Prominent Mississippi Health System Extends Focus on Health and Wellbeing to Employees and Spouses

BURLINGTON, VT--(Marketwire - Nov 1, 2012) - Marathon Health, Inc. today announced its partnership with Mississippi Baptist Health System (MBHS) to provide onsite health services for MBHS employees and spouses. Opening in early January 2013, the onsite health center will provide preventative screenings and assessments, health coaching, primary care services, and disease management.

MBHS is located in Jackson, Miss. and is rated by Health Grades as one of America's 100 Best Hospitals. With a long tradition of innovation and a commitment to improving the quality of healthcare they deliver to the community, MBHS has a newfound focus on improving the health of its employees and their spouses. This initiative is one of CEO Mark Slyter's efforts to create a culture of health and wellness throughout MBHS and then to offer this model out to employers in the surrounding area.

"Mississippi often ranks in last place in state health rankings," said Slyter. "Starting with our employees, and extending out to their families, we want to begin to change this. We are providing the opportunity to help people get healthy and stay healthy. Marathon Health specializes in a proven model for decreasing the prevalence rates of risk factors such as obesity, tobacco use, and inactivity. It is this focus on inspiring people to live healthier lives that will begin to reverse the health trends that for so long have plagued our state."

Marathon Health's ability to change the health profile of a population is based on its collaborative care model. This model is based on combining the clinical expertise of the provider with the Marathon Health Engagement System™ technology platform and a respect for the opinions and values of the patient. Together, these three aspects create a "new" patient experience that drives higher satisfaction, improved outcomes, and lower costs.

MBHS Vice President of Human Resources Lee Ann Foreman said this delivery model is truly the right combination for employer-sponsored healthcare. "We selected Marathon Health for several reasons: their approach to health and wellness, their track record for helping organizations contain healthcare costs, and their commitment to ensuring the confidentiality and privacy of employee health information," said Foreman.

In addition to the onsite health center, MBHS has aligned the 2013 health plan benefit to encourage biometric screenings, HRA completion, and engage in health coaching to review screening results and set health goals.

"When we see this type of organizational alignment with leadership support, health plan benefit integration, and a vision to create a healthy workforce, we know we will also see significant changes in the health of the organization," said Marathon Health CEO Jerry Ford. "MBHS has set up a system for success and we are honored to be part of this important program. We are equally excited about joining MBHS as we offer these services to other employers in the area."

About Marathon Health:

Marathon Health offers a proven solution for helping employers reduce the total cost of health care. The Marathon Health approach integrates the best practices of on-site primary care, health assessment with risk identification, coaching and advocacy, and disease management for high-cost chronic conditions. Marathon Health supports its unique model with an eHealth Portal delivering medical content, interactive diet and fitness tools, a personal health record, and an electronic medical record to manage care. For more information, visit www.marathon-health.com

About Mississippi Baptist Health System:

Baptist Health Systems in Jackson, Miss. is the parent company of Baptist Medical Center, The Mississippi Hospital for Restorative Care, Baptist Medical Center Leake in Carthage, Miss. and a number of related healthcare services and programs. For over 100 years, Baptist has served Mississippi and the surrounding states as a Christian-based, non-profit comprehensive medical center. In 2013, HealthGrades, America's leading independent healthcare ratings organization, named Baptist Medical Center as one of America's 100 Best Hospitals for general surgery, orthopedic surgery, joint replacement, prostatectomy and gastrointestinal care. Visit Baptist on the web at www.mbhs.org. For more information contact the Baptist Health Line at 1-800-948-6262 or 948-6262.