Consumer Health Information Corporation Honored
With Two National Health Information Awards

Two of the nation's top awards in patient education and consumer health programs have been awarded to Consumer Health Information Corporation by the National Health Information Awards program. The awards program was sponsored by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, the National Wellness Institute and American Custom Publishing Corporation.

More than 400 entries were evaluated by a national panel of health information experts. Consumer Health Information Corporation received the following honors:

• Silver Award: Patient Education Information Category

"A Path for Healthy Living," produced for The Upjohn Company, received the Silver Award in the Patient Education Information Category. This comprehensive booklet, endorsed by the American Diabetes Association, the American Association of Diabetes Educators and the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse teaches people how to manage Type II diabetes and develop a healthy lifestyle.

• Bronze Award: Health Care Consumer Information Category

"Tomorrow's Medicines: What Pharmaceutical Research Means to You," produced for the National Pharmaceutical Council, received the Bronze Award for the Health Care Consumer Information Category. The pamphlet explains to consumers the importance of pharmaceutical research in the development of new medications to prevent disease and offers tips on key questions to ask doctors and pharmacists regarding prescribed medicines.

"We are honored to be recognized by the two programs," said Consumer Health Information President Dorothy L. Smith, Pharm.D. The development of patient education programs requires a skillful blending of art and science. "We take special efforts to write, design and produce our patient information materials so they will improve treatment outcomes and meet the needs of patients and consumers."

Consumers have a powerful role in their own drug therapies. Pharmacists need to offer patient counseling services and provide critical information necessary for patients to make informed decisions regarding their health care. According to Smith, improved decisions leads to patients receiving more cost-effective health care services per dollar spent.