enables healthcare stakeholders to better engage with consumers and patients, creating access and actionable insights that motivate and empower individuals in a simple, fun and rewarding ways.  For more information, visit us at higi.com and follow us on Twitter @higi. In addition, prospective partner developers can learn more about higi’s API by visiting developer.higi.com.  For more informationChris Varoneschris.varones@aesopgroup.com312-213-3887   

As the nationwide doctor shortage grows, new higi study shows that expanding healthcare access alone unlikely to impact health outcomes

CHICAGO, IL, February 29, 2016 — With the number of primary care physicians (PCPs) expected to shrink significantly by 2025, raising more questions about the lack of access to care, merely filling the “access gap” with new or additional providers may not impact health outcomes according to a new study released by higi, the leading retail, omni-channel community health engagement platform. Released at HIMSS16, the study sought to test assumptions around the implications of expanding access to care. The study analyzed data derived from higi’s nationwide network of health stations over 40 months as well as data indicating PCP shortages and surpluses in Alabama, Florida and Georgia, states with an incidence of hypertension and obesity higher than the national average, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “One of our goals for this study is to foster a dialogue that goes beyond access to care. Based on our findings, the presence of unfettered access to more primary care physicians or non-primary care clinicians isn’t enough to impact health outcomes,” said Dr. Khan Siddiqui, higi Chief Medical Officer and Chief Technology Officer. The study’s findings and conclusions are based on an analysis of de-identified data from approximately 950,000 users who checked in to more than 1,400 higi health stations in the tri-state area from September 2012 to December 2015. User data was compared to data indicating PCP shortages and surpluses in those geographies. Among the findings: 

• Weight loss and blood pressure improvement were not significantly better in geographies where there are PCP surpluses

• Among demographic, geographic and chronic disease categories, surprisingly, there were no differences observed in populations of counties with PCP shortages compared to those with surpluses

• In geographies with both PCP shortages and surpluses, a relationship was found between improved health outcomes (i.e., reduction in blood pressure, and average monthly weight change) and regular engagement with health stations, web portal and mobile app

 “Greater access to care is an important piece to the puzzle as we evaluate solutions to improve population health. But finding solutions that empower consumers so they are motivated to embrace healthy behaviors consistently may well be the factor that helps us complete the puzzle quickly and more effectively,” said Siddiqui. According to Siddiqui, empowerment strategies should focus on habit forming methods to help consumers making better choices that lead to healthier behaviors, which have been shown to improve health outcomes.Additional actions necessary to encourage consumer knowledge and ownership of vital health data include: health technologies that are broadly accessible and affordable or free; programs that enhance the capacity for clinical consultation among pharmacists and efforts to improve interoperability and data availability through the use of data APIs. The current study follows a recent higi study that concluded that monitoring based on reward incentives is associated with lower blood pressure and may create lasting behavioral changes in hypertensive users. The study, released in September to the American Heart Association’s Council on Hypertension 2015 Scientific Sessions, found a significant relationship between lowered blood pressure and regular engagement with the higi health platform. As a result of regular engagement, nearly half of the 159,000 users lowered their systolic blood pressure to below 140 mmHg, the cut-off for high blood pressure. The higi health platform, including a nationwide network of more than 10,000 health stations, mobile app and web portal, harnesses science-based principles to encourage the creation of healthier behaviors among users through regular self monitoring and reward-based health challenges. Dr. Khan Siddiqui, higi Chief Technology Officer/Chief Medical Officer, and Ross Goglia, higi Data Science Product Manager, will present the findings of the study “Be where they are not: engaging at-risk and emerging risk individuals in areas with shortages of primary care physicians” at the Physician IT poster session on February 29, 8AM-5PM. Thereafter, the findings will be on display at the higi booth #13131 in the Sands Expo Convention Center. More information can be found here. The study method, results and conclusions can be accessed here. Dr. Siddiqui also will be presenting at the HIMSS/AMDIS pre-conference symposium “Consolidating Gains and Driving Future Value” on February 29. More information can be found here. 

About higi

higi’s mission is to get consumers to take small but meaningful steps to create lasting health habits. Its unique, retail, omni-channel community health engagement platform gives consumers the power to collect (and, when they opt-in) share their health and activity data with trusted partners and communities. The higi platform includes the nation’s largest single network of health stations in the U.S. that millions of consumers access.  The platform includes the station, web, and mobile app platform.  higi stations are HIPAA compliant, FDA 510k Class II medical devices that provide a secure real-time flow of information with multiple screening and tracking modalities, incentives and rewards. This 360-degree, cross-device ecosystem meets consumers where they are (in retail, mobile, home) and enables healthcare stakeholders to better engage with consumers and patients, creating access and actionable insights that motivate and empower individuals in a simple, fun and rewarding ways.  For more information, visit us at higi.com and follow us on Twitter @higi. In addition, prospective partner developers can learn more about higi’s API by visiting developer.higi.com.  For more informationChris Varoneschris.varones@aesopgroup.com312-213-3887 

Garmin and higi launch new omni-channel health engagement initiative to encourage consumers to know and own their vital health stats

Innovative program to be driven by retail-based health stations, challenge, education and digital outreachCHICAGO, IL, February 9, 2016 — Encouraging large populations of people to adopt healthy habits easily and consistently is the end goal of a new program announced today by Garmin International, a unit of Garmin Ltd. and higi, the leading retail, omni-channel community engagement platform.The program will rely on multiple and varied outreach channels to engage consumers in an effort to educate and motivate them to make healthy habits part of their daily lives. A Garmin-sponsored health challenge, educational webinar, ongoing social media outreach and retail integration will serve as the program’s foundation.“Garmin is always exploring new and creative ways to engage our customers so they can change behaviors and fulfill their health goals,” said Allison Swelin, Manager, Garmin Health &Wellness sales and marketing. “We are excited about this collaboration with higi and look forward to the benefits the expanded relationship will produce for our customers.”Beginning on March 1, a Garmin-sponsored, St. Patrick’s Day-inspired health challenge “Go Green, Go Garmin” https://higi.com/challenge/about will be launched and will run throughout the month via higi’s nationwide network of nearly 10,000 health stations, mobile app and web portal. Prizes include the latest Garmin devices and exclusive Garmin merchandise.“We are thrilled with the opportunity to partner with a technology innovator like Garmin,” said Sheila McCormick, higi Chief Marketing Officer. “Garmin shares our vision that consumers, when armed with timely and meaningful health data, make better health decisions. We look forward to working with Garmin to make it easy and rewarding for consumers to know and own their vital health stats.”Garmin and higi also will deliver an educational webinar “Five Tips to Create Positive Habits” which will focus on scientifically proven methods to adopt healthy habits. The webinar will be held on March 23, 2016 at 12P.M. CST and will feature higi’s Chief Technology Officer and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Khan Siddiqui. Register here.Beyond the retail activation, health challenge and webinar, Garmin and higi plan to maintain an active digital presence among their respective users. Additionally, a newly installed higi health station offers customers at Garmin’s Chicago store at 663 N. Michigan Avenue the ability to monitor their blood pressure, BMI, weight and pulse and sign up for the “Go Green, Go Garmin” Challenge at no charge.  One of the most well-known retail destinations in the world, Chicago’s Michigan Avenue attracts more than 22 million people annually.Garmin and higi have been partners since 2014 allowing Garmin wearable users to sync with the higi app to track and be rewarded for their activity progress as well as monitor and share their biometric health data.About higihigi’s mission is to get consumers to take small but meaningful steps to create lasting health habits. Its unique, retail, omni-channel community health engagement platform gives consumers the power to collect (and, when they opt-in) share their health and activity data with trusted partners and communities.The higi platform includes the nation’s largest single network of health stations in the U.S., that millions of consumers access every day.  The platform (including the station, web, and mobile app platform) is both FDA cleared and HIPAA compliant, providing a secure real-time flow of information with multiple screening and tracking modalities, incentives and rewards. This 360-degree, cross-device ecosystem meets consumers where they are (in retail, mobile, home) and enables healthcare stakeholders to better engage with consumers and patients, creating access and actionable insights that motivate and   empower individuals in a simple, fun and rewarding ways.  For more information, visit us at higi.com and follow us on Twitter @higi. In addition, prospective partner developers can learn more about higi’s API by visiting developer.higi.com. ###For more informationChris Varoneschris.varones@aesopgroup.com312-213-3887