Alliance Health properties provide tools and services specifically designed to help members share health-related information and experiences. For more information call 801.355.6002 or visit AllianceHealthNetworks.com.

“Alliance Health is the leader in the development of next generation consumer health solutions through their proprietary social networks that are designed to engage and support their community members,” said Leavitt Partners Chairman Michael O. Leavitt, who previously served in the Cabinet of President George W. Bush as the Secretary of Health and Human Services (2005-2009) and as governor of Utah (1993-2003). “We share in the belief that Alliance Health’s proven capabilities not only deliver efficiencies when and where health consumers and industry participants connect, but ultimately yield better health outcomes.”

Alliance Health’s disease-specific social networks enable consumers to explore a health topic online on their own terms. Diabetic Connect, the first of the company’s growing portfolio of social health networks, launched in 2008 with renowned diabetes blogger, Amy Tenderich, as its first community manager. With nearly 300,000 registered members and over one million monthly unique visitors, it is today’s largest and fastest growing social networking site for people living with diabetes.

Whether participating in member discussions, updating their personal status, or browsing thousands of healthy recipes and product recommendations, community members are able to personalize their experience and control the information they choose to access and share using a suite of powerful social networking tools.

Leavitt Partners was established to provide its clients and strategic partners with services focused around healthcare industry knowledge, uncommon access to industry leaders, and industry expertise. The firm is comprised of seasoned experts with senior experience in dealing with critical industry components including the Department of Health and Human Services, Capitol Hill, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services, the Food and Drug Administration, health insurers, pharmacy benefits managers, and the pharmaceutical and device industries.

Alliance Health and Leavitt Partners will work jointly to identify strategic opportunities for Alliance Health to expand its footprint, reach new customers and partners, and establish global distribution agreements.

“Health care reform is driving more and more industry participants to focus on providing efficiency and value to the consumer,” said Alliance Health’s CEO, Stead Burwell. “Alliance Health has proven strategic competencies in engaging consumers and serving them personalized information and services. We are both honored and thrilled to work with Governor Leavitt and his team to leverage the firm’s vast network and influence as we continue to grow our business.”

About Alliance Health Networks

Alliance Health develops and hosts social health networks that unite individuals and market participants in online communities centered around diseases and conditions. Its first social health network, DiabeticConnect.com, is the largest online social network for people with diabetes. Alliance Health properties provide tools and services specifically designed to help members manage and share health-related information and experiences. For more information call 801.355.6002 or visit AllianceHealthNetworks.com.

About Leavitt Partners

Leavitt Partners advises clients in the health care and food safety sectors. The firm applies its experience, knowledge and a network of global relationships to supplement the thinking and reach of senior executive teams. For more information visit LeavittPartners.com or call 801.538.5082.

That’s why Diabetic Connect has launched an innovative series of articles filled with insightful tips and words of wisdom from Amy Tenderich — a mom with type 1 diabetes who is one of the most respected, prolific diabetes bloggers, and Community Manager at Diabetic Connect.

Diabetic Connect, now the world’s largest online community for people with diabetes, contains thousands of practical, helpful pieces of information including news articles, videos, doctor-approved reference content and interactive tools powered by Healthwise.

Perhaps the most valuable information — and certainly the most viewed — are discussions shared between more than 150,000 registered DiabeticConnect members from each U.S. state and more than 30 countries.

Community members share a wealth of resources, advice and support with one another, turning what could be an overwhelming, isolating diagnosis into a manageable situation, even one where life is lived to the fullest.

Amy’s new series will address real-life questions and hurdles, in a brief, engaging format.  The first topic, How to Find a Diabetes Doctor, was chosen because it is a vital first step for anyone recently diagnosed with diabetes.

In the coming months, Amy will cover a wide variety of topics, offering hands-on helpful and practical tips for everything from monitoring your glucose levels to understanding carbohydrates to issues of intimacy and diabetes. With Amy’s personal perspective and frank approach, these articles promise to be unlike any other diabetes info on the web today.  They will add value to the thousands of ongoing member-to-member discussions taking place daily in the Diabetic Connect community.

Amy’s willingness to speak out and support other diabetics has positioned her as an important voice in the diabetes community. Since her diagnosis seven years ago, she has willingly shared her experiences and myriad of lessons learned with others on her blog, DiabetesMine.com.

Amy introduces her first topic, How to Find a Diabetes Doctor, as follows:

“There are so many important things nobody ever tells you about living with diabetes. You have to figure them out on your own — which can be tricky, to say the least. First and foremost, there’s the issue of finding the right doctor or other healthcare professionals to work with.

“Should you simply see the first doctor whose path you cross? Or should you research them? Do you even have a choice?

“This month, for my first installment of “Living with Diabetes: The Real-Life Stuff You Need to Know,” I’d like to share some tips about identifying and working with the medical professional(s) who can best help you.”

The five-part nuggets of wisdom that follow can be read on DiabeticConnect.com.

We invite you to review Amy Tenderich’s recommendations and join the conversation on Diabetic Connect. Diabetic Connect is one of many health-focused online social networks offered by Alliance Health.

About Alliance Health Networks, Inc.

Alliance Health Networks manages social health networks that unite individuals and market participants in online communities. Its first health network, DiabeticConnect.com, has attracted more than 150,000 people living with diabetes and receives monthly traffic in excess of one million unique visitors. Alliance Health properties provide tools and services specifically designed to help members share health-related information and experiences. For more information call (801) 355-6002 or visit AllianceHealth.com.

With more than 15 years experience working with brands like Power Reviews, Wine.com and Ofoto (now Kodak EasyShare Gallery), along with expertise in creating lasting consumer experiences, Shaffer helps guide the online marketing and community development for Alliance Health Networks.

“Our mission is to put people in greater control of their health,” said CEO Stead Burwell. “Creating online communities around specific health conditions not only taps into social networking using new media but delivers real value in connecting like-minded individuals who actively support one another.”

Shaffer joined Alliance Health Networks to guide the process of turning informed individuals into engaged, enthusiastic community participants and supporters. His expertise will assist Alliance Health Networks as it builds various online social health networks focused on living with specific medical challenges, just like DiabeticConnect.com brings people coping with diabetes together in a unified online community.

“Healthcare is on everyone’s mind these days, with more and more people going online in search of information and answers to their specific healthcare questions,” Shaffer said. “I know the commanding effect both the wisdom of the crowd and the individual voice play in today’s online world. I plan to harness this power via social networking in a way that empowers consumers to make better health related choices. Learning from each others’ insights, experiences and recommendations, along with contributions from physicians and professional healthcare advocates, we can advance both the quality of care and the quality of life.”

Shaffer reports directly to the CEO and oversees a team of four marketing, communication and design professionals at Alliance Health Networks. He has responsibility for overall consumer experience across the network of communities, corporate marketing and public relations efforts for the company.

About Alliance Health Networks, Inc.

Alliance Health Networks manages social health networks that unite individuals and market participants in online communities. Its first health network, DiabeticConnect.com, has attracted more than 150,000 people living with diabetes and receives monthly traffic in excess of one million unique visitors. Alliance Health properties provide tools and services specifically designed to help members share health-related information and experiences. For more information call (801) 355-6002 or visit AllianceHealth.com.

“We see HealthExchange.com as the perfect complement to our emerging universe of ‘social health networks,’” said Stead Burwell, Alliance Health’s Chief Executive Officer, “with each online community focused on a specific health condition, such as diabetes, arthritis or chronic pain, so people can come together to discuss, learn, and share valuable insights with other people just like them – people living with the same health condition. And while each of us is individually diagnosed and living with a specific condition, collectively we are all challenged with the same overall healthcare issues.  This latest community provides the framework to do just that!”

HealthExchange.com not only delivers general information across a wide range of medical and health care topics, but it also facilitates sharing of insights through relevant discussions around important categories like:

• Evaluating health plans,
• Navigating reimbursement,
• Patient’s Rights and Privacy concerns,
• Flexible Spending and Health Saving Accounts,
• National Healthcare Reform, 
• Diet, Exercise and Wellness Tips, and
• Traditional vs. Alternative Treatments.

Additionally, existing members in one of Alliance Health’s other properties (such as DiabeticConnect.com) can easily join the HealthExchange.com community by using a universal sign-on that links to their existing online profile.

“Healthcare is one of the most important yet most complicated topics confronting each of us today,” Burwell said.  “By launching HealthExchange.com, we hope to make healthcare a little less daunting and more accessible, empowering consumers to overcome the hurdles that prevent them from getting kind of care they should be getting.”

About Alliance Health Networks, Inc.

Alliance Health is building a universe of social health networks that unite individuals and market participants in online communities, each focused on a specific health condition. Its first social health network, DiabeticConnect.com, has attracted the largest online population of people living with or treating diabetes. Alliance Health properties serve more than 125,000 registered members, providing tools and services specifically designed to help members share insightful information and meaningful experiences with one another.   For more information, call (801) 355-6002 or please visit AllianceHealth.com and/or DiabeticConnect.com.

Barker has a nearly 40-year career in the pharmacy industry that includes 30 years with Thrifty PayLess Drug Stores, now Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE: RAD), where he started as a Pharmacist and eventually became its President and CEO. He then served as CEO of Snyder Drugs from 1999 to 2004, until he was tapped as a contract CEO of QVL Pharmacy (a specialty pharmacy chain) from 2005 through early 2009. Additionally, Barker served as Chairman of the board of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and currently serves on its Board of Chancellors. 

Hawkins is the former Chief Financial Officer of McKesson Corporation, a $105 billion supplier of pharmaceuticals, health and beauty care products. He joined McKesson in 1984 as its assistant controller and then served in a variety of senior executive roles within the company before being named CFO in 1996. Hawkins also served as Executive Vice President of Oncology Therapeutics Network (now McKesson Specialty Care Solutions) from 2005 to 2007, as well as CFO of Deltagen (DGEN) from 2000 to 2003.

Johnson is currently an Adjunct Professor and the Assistant Dean of the College of Pharmacy at Midwestern University (in Glendale, Arizona). One of the pioneers in the field of Pharmacy Benefits Management, he is a widely known and sought-after speaker in the pharmacy and healthcare management industries. Johnson is also the former Chairman and CEO of PCS Health Systems, now part of CVS Caremark (NYSE: CVS), a firm responsible for managing the healthcare coverage for more than 50 million Americans. 

DeFord brings more than 12 years of experience in consumer-focused software development and management to Alliance Health, including:

• Co-founder and Product Manager of DailyStrength.org,
• Principal/co-developer of Epiphany Recorder, a Top 15 free iPhone application for business use in Apple's AppStore,
• Product Manager for Yahoo! Photos, Briefcase and Gallery at Yahoo!, and
• Web Producer for Archipelago Productions, a Harcourt Brace subsidiary.

"Josh has a great ability to envision, develop and manage Web-based consumer products and services, as evidenced in his successful tenure at DailyStrength," said Stead Burwell, chief executive officer of Alliance Health Networks. "Clearly we've achieved significant success in creating and building DiabeticConnect.com into the world's largest online community for people living with diabetes. But with more than 125 million Americans having one or more chronic health conditions, I'm happy to have Josh lead our strategic effort in developing exciting, engaging and highly beneficial products for us."

"It's one thing to build a superior product, which Alliance Health has done with DiabeticConnect.com," DeFord said. "The challenge is to continually evolve that initial effort into a second-, third- and fourth-generation product and beyond. In addition, Alliance Health is not just about one product. We're building an online platform that will support scores of social health networks, enabling individuals to connect with others facing the same health concerns, to share ideas and information in a unique and powerful way. I believe we have an opportunity to have a huge positive impact on healthcare in America, and that's why I'm excited to be part of the Alliance Health team."

About Alliance Health Networks, Inc.

Alliance Health is building a universe of social health networks that unite individuals and market participants in online communities, each focused on a specific health condition. Its first social health network, DiabeticConnect.com, has attracted the largest online population of people living with or treating diabetes. Alliance Health properties serve more than 100,000 registered members, providing tools and services specifically designed to help members share insightful information and meaningful experiences with one another. For more information, call (801) 355-6002 or please visit AllianceHealth.com and/or DiabeticConnect.com.

Alliance Health Networks and DiabeticConnect.com are trademarks of Alliance Health Networks, Inc. All other trademarks are the properties of their respective owners.

“With World Diabetes Day happening tomorrow, we’re excited to announce that our online community DiabeticConnect.com is proving to be a hugely informative and supportive destination for helping people with diabetes around the country and around the world,” said Stead Burwell, chief executive officer of Alliance Health Networks, creator of DiabeticConnect.com. “Being the largest means that we have created more connections and more opportunities for diabetics of all types — type 1, type 2, LADA, and more — to find information and support to help them live healthier lives.”

Alliance Health began actively marketing DiabeticConnect.com to diabetics across the country in April 2009. In the short time since, DiabeticConnect.com has reached more than 65,000 registered community members and achieved more than 1 million monthly unique visitors.

Unlike other social networks designed for the masses, Alliance Health has opted to create its own social networking platform and tools that uniquely serve the needs of a health community and can be easily adapted to focus on a specific condition or disease. This social health network platform, on which DiabeticConnect.com is built, helps bring together into one online community:

• Individuals with the disease or medical condition,
• Their family members, loved ones and friends (called  “caregivers” on the site), and
• Healthcare professionals and providers.

“People are coming together at DiabeticConnect.com to learn, support and teach one another,” Burwell said. “It’s crowd-sourcing in real life, where the sum of the knowledge and experience of all of the Diabetic Connect members is far, far greater than their individual knowledge and experience. And given that World Diabetes Day is focused on diabetes education and prevention, we respectfully invite anyone living with diabetes to become part of the fastest growing (and largest) online network for diabetics, their caregivers and their healthcare providers.”

DiabeticConnect.com Overview

According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 23.6 million Americans have diabetes, making diabetes one of the most prevalent chronic diseases or conditions in the United States.

DiabeticConnect.com members can create their own member profile where they control the information they choose to make public or keep private. Individuals can then become friends with others on the network, share news and information, and search for answers to specific questions. Additionally, DiabeticConnect.com community features include:

• discussion boards, 
• a diabetes news and aggregator service, 
• an event calendar, 
• videos, 
• book club, 
• product reviews and information, and
• a recipe section (since diet is critical for controlling diabetes).

Each new member of DiabeticConnect.com is also automatically befriended by a Patient Advocate (Amy Tenderich, a Type 1 diabetic, author and blogger) and a Caregiver Advocate (John Crowley, father of a son with juvenile diabetes).

“Although all the signs were there – thirsty all the time, sporadically blurry vision, rapid weight loss – I felt totally blindsided by my diagnosis with Type 1 diabetes just after the birth of our third daughter,” Tenderich said. “I now live with the finger pricks, the insulin injections, the continual worry about food and exercise, but I've learned to manage a balanced and happy life.

“Staying on top of diabetes takes work; that’s why I’ve always looked for ways to connect with other diabetics: to learn from them and their families and caregivers, to find and share the best information with them. That’s also why I love DiabeticConnect.com. It’s a fantastic resource for diabetics, their loved ones and medical professionals, too.”

Alliance Health Networks has several new social health networks in development, an effort it feels crucial since most individuals with a chronic disease or health issue have multiple medical conditions.

“At an annual cost of more than $1.9 trillion, healthcare is one of the biggest issues facing America today,” Burwell said. “We will continue use the power of the social health networks to unite people who are each struggling with health conditions, to further educate and empower them with news, information and a growing and vibrant online community support group. This is what we have done (and will continue to do) with DiabeticConnect.com, an effort I know is critical for the millions of people living with diabetes every day.”

About World Diabetes Day

Launched by the International Diabetes Foundation, the World Diabetes Day theme for 2009-2013 is “Diabetes Education and Prevention.” The campaign calls on all those responsible for diabetes care to understand diabetes and take control. For people with diabetes, this is a message about empowerment through education. For governments, it is a call to implement effective strategies and policies for the prevention and management of diabetes to safeguard the health of their citizens with and at risk of diabetes. For healthcare professionals, it is a call to improve knowledge so that evidence-based recommendations are put into practice. For the general public, it is a call to understand the serious impact of diabetes and know, where possible, how to avoid or delay diabetes and its complications.

About Alliance Health Networks, Inc.

Alliance Health is building a universe of social health networks that unite individuals and market participants in online communities, each focused on a specific health condition. Its first social health network, DiabeticConnect.com, has attracted the largest online population of people living with or treating diabetes. Alliance Health properties serve more than 65,000 registered members, providing tools and services specifically designed to help members share insightful information and meaningful experiences with one another.   For more information, call (801) 355-6002 or please visit www.AllianceHealth.com and/or www.DiabeticConnect.com.