US Family Health Plan at Saint Vincent NYC ("USFHPNY"), recognized nationally for consistently high patient satisfaction ratings, and Health Integrated, Inc., a pioneer in health and condition (disease) management, today announced that they have expanded their partnership to provide additional healthcare benefits to our nation 's military families and military retirees. Earlier this year, USFHPNY and Health Integrated began offering the Synergy Personal Health Management^® (Synergy) program to USFHPNY members to assist them with managing chronic medical conditions.

Through the Synergy program, family members of active duty military personnel and military retirees are empowered to better manage their health through coaching, education, support and tools in collaboration with their physician 's plan of care. This unique program addresses the individual's behavioral and emotional health along with their medical conditions and helps them most effectively use the military health system. Synergy is being offered at no additional charge to eligible USFHPNY members, and has reached maximum enrollment in its initial phase.

"As part of the military health system, USFHPNY is dedicated to providing innovative health solutions for our members," said Paul Goebel, Executive Director of US Family Health Plan at Saint Vincent NYC. "Our partnership with Health Integrated provides much needed focus on ensuring that our nation's military family members and military retirees, many of whom are chronically ill, are better able to manage their health conditions and benefit from the military healthcare system. "

The Synergy program includes a specially trained clinician (Care Coach), who develops a personalized coaching plan built around an individual's specific needs. The Care Coach assists the individual in setting goals they want to accomplish related to their health condition(s) and well-being ( e.g., better knowledge of their condition, better coping and communication skills, greater motivation), and provides tools to help the individual achieve those goals. The Care Coach helps participants identify any barriers that may be preventing them from feeling the best they can and encourages them to clearly communicate with their physicians and follow their treatment plans. USFHPNY has offered this program to plan members who meet specific requirements related to their chronic condition and health risk.

"Through the Health Integrated program, individuals become more knowledgeable about their own health, increase their motivation to follow treatment plans and are better able to establish and achieve goals to better health, " said Dr. Sam Toney, vice chairman and chief medical officer at Health Integrated. "We also monitor treatment plans to ensure consistency against evidence-based guidelines as a means to improving clinical and financial outcomes as well as productivity in the workplace. "

USFHPNY and Health Integrated first entered into a partnership in September 2004. Through Health Integrated's Synthesis Health Management Services and its own care management programs, USFHPNY provides a complete suite of medical and behavioral health services for its membership including case management, nurse advice, preventative health screenings and access to health information via phone or web.