Viridian Health Management Awarded Implementation Contract with the Phoenix Area Indian Health Service

PHOENIX, AZ, March 30, 2013 (Press-News.org) Viridian Health Management, an integrative healthcare services provider focused on improving individual and population health through integrative health management initiatives, announced today that it was awarded a contract by the Phoenix Area Indian Health Service (PAIHS) to establish a comprehensive worksite health program to improve the health of employees and their families while reducing healthcare costs. The Phoenix Area Indian Health Service office oversees the delivery of healthcare to approximately 140,000 Native Americans in the tri-state area of Arizona, Nevada and Utah.

Viridian was selected for this award as a result of its proven ability to establish innovative worksite health programs that enhance employee wellness and lower healthcare costs. As the PAIHS's implementation contractor, Viridian will provide the expertise, knowledge and skills for the organization to support employer-specific health improvements and address chronic health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, hypertension and obesity.

Key components of the program will focus on innovative ways to encourage employees to increase physical activity, improve nutrition and encourage health screenings for the adoption of healthy behaviors. Viridian will also provide operational management of the program, conduct individual wellness assessments, and deliver educational sessions focusing on topics such as nutrition, healthy weight loss and stress management, including a variety of onsite group fitness classes, ranging from muscular strength and endurance to boot camp.

Expertise in Wellness, Prevention and Diabetes:
In addition to being the implementation contractor for PAIHS, Viridian is a recognized CDC Diabetes Prevention Program partner, a National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) partner organization and a member of the Arizona Diabetes Coalition. Also an industry leader in worksite health, Viridian is the implementation contractor for both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Healthy Worksite Program (NHWP) and for Arizona's Maricopa Department of Public Health's (MCDPH) Healthy Arizona Worksite Program.

"According to the Office of Vital Records of the Arizona Department of Health Services, heart disease was the underlying cause of 21.2 percent of deaths among Arizona residents in 2010 and was the leading cause of death for American Indians in Arizona. In addition, diabetes was among the top five causes of death among American Indians for that year1," said Brenda Schmidt, president and CEO of Viridian Health Management. "With Viridian's proven track record of successfully implementing customized, worksite health programs for employers of various sizes, our partnership with PAIHS will help to improve the health of Arizona residents and reduce healthcare costs for local employees."

Added Schmidt, "Implementing worksite wellness initiatives is a key business strategy to reduce absenteeism, increase productivity and create a competitive advantage. We look forward to partnering with such an outstanding local Arizona organization to develop effective worksite health strategies, alleviate the burden of escalating healthcare costs for the 44 tribes within the tri-state area that we serve, and make a positive impact for long-term health improvements."

1 Arizona Health Status and Vital Statistics 2010, Leading Causes of Death, http://www.azdhs.gov/plan/report/ahs/ahs2010/pdf/text2b.pdf, pages 109-122

About Viridian Health Management:
Viridian Health Management focuses on improving the health of employees, families and communities through its pioneering HealthImpact health coaching methodology, integrative wellness programs and its MAESTRO population management technology. Its comprehensive health management solutions combine evidence-based and emerging best practices for worksites, public health and healthcare partners. Viridian focuses on engaging individuals to make healthy behavior changes that result in better health outcomes and financial savings. To learn more about Viridian, visit online at http://www.viridianhealth.com, follow on Twitter @ViridianHealth, email info@viridianhealth.com or call 1-877-486-0140.

Viridian Health Management
22601 N. 19th Avenue | Suite 240 | Phoenix, AZ 85027

Media Contact:
Jill Brownley, Director of Marketing and Public Relations
602-509-4311 or jbrownley@viridianhealth.com