Sapient Health Network and OHSU School of Nursing Empower Patients with Latest Health Information, Live on the 'Net

Business Wire, August 11, 1998

PORTLAND, Ore.--(BW HealthWire)--Aug. 11, 1998--SHN(TM) (Sapient Health Network(TM), Inc.), http://www.shn.net, today announced that faculty from the Oregon Health Sciences University School of Nursing have agreed to host live Internet discussions with SHN members seeking information on medical conditions such as breast cancer and Hepatitis C.

SHN's partnership with OHSU is the second in a series of similar relationships the health network plans to establish with the nation's leading medical universities.

SHN -- a free, online health information and support service for people with chronic and serious illnesses -- will invite members wishing to obtain information on their health conditions to attend online question and answer sessions, or Internet chats, moderated by faculty from OHSU School of Nursing. During the chats, SHN members will exchange information with other members who share their illnesses and concerns. In addition, OHSU nurses will answer questions posted by members on SHN message boards.

"The online chats present medical information to members in an accessible and personal way, so they have a better understanding of their conditions and can efficiently manage their illnesses," said Bill Kelly, co-founder and executive vice president of SHN. "SHN strives to provide the highest quality, up-to-the-minute health information available online. We are actively pursuing similar collaborations with other top medical institutions."

OHSU will moderate up to 10 live hour-long chats each month on topics that range from life threatening diseases to taking charge of weight control. All nurses are trained at the Masters level to provide the most accurate and health-conscious views on today's health trends and treatments. The chats are intended to enhance -- not replace -- the patient-doctor relationship through the patient's increased knowledge of their illness or condition. Additionally, the chats provide a support network for members who share the same illness and concerns.

"Keeping patients informed of the latest advancements in today's complex healthcare environment is a challenge," said Catherine Salveson, assistant professor of community health nursing at the OHSU School of Nursing. "OHSU nursing faculty members will provide their expertise and encourage a real dialogue with concerned patients. We believe that as patients become more informed of their conditions, it can actually improve their relationships with their healthcare providers."

A prospective member becomes part of the SHN community by pointing their Internet browser to http://www.shn.net, clicking on "Join SHN Now" and completing a simple registration process that includes a voluntary health questionnaire. All SHN members' identities are protected under the guidelines of SHN's privacy policy.

Everybody's Talking About Health on SHN

Upcoming chats with OHSU health care professionals include the following: -0-

Topic:    Women's Health: "Incontinence: Do I have to live with it?"
Date:     August 18, 6:00-7:00 p.m. PDT
Expert:   Joyce Colling, RN Ph.D.

          Dr. Colling is an emeritus professor at OHSU and is
          internationally known for her work on incontinence research,
          practice and consulting. She served on the expert panel in
          1992 to 1996 to develop the national guidelines for
          incontinence and recently returned from a World Health
          Organization sponsored forum developing international
          incontinence guidelines.

Topic:    Diabetes: "Benefits and Dangers"
Date:     August 19, 4:00-5:00 p.m. PDT
Expert:   Margaret McCreedy RN, RNP MS, nurse practitioner

          McCreedy has been on the faculty at OHSU School of Nursing
          for 12 years. Her specialty is Home Health Care with a focus
          on work with the elderly. She has assisted people with newly
          diagnosed as well as chronic diabetes and has the personal
          experience of living with diabetes.

Topic:    Women's Health: "Uterine Fibroid and Endometriosis Q&A"
Date:     August 26, 6:00-7:00 p.m. PDT
Expert:   Jane Harrison-Honer, RN PNP

          Harrison-Honer RNP is a nurse practitioner and has been a
          practicing women's health care specialist for 15 years. She
          is on the faculty at the School of Nursing and is also
          Director of the Menstrual Disorders Program at OHSU. She is
          a regular speaker for the Endometriosis Support Group in
          Portland, Ore.

-0- About SHN

Headquartered in Portland, Ore., SHN (Sapient Health Network, Inc.) -- http://www.shn.net -- is a free, Internet-based health information and support service for people with chronic and serious illnesses and conditions, as well as their family and friends. SHN creates condition-specific online communities that enable its over 100,000 members to access personalized information about their condition and participate in interactive support networks via the Web. Healthcare companies turn to SHN to gain insights into patient perspectives through population studies and aggregate-level market research. Through this activity, SHN helps instill the patient perspective in the product development, marketing and delivery systems of its customers.