RADNOR, Pa., Sept. 30, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Relay (relaynetwork.com), a technology company that connects trusted brands to their customers on a private, mobile communication network, announces that the company was named the top winner of the 2014 Modern Healthcare and Advertising Age Healthcare Marketing IMPACT Awards for Patient Education. Designed and launched for Independence Blue Cross, the region's leading health insurance organization, the innovative IBX Wire mobile communication program was recognized as the Patient Education Campaign of the Year. Powered by Relay, IBX Wire enables ongoing, personalized communications between the insurer and its members through a secure and HIPAA-compliant channel.
The IMPACT Awards recognize healthcare's best advertising, marketing, promotion and communication campaigns on and across all media platforms. The awards honor campaigns that advance provider, insurer, supplier, and advocacy group efforts to deliver high quality, affordable, and accessible healthcare; promote the health of individual patients, groups, and communities; and help organizations thrive and grow in today's rapidly changing healthcare environment.
The Patient Education Award is given for excellence in advancing understanding of individual healthcare issues and availability of services.
"We're proud to have IBX Wire acknowledged by the leading healthcare and marketing trades, and fortunate to share this recognition with the Independence team," said Matt Gillin, CEO of Relay. "Instead of relying on traditional communication channels that aren't as effective as they once were, Independence did something completely different -- it pulled its communications out of a cluttered world and into its own private network. Now, for the first time, IBX has a direct, personal connection with each member that breaks down communication barriers, advances patient education, and reduces healthcare costs."
"Our goal is to deliver an experience that reshapes how consumers think about health insurance – by meeting their needs wherever they are and providing relevant and credible information related to their health care needs," said Paula Sunshine, vice president of Sales and Marketing, Consumer Business at Independence Blue Cross. "In working with Relay to build IBX Wire, we developed a powerful tool that allows us to form meaningful, one-to-one relationships with our members in a way that no other channel has been able to do. As a result, we've helped our members become more informed health care consumers."
Through Relay's platform, Independence has rapidly accelerated its mobile opt-ins and created an effective line of communication that helps members stay in control and make better decisions about their healthcare. Launched in 2013, more than 200,000 members have joined the IBX communication network, enabling the health insurer to effectively educate members, drive healthier behaviors, and increase utilization of its digital tools and assets including web content and videos.
The award-winning program for IBX was also featured in an article on best practices for healthcare educational campaigns in the September 29 issue of Modern Healthcare magazine.
From April 21 to July 10, more than 140 entries were submitted representing eight types of marketing campaigns—as well as Agency of the Year. Winners in subcategories—representing providers, insurers, suppliers, and advocacy organizations—were announced in the September 29 issue of Modern Healthcare and Advertising Age magazines and online.
The awards were presented on September 23 at Modern Healthcare's first Strategic Marketing Conference in Chicago.
About Relay
Relay is a technology company that connects trusted brands with people through direct, mobile communication so they can effortlessly get stuff done. We help businesses and organizations get and keep more customers by making it easy for people to interact with them. When brands and people connect on Relay, they're brought together on a private communication network designed for action. Over 1 million people every month use Relay to connect with companies within healthcare, financial services, insurance, energy, travel and hospitality, and more.
Headquartered in greater Philadelphia, PA, Relay is backed by NewSpring Capital and First Round Capital. For more information, visit www.relaynetwork.com or connect with Relay on Facebook and on Twitter at @Relayit. Relay, Relay Wire, and Wire are trademarks and service marks of Relay Network, LLC.